<p>1) Teaching myself to play piano and guitar even though nobody thought I could. My piano was broken so I played without sound, since I couldn't afford another one. I couldn't afford a guitar either so I used my brother's toy paper guitar to practice chord patterns even though I couldn't hear myself. Eventually I saved up enough $$ and it turned out that I was able to play both pretty well. Taught me to never give up, not to let anything get in the way of achieving my dreams, and that I can do anything I set my mind to.</p>
<p>2) Growing up with a bipolar, alcoholic father. Seeing the struggle of losing control over your body and trying to resist temptation but unable to. Constant screams, breaking things, etc. Feeling of loss and confusion of who my father really was when sober. He had to leave the country when I was in 9th grade. It caused a lot struggles but it made me see how every decision has an impact, has made me responsible, mature, and independent.</p>
<p>3) Moving to several schools in 9th and 10th grade. (6+) Used to be really shy, made me more outgoing, less anxious, more independent, more open-minded, more intrigued in other diversity and made me see the best in every situation.</p>
<p>4) Taken away from my mom in 10th grade and placed in foster care with my siblings. Learned to overcome depression, the importance of family, and definitely became more mature and independent. I learned not to take anything for granted, and it showed me that everything happens for a reason and all will be okay in the end. I learned that if I can't avoid a situation, to make the best of it.</p>
<p>5) When I was put into foster care, I was enrolled in online school. I initially had straight As but the foster home didn't have internet so I ended up with all Fs for the semester. I spent 11th grade retaking the classes. It was very depressing but it definitely humbled me. It taught me to value my education, how much I really love learning for the sake of learning and not necessarily for grades. I saw my gpa go from below a 3.0 and being very off track to graduate to above a 3.8 and the top 5% of my class and realized that with hard work anything is possible. It also taught me a lot of time management and that you gain something out of every poor experience.</p>
<p>So now I'm stuck choosing one topic, since the common app states "an experience" as in one. Which one do you think I should write about? Or maybe these are too personal(2-5) and I shouldn't write about them? </p>