What makes a cliché "grandparent" essay and how do I avoid it?

College Essays
1

I want to answer the Common App’s prompt 1 (significant background) and talk about this “heirloom” I got (a common, but meaningful, object) from my mute great-great-grandmother after trying to deny my culture. The topic resonates with me and the writing is passionate but I can’t avoid the reality that the topic is overdone to death and most advice urges me to avoid it. I have a cliché list that I keep handy. I won’t be talking about death in any manner or focus more on her than me. I’m concerned that writing about a Asian heritage will lead to subconscious discrimination/my essay melting into the pile.

I’m a strong writer and it is a moving story from what people who read it have told me. I don’t want it to be just another sob story though and this is why I keep hesitating on choosing it over drafts for other topics I’ve written on. I can’t help that the topic is broadly cliché. I’ve done what I can to make it refreshing and put my own spin on it, interweaving anecdotes and relevant details. From what (albeit little) I’ve written does it sound like the typical “grandparent” essay? What are some other clichés I could stand to avoid? Does the way you tell the story matter more than the topic?

2

Would YOU want to read this essay? Random details include a monkey basically mugging me and my family being a religious minority (in the Old Country, not in America).

3

The essay is meant to convey some of the attributes the colleges are looking for. For your college targets, do you have an idea of what those really are? It’s not like a hs assignment to write about something of great significance to you- unless that’s relevant to the admissions review and shows those attributes.

It’s fine to use a tale, to set context. Fine to use discovering your cultural identity. But loading with anecdotes and details can weigh it down. What do you think this essay reveals about you, how you’ll operate within the college community? And remember, show, not just tell.