<p>Is it a bad idea to write an essay that portrays you as a little pathetic? Maybe pathetic isn’t the right word, but I’ve started to write an essay about the time that I was robbed. There’s a courageous aspect to the story: I chased after the thief and got my stuff back. However, part of the essay focuses on how emotional I became afterward. It’s an interesting story, but I worry that colleges may think that I’m weak or unable to handle pressure.</p>