Students Struggle To Write Their Personal Essays
As the school year starts, MBHS seniors have one subject rolling around in their mind: college applications. For many students, this is something that they’ve been anticipating since their freshman year, or even earlier. Some seniors are even excited about the process, eager to envision their future. Despite this preparation, students have been halted by a new obstacle, something that’s been awaiting them all these years: The personal narrative essay.
Students have been well aware of this task for years now, but upon opening their Google Doc, their minds felt as blank as the screen in front of them. Senior Juliana Buentiempo said, “I definitely struggled while writing my personal essay. It was difficult to pick a topic and write about it in detail and really fill in that word count.” Picking a topic for one’s essay has proven to be a challenge for many. While there’s a variety of prompts offered, they raise more questions than answers. Students find it challenging to describe a significant period of their life while still meeting the requirements of one of the various vaguely worded prompts.
Seniors have been writing essays since elementary school, but never one as deeply personal as this. When asked how the experience of writing this essay compares to previous experiences, senior Sofia Escalante said, “This essay is unlike any other essay I’ve written. It’s something to take more seriously. It’s not something you just turn in for a grade, it can potentially be a part of your future.”
Many other seniors share this sentiment with Escalante. The weight of this task is colossal; it can be the determining factor of a student’s future. No task previous to this has held this much importance. Each word written in this essay is valuable, each paragraph is meant to charm and enthrall the admissions committee. The pressure to meet this standard is weighing on the class of 2025.
Each student has their own strategy to overcome this challenge. One especially popular approach is to seek help from a professional. “I hired a college counselor to yell at me if I didn’t finish it,” said senior Noah Moreno. Moreno has also offered to personally assist his friends in this process, just as many others in his class have done.
While seniors can gain a new perspective by having a second opinion from a friend, the mystery of what colleges are looking for in an essay is still left unsolved. When asked to attempt to answer this question, college and career counselor Julia MacIntosh said, “I think colleges are definitely looking to find what’s unique about the student. They want you to show your voice.” MacIntosh was also asked which resources seniors should utilize to complete their essays. She recommended YouTube tutorials and MBHS counselors, including herself.
The personal narrative essay is a tremendous trial for college bound students, but seniors are certain they’ll persevere and conquer the threat. The objective before them is not the first challenge seniors have faced. Through blood, sweat, and typos, the class of 2025 is pushing through walls to complete this beast of an essay.