Unlocking Your Potential: 5 Inspiring Common App Personal Growth Essay Examples
As students journey towards higher education, they come across numerous challenges and experiences. One crucial step on this journey is applying to colleges through a Common Application. Under this application, students are required to submit various essays, including personal growth essays. These essays speak to the personal growth students have experienced and how they have prepared to take on college life.
Here are 5 inspiring Common App Personal Growth Essay Examples that will help unlock your potential.
1. Learning from Failure
Failure is a great teacher, and it is one of the most common obstacles that students face. This essay showcases how the student learned from their mistakes, turned their failures into opportunities, and grew from the experiences.
For instance, a student might talk about their experience of performing badly in class, and then detail how they went on to analyze their mistakes and study harder. They might discuss how this process not only helped them to become a better student, but also a stronger and more resilient individual.
2. Overcoming Adversity
Adversity can come in various forms, from physical, mental, and emotional challenges to financial difficulties. This essay demonstrates how a student overcame adversity, the strength and perseverance they showed during the process, and the long-lasting positive impacts that emerged.
One example of this would be a student discussing their personal experiences of overcoming a severe illness or injury and going on to become a more empathetic and compassionate individual as a result. Another might be how a student overcame financial difficulties to continue their education, and how this experience strengthened their resolve and taught them valuable lessons.
3. Developing Cultural Awareness
In today’s globalized world, developing cultural awareness is becoming increasingly important, and this is a great theme for essays. In such an essay, students might discuss how they challenged their existing beliefs, learned new ways of thinking and looking at the world, and became more open-minded and empathetic individuals through exposure to different cultures.
For instance, a student might talk about visiting a different country, attending cultural festivals, or researching a culture they were previously unfamiliar with. Whatever the case, the essay should showcase how cultural awareness has helped shaped the student’s worldview positively.
4. Finding Personal Core Values
Understanding personal values is crucial for growth and success in life, and this essay theme delves into that. Students can discuss their thought processes and experiences that led them to discover their core values, how this discovery has influenced their decision-making, and what these values mean to them.
For instance, a student might discuss how they realized the importance of honesty, integrity, or innovation, and how this heightened awareness affected their interactions with others. Alternatively, they might detail how they sought out mentors or participated in internships that allowed them to examine the values they admire most.
5. Pursuing Passion
Passion is essential for success and fulfillment in life, and this theme speaks to students who have pursued their passions and turned them into relevant experiences. Students can discuss their passions, motivations, and the ways in which they pursued them either from their popular or niche hobbies.
For instance, a student might write about how they turned their love for art or poetry into a successful blog or social media following, how they participated in competitions or workshops to expand their skills, or how they overcame obstacles to pursue their passion.
Conclusion
These five inspiring personal growth essay examples demonstrate students’ perpetual growth and untapped potentials. By focusing on these themes, students can write compelling personal growth essays that showcase their experiences, lessons learned, and future potentials. Remember, when writing personal growth essays, students should be honest, specific, and self-reflective, and always showcase their best selves.
