When does it become a pity party?

College Essays
1

<p>When does an essay about you're life become a pity party? Are there things you shouldn't include?</p>

2

<p>The tips I’ve heard: avoid explaining, complaining, or bragging. Also avoid writing about unresolved issues – like anxiety, shyness, self-harm, etc.</p>

3

<p>@slant: What about resolved issues? I went through a lot in middle school (anorexia, suicidal thoughts, I lost several close family members—which caused the depression and eating disorder, etc.). I really didn’t think about writing about it, until I read on here about writing about how you’ve overcome something can benefit you. So now I’m considering it.</p>

4

<p>@1Rachel94: If you can write about it in a way that focuses on how you overcame those issues, and how the experience of struggling with them made you a stronger person, go for it.
What can be a problem is writing something like “I still have a ways to go in overcoming my [insert issue], but I’m stronger every day.” Honest and inspiring, but not attractive to a college which wants students who will be 100% prepared for academic stress. That’s why I certainly won’t be mentioning my social anxiety or eating disorder – I’m in the process of overcoming both, but I can’t truthfully say they’re totally gone, so it’s better to keep it to myself.
Anyway, if your issues are really truly resolved and the story of how you overcame them says something important about you, that’s awesome and I think it’s fine for an essay.</p>

5

<p>Would it be a bad idea to talk about having the quality of awkwardness, but spin it in a positive way as a way to describe who someone is and how he isn’t ashamed of it? My friend suggested using it, and I can’t decide if it’s a dumb pity magnet or an interesting contrast.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the feedback! I’ll consider the idea</p>