What would be the best way to write about overcoming abuse, rape and death

<p>For my essay about bringing diversity to Rice, I plan to write about how as I child, I was abused and neglected then sexually assaulted which led to me being removed from my mother's home and then placed with my grandmother in a rural town. When I was 16 and junior, she had a stroke and died which then caused me to move from OH to GA with my father. I plan to write how I overcame ALL that and have used it to be an aid in my ministry and not let that stop me but propel me but I honestly dont know how to start.
I dont want it to be a tear jerker or cause them to "pity" me but I want to show them my strength, perseverance, and determination.</p>

<p>Any advice??</p>

<p>You can show strength, perseverance and determination by providing details about incidents or situations in which you demonstrated those traits.</p>

<p>See Show</a>, don't tell</p>

<p>no one else has any advice?</p>

<p>how should I start off something like that</p>

<p>Some possibilities:</p>

<p>--Write an outline, with only a few words for each heading; and/or</p>

<p>--Write an actual paragraph, any paragraph, whatever paragraph comes easiest to you. Then write another paragraph, whatever paragraph comes second easiest. Then build on one or both of those and gradually make connections.</p>

<p>--In making first drafts, don't worry about getting things exactly right. Just get your main ideas down. You can reread, edit and fine-tune later.</p>

<p>I only have this weekend to get my draft right. the ED deadline is NEXT FRIDAY</p>