<p>Is it too risky to write about an eating disorder in a college app essay? I'm working on the UC prompt 1 and I guess my world has been centered around food and numbers for so much of my life it's hard to think about a different side of my identity. I was going to tie in how after I got to a good place in recovery, I volunteered at two different organizations dedicated to ending body-shaming and working with disordered girls. I am, as well, a peer facilitator in a ED therapy group with Kaiser (two hours a week, every week of the year). I guess I wanted to talk about how my world is recovery-based and how it has influenced me to want to fight back against the media and societal influences, while acknowledging that EDs aren't something you can really fully recover from and it's something I work on daily. Is this too risky? </p>
<p>My other essay is about literature and loving books- I have written a novel and hope to publish it.</p>
<p>When you talk about negative things it is always more risky than positive stuff. For the essay to turn out right it has to talk about you overcoming the obstacles. For the essay to fail it will have to be about to much detail and picture painting of the actual hardships. I hope that helps. Your writing style will determine if it works or not. You better get started fast because you only have a week left to get it right.</p>
<p>Bomerr- thanks! i know it is risky but i think it is something i really need to write about as well. Thankfully, i perform well under pressure… I am avoiding writing about my personal struggle but rather what in my world shaped it (media) and how i have come out of it and want to fight back.</p>
<p>It could be a great topic. I would only briefly discuss the details of when you were having eating issues, and focus more on the turning point and your recovery, especially how you are helping others. Spend most of the essay on what you are doing to improve the lives of others with ED.</p>