Are there any general tips anybody could give me about writing a college essay detailing how I grew from some relatively traumatic moments in my life without looking like someone hoping to guilt trip colleges into admitting them? Thanks.
College essays aren’t therapy sessions, and you want to be careful. I will be super honest. Unless your experience ended up making you homeless or maybe putting someone (not you) in jail, I might pick another topic. Did you read the essay tips pinned at the top of this forum? Read through those and think about how you want admissions officers to view you. Your first reaction to answering the prompts might not be the one that is most likely to help your admissions.
Focus on the growth not the traumatic events.
The point of the essay isn’t your past trauma but the person you are today, for their college class. Don’t lose sight of that. Know what qualities your target colleges look for. And remember, “Show, not just tell.” How do you show them the changes, not just claim them and hope adcoms believe you.
If you grew from those experiences, focus on the personal growth, not the trauma. Clearly articulate to yourself how this experience shows who you are. If you can’t do that, don’t write about it.