📌 Joint Exercise: I'll Write a Personal Statement Based on YOUR Life.
***Update*** Loved all the replies here! I will not be taking any more requests on this post. The two (soon three) “Mock Personal Statement Narrative” posts I created should serve as great and sufficient examples! The posts are linked in the “One-stop-hub” (the pinned post at the top of this page). 🙏🏼💪🏼 ******* Many students worry they don’t have anything unique to say in their personal statement. “Nothing big or dramatic has happened to me.” “My life isn't interesting enough.” “I’m not sure what colleges want to hear.” But you don’t need a life-changing event to write a powerful essay. You just need a real story—something honest and specific to you. Because no one else has your exact mix of experiences, perspective, and personality, you already have something worth telling. 👉 If you answer the 4 questions below, I’ll write a short personal statement narrative based on your answers—just to show you how much story is already in your life. ❕You won’t be able to use it in your actual application (I’ll be filling in the blanks with my own imagination). My goal is to prove that everyone has the raw material for a powerful essay. 👉 Write your answers in the comments (no overthinking): 1️⃣ What were three things you genuinely loved doing as a kid? Not what you were told to do—what you chose. Think Pokémon, baking experiments, comic books, building things, drawing, anything. 2️⃣ What are three words your friends would use to describe you? Be honest. Not résumé words—actual personality traits. 3️⃣ What are two or three dream jobs or lives—if anything were possible? Not what’s expected. Just what feels exciting, interesting, or fulfilling to you. Examples: 🎨 “I’d design video game worlds and write the stories behind them.” 🌿 “I’d live on a quiet farm, grow my own food, and write a book.” 🔍 “I’d research ancient languages and explore lost civilizations.” 4️⃣ What’s one small thing that felt hard for you? Not dramatic—just something that felt frustrating, awkward, or confusing in the moment. Doesn’t need to be school-related. Write in 1 sentence (max 3 sentences) what happened.