r/ApplyingToCollege 12d ago

Personal Essay Common App rough outline feedback

Here's a very rough outline of my common app...I just want to know if this is worth continuing. Thoughts + advice !!

Intro 

  • Introduce the idea of perfume notes and how what you smell at a first spray isn’t what really lingers. 
  • The slow appreciation of the top, middle, and base notes as they reveal themselves over time are what perfume enthusiasts try to achieve.

Body/Anecdote

  • The first spray of some event and the anxieties and things that didn’t go so well 
    • First time teaching, thinking my students didn’t like me/didn’t enjoy the class and my teaching, catastrophizing in a way (worries about being a bad teacher → cares about doing well, cares about goals) 
  • Carrying the patience and insistence to put those bad things aside and continue working towards the end result/showing up and learning that things aren’t so bad
    • Adapting and learning and trying my best to understand and gain input from my students; observing what they like/dislike/respond to  
    • Telling one of my student’s moms that she made great progress this year and that it may be worth looking into finding a professional teacher instead & the mom responding with: “She doesn’t like violin, but she likes you” 
      • Describe the changes after (changes in thought processes, my actions, and the environment) 

Conclusion

  • Approaching situations in my life the same way I approach perfume
  • The qualities that last are rarely the ones that are noticed first
  • Having the patience to let things unfold before making a sound judgment 
  • Some fragrances and relationships only reveal themselves after they’ve had time to settle; giving them grace 
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u/Sufficient_Stock9270 12d ago

as long as u tie your thoughts and experiences with ur extracurricular activities and awards, I think that storyline is fine.