<p>I know that a lot of people write essays about sports for challenges they have overcome, but what other topics have become cliched? </p>
<p>mission trips</p>
<p>I think any “cliche” can be written in a unique way, and having a unique topic will not in itself make your essay good. But some things I have seen frequently, specifically for challenges that have been overcome: </p>
<ul>
<li><p>Racial / Cultural : Dealing with coming to a new country, being a first-generation immigrant stuck between the parents’ home country and America, coming to accept the parents’ country / cultural, being privileged and travelling to a poorer country, and minorities using their hair as a metaphor for their identity </p></li>
<li><p>Academic : Learning to speak English, struggling in a class, dealing with a learning disability, overcoming a fear of public speaking</p></li>
<li><p>Extracurriculars : Having a tough job, having to audition or prepare for a selective team, club, or performance</p></li>
<li><p>Personal : Dealing with loss of a family member or friend, dealing with physical illness / injury, mental illness or addiction, accepting or breaking free from introversion or shyness, coping with poverty, divorce or parental abandonment / abuse, dealing with stereotypes</p></li>
</ul>