my personal growth and development essay

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How to Write a Family Essay with Examples

Writing about your family gives you a chance to think about your own experiences and what matters to you. It lets you look at how your family works together and share important stories from your life. This guide will help you write a good family essay that others will find interesting, whether you're doing it for school or just want to put your family's story on paper.

What is a Family Essay?

A family essay is a personal story that talks about your experiences with your family, your relationships, and what you value. It's a type of personal essay that teachers often ask students to write to see how well they can tell their family stories.

The main goal of a family essay is to share your own thoughts on family values, traditions, and how you're all connected. It's a chance to talk about the love in your family, share favorite memories, or describe the strong bonds between family members.

Useful Tips for Writing an Essay on Family Topics

To write a great family essay, you need to plan and write carefully. Here are some helpful tips:

• Start with something interesting: Begin your essay with a fun fact or story about your family to get the reader's attention right away.
• Make a clear main point: Write a short statement that sums up the main idea of your essay. This will guide your writing and help readers understand what you're focusing on.
• Do your research: Find out more about your family's history, traditions, and cultural background. This will make your essay more real and detailed.
• Organize your essay well: Arrange your thoughts into a clear introduction, middle sections, and conclusion. Each part should lead smoothly into the next.
• Use clear descriptions: Make your family members and experiences come to life with detailed descriptions. This will help readers feel connected to your story.
• Include your own thoughts: Share how you feel about family events or how your family works together. This makes your writing more real and personal.
• Check and fix your work: After you finish writing, take time to read over and improve your essay. Look for grammar mistakes, make sentences better, and make sure your ideas are clear.

When thinking about how to write about your family, remember that being real is important. Your own point of view and experiences will make your essay special.

Interesting Ideas on Family Essay Related Topics

Picking a good topic is important when writing about your family. Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

• How family traditions have changed over time
• How technology affects how families talk to each other
• Finding a balance between being yourself and what your family expects
• How extended family members fit into today's families
• What we learn from family arguments and how we solve them
• How cultural background affects how families work together
• What "family" means in different types of families
• Why family support is important for personal growth
• Dealing with differences between older and younger family members
• How shared experiences make family bonds stronger

When you write about these topics, think about how they relate to your own life. For example, if you're writing about how technology affects family communication, you could share a story about how video calls help you stay in touch with relatives who live far away.

Remember, the best family essays mix personal stories with concepts about how families work and how they fit into society.

Family Essay Example: Why family support is important for personal growth

“ Family support is similar to having a group of people who both encourage you and protect you. It's more than just having people nearby; it's about having individuals who truly want you to succeed. When I was afraid of speaking in front of others, my sister's encouraging words helped me get through my first presentation. And truthfully, who else but family would listen to you practice guitar poorly without complaining? This kind of support without conditions gives us the bravery to try new things outside of what we're used to. It's also a way to learn from others - I've learned many things, from cooking advice to useful life tips, from different family members. Even when we don't agree, we grow; those serious discussions at dinner taught me how to defend my opinions and express my thoughts clearly. Yes, family can be frustrating at times, but they're also the ones who will stop what they're doing to help you move or listen to you when you're worried late at night. This combination of care, challenges, and support creates a special environment where we can be our true selves and slowly become the best versions of ourselves. ”

Closing Remarks

Writing a family essay helps you learn about yourself and think deeply. It's a chance to look closely at your relationships, celebrate what makes your family special, and understand more about how your family affects your life and the world around you.

Remember, the process of writing about your family can be just as rewarding as the finished essay. Take this opportunity to think about how your family has shaped your life and let your true voice come through in your writing.

Ready to bring your family story to life? Let Aithor's intuitive AI writing tools help you write a compelling and heartfelt family essay that captures the essence of your unique experiences.

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Beyond the trail: what a long hike reveals about stretch goals.

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Cliffside View of Golden Gate Bridge from Land's End in San Francisco, California

Sunday, I completed the longest hike of my life, 18+ miles across my beautiful city, San Francisco. My daughter Madeline and I started out just after 9:00 a.m. watching egrets take flight on the still, quiet San Francisco Bay at Candlestick Point. We made our way diagonally across the city via the Cross Town Trail , favoring parks, green spaces, and trails wherever possible, climbing to heights with gorgeous vistas, descending through eucalyptus forests that made us forget we were in a city, and ending some eight hours later—tired and sweaty but elated—at Land’s End overlooking the majestic Pacific Ocean. And now, as I nurse a few sore muscles and reflect on the experience, I can’t help but draw connections to leadership and goal-setting. The lessons are not new, but worth repeating.

Motivating Goal . We started with a clearly defined goal. For me, it was a stretch, but like all good stretch goals , it was challenging, achievable, and inspiring. I believed that I could do it, but it was beyond anything I had done before. Though I’m strong and have hiked quite a bit, eighteen miles is about four to five times the length of my typical urban hikes. Could I do it? Yes, I thought so. I was intrigued and knew I would feel proud if I did. My other daughter Margot had completed the trail a couple of weeks before, and so we were also fueled by a competitive spirit . If she could do it, so could we!

Monitoring and Feedback . Thanks to the wonders of GPS, activity-tracking watches, and apps like AllTrails , I was able to monitor and track our progress all along the route. At about 10 am, when we were 1.7 miles into what we thought would be 16.9 miles (it wound up being a bit longer thanks to some detours), I turned to my daughter and said, “We’re 10% of the way there.” Tracking our progress helped us stay informed and motivated and gave us an ongoing sense of accomplishment. And when we strayed from the path, my phone flashed a notification that we had deviated from the established route. In several instances, this alert ( real-time feedback ) helped us course-correct so we didn’t miss some of the hidden paths and other features of the trail. And when we chose to deviate from the route to go to our favorite noodle shop, we did it intentionally and with purpose.

Screenshot of Cross Town Trail

Companionship . Although my goal was ostensibly an individual one, I don’t think I would have tackled the challenge without a friend and fellow traveler to share the journey with me. We were united by a shared purpose and commitment, and we supported and kept each other company along the way. At times we chatted and at other times we were in our own thoughts. Mostly we were in sync, having established a game-plan at the outset, but we also had different needs that required flexibility. At one point I asked her to slow a bit to accommodate my pace. Later, I waited for her while she stood in a long line at a coffee shop. I pointed out birds, she spotted lizards, and we both exclaimed at the views. And when we confronted yet another staircase mid-afternoon, and my legs felt like heavy hollow logs, her strength and determination helped me find mine. “We’ve got this,” we said more than once. The power of mutual validation .

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Rest . By definition, a stretch goal is taxing—often both physically and mentally. You can’t go flat-out all the time. As Tony Schwartz and Jim Loehr point out in their classic Harvard Business Review article, “ The Making of a Corporate Athlete ,” to achieve sustained high performance, both athletes and professionals need periods of expending energy and periods of renewing energy. The oscillation between states is key. We planned our rest breaks from the start. The Cross Town Trail can be divided into three sections of roughly 6 miles, and at the end of the first and second we took extended breaks: iced lattes and snacks at 11:15 and a sit-down lunch at the noodle shop around 2:00. It was amazing how much those breaks renewed and revived us, and I am convinced that it was not just the calories and caffeine—it was truly resting our bodies—that allowed us to continue.

Surprises (Smell the Roses) . Although my daughter and I were focused on our goal and tracked our progress along the map, what made the journey truly engaging and energizing was keeping our eyes open to the world around us. One of the joys of the hike was experiencing parts of the city that we had never seen: chain of beautiful greenways in Visitacion Valley ; the volunteer-made Steep Ravine Trail in a forest in the middle of the city; mosaic staircases taking us up hills too steep for roads and revealing views and perspectives we had never seen before in a city we know well. Each surprise was a source of energy. The principle of no surprises management (which holds that your manager or co-workers should never be blind-sided) notwithstanding, staying open to surprise and to changing your perspective is essential to being flexible and questioning your assumptions. Even the cliché of stopping to smell the roses revealed the surprisingly different scents of wide variety of roses found in the Golden Gate Park Rose Garden , reminding us of the subtle and rich diversity in the world around us. And despite what the media might say about San Francisco, it remains a rich and varied city full of beauty.

Of course, our goal—though a stretch for me personally—could be accomplished in a day. And unlike many business objectives in our complex world, we had a well-delineated map, street signs and trail markers. Most business OKRs and personal goals don’t come come with turn-by-turn directions. Instead, you have a desired outcome and a working hypothesis of how to get where you are going. But these uncertainties only underline the principles above: start with a clear and inspiring goal, actively monitor and seek feedback, work a team or a buddy, take time to rest and renew, and be open to surprises. These are not just lessons or principles, they are values that can guide an individual or team in pursuit of excellence. (Noodle soup helps, too!)

Vietnamese chicken noodle soup, Pho Ga

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What We Know About Kamala Harris’s $5 Trillion Tax Plan So Far

The vice president supports the tax increases proposed by the Biden White House, according to her campaign.

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By Andrew Duehren

Reporting from Washington

In a campaign otherwise light on policy specifics, Vice President Kamala Harris this week quietly rolled out her most detailed, far-ranging proposal yet: nearly $5 trillion in tax increases over a decade.

That’s how much more revenue the federal government would raise if it adopted a number of tax increases that President Biden proposed in the spring . Ms. Harris’s campaign said this week that she supported those tax hikes, which were thoroughly laid out in the most recent federal budget plan prepared by the Biden administration.

No one making less than $400,000 a year would see their taxes go up under the plan. Instead, Ms. Harris is seeking to significantly raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans and large corporations. Congress has previously rejected many of these tax ideas, even when Democrats controlled both chambers.

While tax policy is right now a subplot in a turbulent presidential campaign, it will be a primary policy issue in Washington next year. The next president will have to work with Congress to address the tax cuts Donald J. Trump signed into law in 2017. Many of those tax cuts expire after 2025, meaning millions of Americans will see their taxes go up if lawmakers don’t reach a deal next year.

Here’s an overview of what we now know — and still don’t know — about the Democratic nominee’s views on taxes.

Higher taxes on corporations

The most recent White House budget includes several proposals that would raise taxes on large corporations . Chief among them is raising the corporate tax rate to 28 percent from 21 percent, a step that the Treasury Department estimated could bring in $1.3 trillion in revenue over the next 10 years.

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How to Write a Personal Growth Essay 

By Eric Eng

How to Write a Personal Growth Essay

In the world of academic admissions, the personal growth essay stands as a monumental pillar where potential meets opportunity. It is here that students get the chance to showcase not just their academic prowess, but also their journey of self-discovery, growth, and the lessons that have shaped them into who they are today.

For students ready to weave their narrative into a compelling personal growth essay, this blog post seeks to be the guiding light that illuminates the path to success. Here, we delve deep into the crafting process, giving you tips to construct an essay that is both genuine and impactful.

What is a personal growth essay?

In the realm of college admissions, the personal growth essay serves as a formidable tool to express character, experiences, and personal evolution. This isn’t merely a timeline of events; rather, it charts the intricate journey of change, realizations, and discoveries that leave a significant mark on one’s life.

The Essence of a Personal Growth Essay

Central to the personal growth essay is the emphasis on the transformative journey of an individual. It’s not just a compilation of events or a simple chronological tale. This essay highlights your understanding, maturity, and moments of self-discovery. It narrates how experiences, both monumental and subtle, mold perspectives and guide future decisions.

Diving into the Aspects of Personal Growth

Overcoming Personal Challenges:

Life brims with tests of our strength and character. You might have grappled with personal insecurities, academic hurdles, or physical challenges. Discussing these in your essay isn’t merely about describing them. It’s about illustrating resilience, determination, and the tactics you employed to conquer them, giving readers an insight into your character’s depth and resilience.

Embracing New Skills or Hobbies:

Opting to delve into something unfamiliar, whether it’s a sport, musical instrument, or craft, often ushers in both challenges and rewards. Through this, your character layers are enriched by countless hours of practice, moments of frustration, and the exhilaration of finally mastering the skill. This journey showcases your curiosity, commitment, and incessant drive to evolve.

Shifting Personal Beliefs or Values:

Throughout your life, encounters with diverse cultures, people, and experiences might have reshaped previously held beliefs or values. Writing about this transformation can highlight your adaptability, open-mindedness, and maturity to embrace diverse viewpoints.

Gaining Insight from Memorable Experiences:

Life offers moments, be they during travel, community service, or a profound conversation, that trigger deep realizations. These epiphanies can recalibrate life goals, ambitions, and viewpoints. When you discuss such an experience, focus on its subsequent impact on your life.

Reflection as the Backbone of Your Essay

The reflection component is paramount in the personal growth essay. Merely narrating events isn’t sufficient; diving into their deeper implications is crucial. Consider asking yourself:

• What insights did the experience offer?
• How did it recalibrate your perspective on life or relationships?
• What emotions did you navigate during this phase?
• How have you integrated lessons from this episode into other facets of your life?

Your reflective thoughts highlight your analytical prowess, introspection, and profound comprehension. It’s these reflections that breathe authenticity into your narrative, allowing it to connect genuinely with readers.

In summation, the personal growth essay is a profound exploration—a journey of self-realization, maturity, and evolution. By emphasizing not just events, but their ripple effects, you can craft an essay that captures your journey and deeply engages readers.

Why is it important?

In the competitive realm of college applications, your essay serves as a beacon, showcasing your unique experiences, traits, and aspirations.

Among various essay topics, personal growth remains an illuminating choice. Why should you opt for this theme? Let’s delve into its unmatched importance.

1. The Universal Appeal of Growth

Everyone, regardless of background or age, undergoes personal growth. This universal theme ensures your essay resonates with many.

The Impact of Relatability:

Admissions officers don’t just seek a well-written essay; they yearn for a connection. By sharing your transformative experiences, you build a bond with the reader, tapping into shared human experiences.

A Broad Spectrum of Experiences:

Growth provides a wide canvas. It can encompass a range of experiences, from tackling challenges to significant self-discoveries, allowing you to mold the theme to reflect your unique path.

2. Demonstrating Resilience: The Story Behind Your Growth

Growth often emerges from confronting challenges, making errors, and bouncing back stronger. Such narratives showcase your adaptability and resilience—qualities universities admire.

The Importance of Resilience:

The dynamic college environment demands adaptability. By showcasing your resilience, you assure universities of your capability to handle diverse challenges.

Analyzing Your Growth:

Universities appreciate understanding how you achieve your growth. Did you proactively seek help? Did you reflect and pinpoint areas for self-improvement? Your approach to growth demonstrates your proactive nature and self-awareness.

3. Depth Beyond Grades

While academic achievements remain pivotal, they provide a limited view of an applicant. Universities seek multifaceted individuals, ready to become tomorrow’s leaders and innovators.

Showcasing Your Depth:

While grades reveal your academic competence, personal growth essays delve into your emotional intelligence, passion, and empathy. This perspective offers a comprehensive insight into the experiences that have molded your aspirations.

Charting Your Evolution:

Detailing your growth milestones illustrates your commitment to personal development. It’s an opportunity to highlight your journey, allowing universities to understand the individual behind the grades.

In conclusion, while numerous essay topics are available, focusing on personal growth presents a distinctive blend of universal appeal, resilience, and depth. Such an essay transcends academic achievements, offering a holistic view of your journey and readiness for the future. This perspective could be the distinguishing factor in your college application , setting you apart in the admissions process.

Crafting the Perfect Personal Growth Essay

Your personal growth essay stands out as a unique window into your soul, illustrating your journey, the challenges you’ve faced, and how you’ve transformed. How do you ensure your essay distinguishes itself among thousands? Dive into the art of crafting a compelling narrative about personal growth.

1. Choose Your Story: The Heartbeat of Your Essay

The essence of your essay lies in the story you decide to narrate. Growth can sprout from myriad experiences, both grand and ordinary.

Moments that Matter:

Your initial thought might be to highlight a significant event or milestone. Yet, often, what may seem like simple moments—a conversation, a book, or a fleeting thought—can leave lasting impacts. The focus should be on how deeply the experience changed you.

A Tapestry of Emotions:

Ensure your story covers a spectrum of emotions, from challenges and setbacks to triumphs and revelations, making your narrative both engaging and relatable.

2. Engage the Reader: Begin with a Bang

Your essay’s opening lines are pivotal. They can either draw in or push away the reader.

Imagery and Description:

Use vivid imagery and sensory details to immerse the reader in your world. Allow them to experience your journey firsthand.

Anecdotal Approach:

Initiate your essay with a brief, related anecdote, that serves as a captivating hook.

3. Deep Reflection: Delve Beyond the Surface

After narrating your experience, it’s essential to reflect on its significance.

Show, Don’t Just Tell:

Instead of merely stating your growth, use examples. Highlight how you’ve evolved over time.

4. Authenticity: Let Your True Self Shine Through

In your eagerness to impress, don’t lose your genuine voice or overstate events.

Unfiltered Truth:

Share your story, with all its vulnerabilities and imperfections. Authentic narratives, filled with genuine emotions, resonate most.

Consistency in Voice:

Your writing should sound like you. While articulation is crucial, avoid sounding overly formal or academic.

5. Review and Revise: Refine Your Narrative

After writing down your draft, approach it critically, refining it as needed.

External Perspectives:

Even though your narrative is personal, feedback from mentors, peers, or teachers can offer invaluable insights.

Grammar and Structure:

Ensure flawless grammar and a logical flow in your essay. This not only demonstrates your attention to detail but also makes your piece more engaging.

An essay on personal growth paints a picture of your experiences, reflections, and growth. By weaving your story with authenticity, depth, and clarity, you create a narrative that not only resonates but also stands as a testament to your transformative journey.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Your essay on personal growth stands as a testament to introspection, reflection, and transformation. Like all writing, potential pitfalls can diminish its power. Here’s how you can recognize and avoid these traps:

1. The Power of Detail: Avoiding Vagueness

Broad statements might sound deep, but often they lack depth and relatability.

Paint a Picture:

Instead of stating that you learned resilience, dive deep. Did you face numerous rejections before securing an internship? Did a subject challenge you until you mastered it? Specifics enhance authenticity and paint a clearer picture, letting your readers connect with your journey.

Make Your Story Unique:

Incorporate anecdotes, emotions, and observations. This touch makes your essay stand out and remain in memory.

2. Embracing the Full Spectrum: Not Just the Negative

Challenges drive growth, but they’re only part of the story. Focusing only on them overshadows the positive outcomes of the experience.

Spot the Silver Linings:

After detailing challenges, turn your attention to the lessons you gleaned, the skills you honed, and the positive shifts that occurred. This balance demonstrates resilience and the ability to find optimism during tough times.

Cherish Every Step:

Each growth moment, big or small, matters. Celebrate your increased self-awareness, moments of determination, and times of revelation.

3. More than Just a List: Showcasing Depth

Your essay isn’t merely an extension of your achievements. It’s a space to reveal the passion and struggle behind those accomplishments.

Detail the Journey:

An achievement marks a growth milestone, but the path, with its challenges and revelations, holds the true value.

Look Beyond Accolades:

Focus on the emotional and psychological growth layers, elements often hidden in the simple lists of a resume.

4. The Essence of Reflection: Go Beyond the Surface

Reflection is essential. An essay without it might seem shallow.

Probe Deeper into Your Experiences:

After sharing events, consider their impact. How did they influence you? Why did they matter? What did you uncover about yourself?

Chart Your Evolution:

Illustrate your transformation, highlighting shifts in perspective, values, or dreams.

To wrap up, writing about personal growth is an introspective journey. By navigating around these pitfalls, you ensure a narrative that’s impactful and a testament to your development.

Connecting Your Personal Growth Essay to College Admissions

For many students, navigating the college admissions process feels daunting. Each component demands precision and attention. Particularly, essays on personal growth provide a unique opportunity to display one’s development as an individual.

How can you strategically align this essay with your college aspirations? Let’s explore.

Demonstrating Fit: Aligning Your Journey with Academic Goals

Every student possesses a unique story. Where your journey intersects with academic ambitions, you can craft a compelling narrative for admissions committees.

Connecting the Dots:

Did a specific event deepen your interest in a particular field? By drawing a clear link between your experiences and your chosen major, you can show genuine passion and dedication. For example, if a robotics competition honed your problem-solving abilities and heightened your engineering interest, such a discussion would appeal to an engineering program.

Showcasing Alignment:

Though the journey is crucial, it’s also vital to demonstrate how it resonates with your desired college’s ethos, values, or curriculum. This alignment suggests to admissions committees not just that you’re an excellent student, but that you’re a perfect fit for their institution.

Distinguishing Yourself: The Unique Impact of Your Journey

With a sea of applicants boasting notable academic and extracurricular achievements, your essay on personal development can be the distinguishing factor.

The Power of Perspective:

Two students might share similar experiences, but their insights, reflections, and developments can be vastly different. Your unique viewpoint and depth of introspection can set your essay apart.

Narrating Uncharted Paths:

Some growth experiences are unconventional. Embracing and articulating these journeys can spotlight your individuality and determination.

Highlighting Soft Skills: Unveiling the Hidden Side of You

While academic excellence is vital, universities are increasingly valuing soft skills, as they often predict adaptability and success in various settings.

The Canvas of Growth:

Use your essay as a platform to highlight skills such as resilience, empathy, leadership, or conflict resolution. For instance, if you bridged cultural gaps during a study abroad experience, it underscores your adaptability and open-mindedness.

Balancing Act:

When detailing these skills, ensure your narrative doesn’t sound boastful. Focus on the journey, letting soft skills emerge naturally from your story.

An essay on personal growth isn’t just about individual development. It’s a strategic piece of your college application. By connecting your story to academic goals, showcasing unique viewpoints, and highlighting soft skills, you can craft a powerful narrative that emphasizes your suitability and worth as a prospective student.

As you approach the admissions process, having expert guidance can be invaluable. AdmissionSight specializes in helping students position themselves in the best possible light for college admissions. Their expertise can assist you in refining your personal growth essay, ensuring it aligns with your overall application narrative, and increasing your chances of being admitted to your dream college.

Remember, the college admissions journey is not just about showcasing your academic prowess, but sharing your unique story and growth. With the right guidance and a compelling personal growth essay, your dream college is within reach.

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Essay on My Personal Development

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Personal Development in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Personal Development

Introduction to personal growth.

Personal development is about getting better and learning new things. It’s like growing taller but for your mind and skills. Just like a plant needs water to grow, our minds need new knowledge and practice.

Learning New Things

I try to learn something new every day. It can be a new word, a math problem, or a fact about the world. This makes my brain stronger and more ready for school quizzes and life.

Overcoming Challenges

When things get tough, I don’t give up. I keep trying, even if I fail at first. Each time I try, I get a little better. This is how I grow.

Being nice to people is also part of personal development. When I help friends and share, it makes me feel good and builds my character.

Staying Healthy

Every day, I work on being a better me. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. I’m excited to keep growing and learning.

250 Words Essay on My Personal Development

Personal development is like a journey where I learn new things and become a better version of myself. It’s about improving skills, gaining knowledge, and setting goals for a brighter future. Think of it as planting a seed that slowly grows into a strong tree.

One big part of personal growth is learning. This can be at school, from books, or through talking with others. Every new fact or skill is like a tool in my toolbox, helping me solve problems and do things better. Just like a video game character that levels up, I feel stronger and more confident with each new thing I learn.

Setting Goals

Setting goals is another important step. These are like checkpoints in a race that guide me where to go. When I set a goal, I have something to aim for, like getting better at math or learning to play a musical instrument. Reaching these goals makes me proud and pushes me to set even bigger ones.

Life can throw challenges my way, but facing them is key to personal development. Each time I overcome a problem, I learn and get tougher. It’s like a puzzle that seems hard at first, but once I solve it, I feel great and ready for the next one.

My personal development is an exciting adventure. It’s about learning, setting goals, and facing challenges. With each step, I grow just like that seed into a strong tree, ready to reach for the sky.

500 Words Essay on My Personal Development

When we talk about personal development, we mean the way a person grows or gets better over time. It’s like when you learn to ride a bike. At first, you might fall and have trouble, but with practice, you can ride smoothly. Personal development is similar. It’s about learning new things and becoming a better version of yourself.

One big part of personal growth is learning. This doesn’t just mean school subjects, but also things like playing a sport, cooking, or even how to be a good friend. Every time you learn something new, your brain grows stronger. Think of your brain as a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.

Setting goals is like having a map for a treasure hunt. Your goals are the treasure, and the map is the plan you make to reach them. When you have a goal, like getting better grades or saving money for a new toy, it gives you something to work towards. It’s important to make sure your goals are clear and possible to reach.

Sometimes, things get tough. Maybe you’re trying to learn how to spell difficult words, or you’re not getting along with a friend. These tough times are challenges. Overcoming them is a big part of personal development. When you face a challenge and work through it, you get stronger and more confident.

Being Healthy

Your body and mind are connected. If you want to grow as a person, taking care of your body is important. Eating good food, getting enough sleep, and playing or exercising keep you healthy. When you’re healthy, your mind is ready to learn and grow.

Building Relationships

Being positive.

Having a positive attitude can make a huge difference in personal development. It’s like when the sun comes out after a rainy day. Everything feels better. When you think positively, you’re more likely to try new things and keep going, even when it’s hard.

Personal development is all about growing and getting better, step by step. It’s learning new things, setting goals, and overcoming challenges. It’s staying healthy, building relationships, and keeping a positive attitude. Just like a plant needs water and sunlight to grow, you need challenges, learning, and support to grow. So keep trying new things, and remember, every day is a chance to grow a little more.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Essays About Personal Growth: Top 5 Examples and 8 Prompts

If you’re writing essays about personal growth, our guide’s article examples and prompts will help stimulate your creative thinking.

Personal growth is looking at ways to improve yourself mentally, socially, spiritually, emotionally or physically. It is a process where we envision a better version of ourselves and strive to realize that ideal self. Personal growth demands the setting of personal goals and ensuring routine progress. The work toward personal development involves a great deal of hard work and discipline as we push our existing skills and strengths to a higher boundary while reducing our underlying weaknesses.  

Read our essay examples and prompts below to help you produce a rich and creative essay about personal growth.

5 Essay Examples About Personal Growth

1. is it really too late to learn new skills by margaret talbot, 2. i’ve completed hundreds of 30-day challenges. here’s what i’ve learned by tara nicholle-nelson, 3. i was a self-help guru. here’s why you shouldn’t listen to people like me by michelle goodman, 4. how to craft a personal development plan that inspires meaningful results by scott jeffrey, 5. personal development and the power of feedback by emily marsh, 10 prompts on essays about personal growth, 1. why is personal growth important, 2. take up a personal growth challenge, 3. your personal growth journey, 4. personal growth among successful people, 5. personal growth for leaders , 6. personal growth at work, 7. best personal growth books, 8. strong motivation for achieving personal growth.

“… [H]e decides to throw himself into acquiring five new skills. (That’s his term, though I started to think of these skills as “accomplishments” in the way that marriageable Jane Austen heroines have them, talents that make a long evening pass more agreeably, that can turn a person into more engaging company, for herself as much as for others.)

Learning new things may not be a cup of tea for those in their middle ages. To get out of established expertise, be looked down on as a novice, and push the brain to work double time may even be a dreary and intimidating process. , But Journalist Tom Vanderbilt, award-winning writers, and Nobel Prize recipients prove that satisfaction is worth it for personal growth and fulfillment. 

“I think of Challenges as self-directed projects to change my behavior or spark some personal growth or development I’m clear that I’d like to have. Sometimes I want a mindset shift or want to make (or break) a habit, or I just have a sort of big project I want to sprint to finish…”

Why are we so drawn to self-imposed challenges? For one, it’s a competition only between you and yourself, giving room for flexibility in the rules you set. It provides structure to your goals, chunks your bigger long-term self-growth goals into gradual and doable daily tasks, provokes a sense of self-accountability, and helps you focus your energy on what matters most. 

“Apparently, I learned, gurus are people too, even gurus lining the self-help shelves of friendly neighborhood bookstores. They aren’t infallible, all-knowing oracles above worrying about their generous muffin top or widening backside. They are businesspeople — businesspeople with books, keynotes, and openings in their consulting practice to peddle”

From abhorring gurus to becoming one and then hating the industry much more — this is the story of a self-help book author who realizes it was herself who needed the most advice for personal growth. But, as she creates a facade of a well-balanced life to establish her credibility, things turn dark, almost costing her life. 

“When entertainment, distraction, and workaholism consume our attention, something doesn’t feel right within us… To have a full and meaningful life requires us to open to more dimensions of ourselves. And a Personal Development Plan can help us do just that.”

Everyone strives for personal growth. But once we jump at it, some wrong ingredients may spoil the sense of fulfillment we expect. The right process involves navigating your potential, creating a larger vision, selecting areas to focus on, setting your schedule, and monitoring your progress. You might also be interested in these essays about motivation .

“Without feedback, we would learn very little about ourselves, in or out of work. The feedback process is like holding a mirror up to yourself; that’s why it can be uncomfortable at times. You have to be prepared to listen to and acknowledge whatever reveals itself.”

Hearing feedback is critical to personal growth. Negative feedback is constructive in losing our bad habits. However, purely positive feedback is non-progressive and dangerous if we only seek to affirm how we regard ourselves.

We can never be perfect. But we can always progress. In your essay, explain why nurturing a growth mindset in life is essential. What long-term benefits can you reap daily from wanting to be a better person? How does it affect the mind, body, and overall wellness? Answer these while citing studies that outline the essence of personal growth.

Take up any challenge you find exciting and feel up to. Then, write about your experience. If successful, offer tips to your readers on how one can prepare their body, mind, and discipline to stick to the goals. If you did not complete the challenge, don’t worry! Your failure can still be a learning experience that contributes to personal growth and is worth writing about. In addition, you can add what areas of yourself you would like to improve on if you ever take up the challenge again. 

Talk about your goals and your daily efforts to reach this goal. It could relate to acing a test, your sports team winning or professional success. Of course, there will be a handful of challenges in any journey toward a goal. What were the obstacles and distractions that tried to keep you off track? Share these with your readers and how you strived or are striving to conquer them.

When you see people already at the height of their careers, you’ll find some continuing to walk out of their comfort zones and reach for the next higher mountain. For this essay, explain the connection between striving for personal growth and success. Then, provide a list of everyday habits among successful people that others could consider adopting.

Leaders must adapt and address problems efficiently and decisively as they move through a fast-changing landscape. Elaborate on how the pursuit of personal growth helps leaders deliver in their enormous role in organizations, companies, and communities.

If you firmly believe that growth at work translates to personal growth, it would be less hard for you to get by at work. But this gets a bit more complex if your feel that your work is no longer satisfying your self-actualization needs and even limiting you. For this prompt, help your readers determine if it’s time to quit their job and continue their journey for personal growth elsewhere. If you want to address companies, offer recommendations enabling their employees to grow and have a vision for themselves. You may also suggest how managers can keep an open line of communication so that personnel can relay their self-development needs.

We all have that book that has given us a new kind of energy that made us feel and believe we can do anything if we put our heart into it. We keep these books close to our hearts, serving as a reminder of other bigger goals ahead of us when the going gets tough. Create a numbered list of the books that have captivated you and helped you realize your potential. Talk about the best quotes that struck the chord and the thought racing in your mind while reading them.

When you tap onto your inherent and external motivation for a much-needed push, it may be easier to turn bad moments into something that helps advance personal development plans. For your essay, explain how motivation can be a bridge to get you to your growth goals.

If you’re still stuck, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

For help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

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Essay Samples on Personal Growth and Development

Community service: the synthesis of societal progress and personal growth.

The tapestry of society is woven with myriad threads, each representing diverse pursuits, challenges, and endeavors. Among these threads, community service stands out as a beacon of altruism and societal progress. Through various academic studies, personal narratives, and historical references, it becomes evident that community...

• Community Service
• Personal Growth and Development

Personal Reflection About How to Find True Passion in Learning

Is there we could learn from others? How can I help others/myself learn? As we all know humans are better than the other animals at learning from each other. We must always take benefit of this power and learn from as many people as we...

Growing A Grit And Growth Mindset

In today's society, there is a belief that intelligence is tied to GPA. There is a stereotype about intelligence. It is the idea that you are either smart or not smart. You either understand it or you do not. What happens if you are between?...

• Intelligence

Why I Want To Be A Nurse And My Future Plans

A family nurse practitioner is a trained person in the field of nursing that majors in looking at the wellbeing of a patient either a child or adult based on family context. The aim of this research is to focus on seven main key points,...

• Why I Want To Be A Nurse

The Role of Personal Development Planning Today

The essay deals with the PKSC module experiences that reflect on the academic study. Here, the different lectures are guided regarding the reflection that ensure the personal development. The other skills are mentioned research skills, digital skills, reading skills and MS office skills. Besides, the...

• Personal Development Planning
• Personal Goals

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Do What Makes You Believe: Standing Up For What You Believe In

We all know that every person has its own different beliefs as they experience it, specially from the places or culture they have been through that has been past through out the different generation. It may be different from the usual happenings but it still...

Building Capacity: Improving Your Skills

On behalf of Access Community Services Limited, which is one of Australia’s foremost multinational, Non- Governmental Organizations and has more than thirty years of experience in the provision of employment, training, youth support services, opportunities for migrants and refugees, and empowerment of the women as...

Sports And Life Experiences And How They Shape The Person You Are Today

Over time, people have begun to believe sports shape people poorly, they’ll say that it makes the player arrogant, cocky, and even rude, but what if I told you they were completely wrong? What if I told you sports changed your personality for the better?...

• Competitive Sports
• Individual Identity

Never Quit Or Give Up: Personal Story Of Not Stopping

It was a bright Saturday morning at the fields I was seven years old and all that was going through my head was “just quit, you’re not good” and I think “just go home and watch tv.” The thoughts just kept continuing and now I...

• Never Give Up

Benefits Of Being Open Minded And Tolerant To Other People

As we grow up, we are told to keep an open mind, as it is equated with growth and positivity. It helps people find opportunities, take risks, manage uncertainty, and understand other people. However, there are certain events in our lives which make us close-minded....

Fun Hobbies And Interests That Can Enrich Your Life

Summer’s finally here! After all those exams, research papers and group projects, it’s finally time for a well-deserved, long break. I’m sure you’ve already made plans to fill up your time during this vacation. That’s great. Have some sun and fun travelling to interesting places...

• Positive Psychology

Important Info To Know About Hobbies And Interests

The realm of interests includes some thing for anyone. There is no fascination or expertise so imprecise that we now have no other people to discuss it with. So, think about something that you love to learn about or would love to discover how to...

Growing Up: The Same Person That You Were 5 Years Ago

What causes a person to change? Could it be a person's age, physical appearance, their mindset? Even if these things change does that necessarily mean a person themself is changing? Is it still that same person if everything about them is different from when they...

My Personal Responsibility: Taking Responsibility For Your Actions

First of all, I have a personal responsibility to know who I am, what I can do and what I want in my life. What's going to help me set my goals, know the strategies I'm going to use, and know how to fight for...

• Personal Beliefs
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The Significance Of Philosophy In My Personal Philosophy Of Life

Philosophy “love of wisdom”, the study of knowledge an activity some people take part in when they seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world they live in, and their relationships to the world and to each other. As an academic discipline philosophy is...

• Personal Philosophy

Being In National Honor Society: What Makes Me A Good Candidate

When my parents placed a for sale sign in what used to be our front yard, I lost the sense of feeling at home. Our dining table was no longer used for sharing a warm, hot meal on ceramic, detailed plates. Instead, it was used...

• National Honor Society

Du Bois And His Theoretical Contributions As What I Learned In Sociology

Introduction For this paper, I have chosen to write about Du Bois and the historical issues, theoretical contributions, and the contemporary relevance of his sociological work. Du Bois was very influential in the sociological field, he gathered a wide range of theoretical ideas and embedded...

Defining Sociology: What I Learned In Sociology

What is sociology? Sociology defined by the Oxford dictionary states that it is ‘the study of development, structure, and functioning of human society’. Or to make it simple the study of society and social problems. Many things make up sociology. Three major Sociological perspectives are...

Personal Idea Of Real Self And Striving To Be Ideal Self

As the name suggests, the ideal self refers to the characteristics a person wants to have (Przybylski et al. 2012) - this could be in all aspects of self, including appearance, personality, lifestyle, etc. A match between a person’s ideal and actual self-concepts has been...

• Being Yourself
• Personality

Incorporating A Growth Against Fixed Mindset In Education

Good morning! I need you guys to shake that feeling of tiredness and give me your undivided attention. Don't worry I will make it worth your while, just stay with me. I would like to start with a couple of statements, I want you to...

• Growth Mindset

Hard Work Over Talent As The Key To Success

The one vast element of being’s civilization is the conception of the equal opportunity. The notion that some of us are given more capacity than others is a general problem globally, as most of people take that, as human kind, all people are supposed to...

How Hard Work Beats Talent When It Comes To Success

Colin Powell once said “A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” No one has ever achieved their dream through wishing upon it, although many have tried. To ever achieve you’re aspersions you must put your all into it....

Learning Patience And Its Importance In Life

How to learn patience when you don't see what you want to happen materialize in your life. You make an effort, but you would like it to go anyway faster! Here are some ways to allow time for things to build naturally: Everything you learn...

• Relationship

Fixed Mindset Vs. Growth Mindset: What Characteristic Leads To Success 

Remembering an unforgettable quote I have read from a book called “Life, the Truth, and Being Free” by Steve Maraboli, like a miracle, it has played a significant role on changing my mind and the way to choose to face the obstacles. “Once your mindset...

Motivation Letter On Abolishing Mental Slavery And Becoming Open-minded

Imagine that you have to talk about other people's gestures on talk, where you try to reveal the originality that you get a sharp scolding. In such a situation, the mind does not get matured. All his originality is destroyed and corrupted. That mind becomes...

• Mental Health
• Mental Slavery

Ultimate Values Of Human Life In The Movie The Ultimate Gift

Have you ever met a spoiled kid with no concept of work or any other type important ethics? In the movie The Ultimate Gift, this happens. The Ultimate Gift is a movie about a spoiled young adult, Jason, whose grandfather passed away. The man expects...

• Values of Life

Character Journey and Development of Tsitsi from the Novel Nervous Conditions

“The victimisation I saw was universal.” The bildungsroman Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga functions as a feminist novel which aims to unravel the nuances and incongruencies of the traditional Shona culture and the Western colonial modernity in alignment with Tambudzai’s progressive character development. This essay...

• Nervous Conditions

Goals and Purposes of the Wilderness Programs

To begin, multiple options have been made to provide therapeutic interventions for at risk youth like wilderness experience programs. According to Ruddell and Thomas, wilderness experience programs can include adventure-based therapy, wilderness therapy, outdoor behavioral healthcare, experimental learning, or education and wilderness boot camps (Ruddell...

• Development

Born to Run: Learning Not to Give Up in a Race

With shaky knees, I hesitantly made my way across the field. The moment of truth was on me. With the back of my hand, I brushed away the remaining salty tears from my face. The official times of the girls who qualified for state were...

• Personal Strengths
• Track and Field

Gratitude: Knowledge of Giving Thanks in Life

To take things for granted is a very human attitude. In general, it is difficult for us to appreciate what we are used to. There is a mechanism in us that makes us live, unconsciously, with great greed for novelty. Yes, as soon as this...

The Insights Brought to the Personal Identity in Literature

Reading fiction and poems were not always my favorite activities. In the last couple of months, after reading through various poems and stories, introduced to me a wider and unknown perspective of human character, of the disparity of the social class and various forms of...

• To His Coy Mistress

Pragmatism’s Take on Education and Learning

Introduction Pragmatism is a philosophical tradition that began in the US. Charles Sanders Peirce is often regarded as the Father of Pragmatism. Pragmatism revolves around the concept of accepting practical solutions rather than ideological ones. Pragmatists believe in change, rather than sticking to the idealist...

The Definition Person of Substance

We may be considered a fully-grown adult today. However, we are still in the process of learning how to navigate the world and interact with the places and people within it. And during this interaction we meet with all kinds of people. There are some...

• Helpful Person

Analysis of Subtext and Characters from the Anime Movie Spirited Away

The subtext of Spirited Away is when Hayao Miyazaki said that the inspiration for the story came from meeting the sullen 10-year-old daughter of a friend and his desire to make a film that would give her some useful lessons. These lessons provide us with...

• Spirited Away

Overview of the Education Programms at The Hutton House

The Hutton House is a place where people with developmental needs can attend for a variety of programs. They have programs for fitness, adult education, artworks, daybreak and life works. The Hutton House does service a thousand different individuals that have developmental disabilities. These programs...

• Adult Education Program

Application of the François Truffaut’s Auteur Theory to Mel Gibson's Filmography

Historic overview Mel Gibson was born in January of 1956 to Hutton and Anne Gibson who were“staunch Catholics” (Peter Carrick, 1998, pg.18) which became the main focus of Gibson’s upbringing and then his creative direction as director. As Carrick (1998, pg.19) also said “The children...

Childhood Memory That Shaped Me as a Person

We all have childhood memories that we hold dear to us. These memories are what get us through the dark days and cheer us to keep going. Imagine how it would be if we lost those childhood memories. It would be sad because we would...

• Childhood Memories

Comparison of Me from My Childhood Memories and How I Changed Through Years

Childhood. We say that this is the happiest time of life. But we begin to appreciate it only when it passes or has already gone away for good. Growing up, we begin to evaluate the world around us and people in a different way. We...

Movies and Screenplays that Influenced My Work on My Own Storyboard

My chosen brief was to establish and develop a single character. The protagonist I used was female and I decided to develop this character. The screenplay and storyboard I created called ‘Apart’ is about the loss of a relationship and the reminiscent aspect people go...

Character Transformation of Dunstan Ramsay in Fifth Business

Experiences are something that can change a person's life for the better or for the worse. In the novel Fifth Business, written by Robertson Davies, the main character Dunstan Ramsay encounters many experiences that shape him into the person the reader knows by the end...

• Fifth Business

The Personal Growth of Achilles in Iliad

From the begging of The Iliad, the character Achilles is played out to be a very petty, haughty, and vengeful character. Throughout the book Achilles can seem to be a little rude but towards the end he seems to have matured and can be seen...

Integration of Diversity in Social Studies 

One of the most interesting perspectives and theories I have read in this class was proposed to us by Postman(1995), the idea of a “school-god narrative” (p. ). The idea of school is like that of a Church, except not in the traditional religious setting...

Personal Perspective on Mindset: How You Can Fulfil Your Potential

I chose to read this book because of the reviews and recommendations I got for it, and because of the author, ms. Carol Dweck, which is a Stanford University’s psychologist. The research behind this book is enormous so the amount of knowledge inside is trusted....

• Self Awareness

Dancing in the 1920’s Compared to Dancing Now

“Dancers are the athletes of God”. 'Good morning/afternoon honourable judges, teachers, staff, parents, and fellow students'. That quote was made by Albert Einstein. As u know Albert Einstein is scientist but he did love dance. Dancing is considered a sport that allows you to express...

• Competition

The Question of What It Means to Be a Human

The whole question of what it means to be human can de defined in many different ways. The overall idea of humanity is constantly being bounced around between a variety of perspectives, trying to understand what the life we live in means. To me, I...

• Human Nature

Personal Growth in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a bildungsroman novel written by Mark Twain that tells us a series of events that happen to a boy from the south of the United States who lives in a town near the Mississippi River. A bildungsroman is a...

How The JROTC Program Helps Me To Put My Leadrship Skills in Use

I have a very tight-knit family, and we believe in giving back to our community and our country. At a very young age, I began to assume leadership and teaming roles. In school, I have or am currently performing as the Team Member/Middle Hitter, Stockbridge...

How the Power of Gratitude Can Change Your Life

To have a healthier heart we must relax and learn to value the little things and value what we have in its rightful measure. Lao Tzu left us a phrase that should make us reflect: 'gratitude is the memory of the heart'. The power of...

• Personal Qualities

Living with Gratitude: Opening the Door for Self-Improvement

Gratitude Living: More often than not, we find ourselves going through life with a lot of anxiety, stress, sadness and hurt and mostly for things that are beyond our control. In the present world, it seems that we are all in a craze to achieve...

The Role of Volunteering in Community and Personal Development

Introduction The objective of this literature review is to attempt to discuss on the topic of “Volunteering”. In the early years to the present day, there are many studies that are related to this area. This dissertation will go through a much more comprehensive literature...

• Helping Others
• Volunteering

Properly Dealing with Adversity to Meet Challenges Life Throws at You with Resilience

“I never lose. I either win or learn.'' These words that Nelson Mandela said should be true for everyone. He suggests that we shouldn’t view adversity as a bad thing but instead view it as an opportunity. If we view adversity as an opportunity then...

Adversity, a Harsh Path Towards Personal Development

While adversity is never longed for by anyone, perseverance during pain or a trial will result in personal development. The famous Roman poet Horace phrased this idea as, “Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.” Examples of...

The Importance of Facing Adversity and Using It as an Opportunity to Grow

There is adversity and challenge in life. The question isn’t whether you are faced with adversity or not. You’re going to meet adversity but how are you going to face it? Take all the energy you want to use towards giving up and divert it...

Neo Confucianism: Ethical and Personal Growth

Confucianism seems to have been one of the major thoughts and ideas for 2000 years in conventional Chinese culture, and has been leaving a great effect on Chinese culture, economy, politics, and social psychology. However, with communist took over in 1949, Marxism ideology has replaced...

• Confucianism

How To Develop Your Skills

Everyone wants to have a fulfilling career. But, why do you think you need to have it? and why always the successful people want to develop themselves and their skills more. Developing skills is great thing to do, it will help in our life, in...

Re-thinking My Personal Development Theory

The study of this article that I found that caught my attention is Re-thinking Youth Suicide: culture, and Power, by Jennifer White and Michael, Summer 2014. In this article it examines, the resource for re-thinking youth suicide is Sociocultural and a political issue. Social and...

Maturity And Myself: Key Aspects That Affects Me

There are three critical perspectives that play a noteworthy run in my life. They can be arranged as scholarly, social, and profound. My scholarly self is intriguing in light of the fact that I am predominantly right-brained which implies that I tend to utilize my...

• Self Reflection

Computer Science – An Area To Realise My Potential

The catalyst for my my interest in computer science was found back in year nine, when I discovered Apple’s Swift programming language and the iOS development frameworks. Armed with these, I devoured hours upon hours of lectures and programming talks and undertook multiple personal projects....

• Computer Science

Self-Assessment Of The Principals And Practices Of Personal Effectiveness

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Here’s one of the most popular Common Application essay topics that’s going to be used again in the 2020-2021 admissions cycle: “Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.”

According to the Common Application, in the 2018-2019 cycle, 23.7% of students opted to write about an experience of personal transformation that changed their perception of themselves and others.

What you’re about to read is a significantly updated version of my original article.

Since publishing this article back in 2017, more and more of my own students have written amazing Common App essays on this topic.

As such, I’ve decided to update this article to share more insights into what does and doesn’t work when crafting narratives about experiences of “personal growth.”

Read the whole article or click on one of the following links to jump ahead to any section that interests you:

What DON’T Admissions Officers Want to See in Your Common App Essay?

What DO Admissions Officers Want to Read About in Your “Sparked a Period of Personal Growth” Essay?

Why Are Colleges Interested in Essays on Personal Growth?

What Are Some Unique Ways of Approaching the “Sparked a Period of Personal Growth” Essay?

Stanford Student’s Common App Essay on an Experience that “Sparked a Period of Personal Growth”

What don’t  admissions officers want to see in your common app essay .

Let’s start by stating the obvious.

Your track record—your record of past accomplishments—plays a significant role in the college admissions process.

Many students fixate on this part of how they’re going to be evaluated. Even the most talented students fall prey to this tendency because they want to emphasize all the amazing things they’ve done.

This urge is understandable.

Rest assured that there are plenty of places in your application to showcase your accomplishments.

However, your Common Application essay ISN’T  the place to  just focus on  what you’ve done .

Admissions officers don’t  just want to read an essay that’s all about the end result or the “high impact” of your project, accomplishment, or whatever event it is that you’ve chosen to write about.

Every year, I have myth-busting conversations with students who are suffering under the mistaken idea that the Common App essay needs to be first and foremost a demonstration of some very significant high-impact thing they’ve done.

Pay close attention to my phrasing.

I’m NOT saying you shouldn’t include significant accomplishments in your Common App essay on a “period of personal growth.”

I AM saying that your essay shouldn’t  just be about the accomplishments.

Click here to a ccess all my tips, techniques, and case studies on writing great Common App essays.

What DO   Admissions Officers Want to Read About in Your “Sparked a Period of Personal Growth” Essay?

The reality is that admissions officers are extremely curious about how  YOU have been  transformed by projects, experiences, and accomplishments .

Want to write a great Common App essay on something that “sparked a period of personal growth”?

Then, you need to share your  process of transformation –your before, during , and after .

Just FYI, the best transformation narratives often feature both internal and external transformation.

Many students leap right over the “process” part of the essay. They want to jump from the “before” to the “after” because they feel the process–the “middle” or “during”–isn’t exciting or dramatic.

I know you want to dazzle the people reading your application essays.

However, mere “before and after” narratives aren’t as compelling to admissions officers as those that feature the “during.”

In addition to including the “during” part of your transformation, your “after” shouldn’t  just focus on the external result (especially in the “sparked a period of personal growth” essay). Your “after” should include some philosophical contemplation of your transformation.

I strongly recommend that you read two articles:

“Two Elements of the Best Common Application Essays”

“Techniques Used in the Best College Application Essays”

These articles feature strategies to help you master the art of structuring your Common App essay and include analysis of actual student application essays.

Why Are Colleges Interested in Essays on Personal Growth? 

The answer is simple and sometimes surprising.

Colleges aren’t  just looking at your track record.

They’re also looking forward, out beyond what you’ve already accomplished. Admissions officers need to make what a former Yale president describes as a “hunchy judgement” about your potential.

When Stanford is reviewing your application, they’re looking for signs of your “intellectual vitality”–your “commitment, dedication and genuine interest in  expanding your intellectual horizons” and “the initiative with which you seek out opportunities and  expand your perspective.”

Harvard is considering some key questions when they’re reviewing your application: “Have you reached your maximum academic and personal potential?” Or “do you have reserve  power to do more ?” “How  open are you to  new ideas and people ?” “Will you be able to stand up to the pressures and freedoms of College life?”

Yale is looking for a “desire and ability to  stretch one’s limits.”

GROWTH. EXPANSION. POTENTIAL. OPENNESS.

College is a time of massive intellectual and overall personal growth.

Admissions officers at all colleges are looking for students who are open to this process of growth and have the underlying strategies for handling it .

The best, most memorable college experiences are often ones in which your mind is blow and your perspectives expanded in ways you never could have imagined in high school.

But how can you demonstrate your potential?

How can you demonstrate that you’re ready for the challenge?

Writing your Common App essay about an experience that “sparked a period of personal growth,” especially one that transformed your “understanding of yourself or others,” is an excellent way to show colleges you have the kind of qualities and capabilities described above.

Growth, expansion, openness, and transformation sound lovely. They sound positive. But anyone who has undergone a period of massive growth knows that it’s more complex than it sounds, and there are almost always setbacks and challenges along the way.

The “during” part of your essay is a great place to show that you’ve started cultivating the underlying skills that are essential for navigating your way through the growth process.

What Are Some Unique Ways of Approaching the “Sparked a Period of Personal Growth” Essay? 

There are so many juicy possibilities for writing about an experience that “sparked a period of personal growth.”

Here are some things my students have written about. . .

Getting lost in a foreign city

Losing their passport

Changing a deeply held conviction based on the results of a research project or conversation

Getting called out by an employer for insufficient attention to details

Hurting someone’s feelings by acting in an ungrateful manner

Standing up to someone

Doing something way out of their comfort zone (e.g., working on a farm, going on a solo wilderness hike, etc.)

Taking charge of organizing a family holiday gathering due to a parent’s illness

Student Background:  One of my students who is studying engineering at Stanford was originally planning to write her Common App essay on the time she felt like a failure because she couldn’t answer a judge’s question. ( Click here to read “How to Successfully Apply to Engineering Programs.” )

Problem:  We both agreed that the first draft she wrote felt too stiff and formulaic.

She glossed over the experience with the judge. The experience just seemed like a gimmicky hook that led into a essay that was mainly about the impact her organization had on the young people in her community. That is, she was falling into the trap of trying to write a “LOOK AT WHAT I’VE DONE!!” essay that I mentioned earlier. Plus, the draft featured all the cliches guaranteed to make an admissions officer’s eyes glaze over in “I’ve read this same basic narrative a thousand times” boredom.

There wasn’t sufficient introspection. The juiciest parts of her experience–the ones that would probably matter most to college admissions committees–didn’t even make their way into her essay. The most interesting aspects of her experience had to do with the way she contemplated the implications of her inability to answer the judge’s question about how her project “could change children’s lives” and how this contemplation propelled her into a  process of rethinking the nature of her engineering work and led to the development of her organization.

Solution:  In our conversations, she shared how, up until that moment with the judge, she’d only really focused on pursuing her own intellectual interests. This experience of feeling dumfounded by the judge’s question was painful, but it set her off on a new journey that involved finding applications for her work that could benefit others. She started thinking about the needs of others, not just her own. As it turns out, this was an experience that “sparked a period of personal growth.”

As she worked through the details of this transformation in her goals and approach, she also began transitioning from always being the young person getting mentored to becoming a mentor for the next generation of budding scientists and engineers. One element of her “personal growth” had to do with this shift from always “taking” to being someone who does more “giving.” A fruit of this experience that “sparked a period of personal growth” was her development of what eventually became a high-impact and award-winning program for children in her city. This program was originally the narrative star of her essay (in terms of how much attention she gave it), but now it had even more impact because the whole personal backstory was there.

Our conversations focused on mapping out vivid anecdotes that helped admissions officers see her process of inner and outer transformation. She developed super specific “before, during, and after” anecdotes that also shed light on her family background and culture. She took readers on a journey that started with the seemingly simple question from a science fair judge that plunged her into a process of “personal growth” which ultimately resulted in a “new understanding” of herself and others.

Dr. Bernstein’s Commentary: This student’s essay was now far more psychologically and intellectually nuanced.

Her essay wasn’t filled with exaggerated external drama and didn’t have the light, whippy tone that many websites featuring sample application essays love to emphasize.

Once she let go of many of the common misunderstandings about what matters in this kind of essay, she wrote an essays that was true to her experience and style.

Her vivid “before, during, and after” anecdotes made it possible for readers to really see and feel her “aha” moment in action. It’s very satisfying when readers can feel the “aha”–when they can see your mind and heart in action.

Admissions officers aren’t  just interested in the surface level of what your essay is about.

They’re also interested in your habits of mind–the way you make sense of your experiences, your level of self-awareness, and a whole host of other qualities.

Let’s end by connecting the student’s essay back to what I shared earlier about what Stanford, Harvard, and Yale are looking for in applicants.

Now her essay showed how she keeps “questing” and stretching herself. She’s demonstrating how she has “reserve power to do more” because each significant experience she has sparks more personal growth, contemplation, and action. She’s constantly deepening and expanding her perspectives to benefit not only herself but also others. So even though this essay started with what seemed like a moment of failure (not being able to answer the judge’s question), it was really about her own growth.

WAYS TO WORK WITH DR. BERNSTEIN!

Click here to learn how to schedule a private consultation with Dr. Bernstein.

Click here to learn more about Dr. Bernstein’s ongoing private college preparation and college admissions support .

Click here to learn about the online Get Yourself Into College® program .

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My Autobiography: a Journey of Personal Growth and Aspirations

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Published: Feb 7, 2024

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Adolescence and high school, college life, personal growth, future aspirations.

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Tips for Writing an Essay on an Event That Led to Personal Growth

Tips and Strategies for an Essay on an Event that Led to Personal Growth

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For the 2019-20 admissions cycle, the fifth essay option on the Common Application  focuses on "personal growth":

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

We all have all had experiences that bring about growth and maturity, so essay option five will be a viable choice for all applicants. The big challenges with this essay prompt will be identifying the correct "accomplishment, event, or realization" and then making sure the discussion of your growth has enough depth and self-analysis to show that you are a strong and thoughtful college applicant. The tips below can help guide you as you tackle essay option five:

What Defines a "Period of Personal Growth"?

The heart of this essay prompt is the idea of "personal growth." It's a remarkably broad concept, and as a result this essay prompt gives you the freedom to talk about almost anything meaningful that has ever happened to you. Your job with this essay prompt is to identify a moment that is meaningful and that provides the admissions folks with a window into your interests and personality.

As you work to define an appropriate "period of personal growth," reflect on the last several years of your life. You shouldn't go back more than a few years since the admissions folks are trying to learn about who you are now and how you process and grow from the experiences in your life. A story from your early childhood won't accomplish this goal as well as a more recent event. As you reflect, try to identify moments that made you rethink your assumptions and worldview. Identify an event that has made you a more mature person who is now better prepared for the responsibilities and independence of college. These are the moments that can lead to an effective essay.

What Type of "Accomplishment, Event, or Realization" Is Best?

As you brainstorm ideas for this essay prompt, think broadly as you try to come up with a good choice for the "accomplishment, event, or realization." The best choices, of course, will be significant moments in your life. You want to introduce the admissions folks to something you value highly. Also keep in mind that these three words—accomplishment, event, realization—are interconnected. Both accomplishments and realizations stem from something that happened in your life; in other words, without some kind of event, you're unlikely to accomplish something meaningful or have a realization that leads to personal growth. 

We can still break down the three terms as we explore options for the essay, but keep in mind that your options include, but are not limited to:

• You reach a goal that you have set for yourself such as earning a certain GPA or performing a difficult piece of music.
• You do something independently for the first time such as preparing a meal for the family, flying across the country, or house-sitting for a neighbor.
• You overcome or learn to appreciate a disability or handicap.
• Working alone or with a team, you win an award or recognition (a gold medal in a music competition, a strong showing in Odyssey of the Mind, a successful fundraising campaign, etc.)
• You successfully launch your own business (a lawn-mowing service, babysitting business, web company, etc.)
• You successfully navigate or extricate yourself from a dangerous or challenging situation (an abusive family, a problematic peer group, etc.)
• You do something challenging like winter camping, white-water kayaking, or running a marathon.
• You complete a meaningful service project such as creating a public garden or helping build a house with Habitat for Humanity.
• You pass a milestone in your life such as the first day of high school or your first time driving by yourself.
• You have an interaction with someone (whether that be a friend, family member or stranger) that opens your awareness in a profound way.
• You perform at an event such as a concert or competition in which your hard work and perseverance finally pay off.
• You experience a traumatic event such as an accident or sudden loss that makes you reevaluate your behavior or beliefs.
• You experience a moment of failure (much like option #2 ) that causes you to grapple with and grow from the experience.
• You are moved by a world event that makes you reflect upon what you most value and what your role in the world might be.
• You realize that you can accomplish something you hadn't thought possible.
• You realize your limitations.
• You realize that failure is as valuable as success.
• You realize that your understanding of people who are different than you had been limited or faulty.
• You experience something that makes you realize that you need to redefine your priorities.
• You realize that relying on the help of others isn't a failure.
• You come to understand how much a parent or mentor has to teach you.

Personal Growth Can Stem From Failure

Keep in mind that the "accomplishment, event, or realization" doesn't have to be a triumphant moment in your life. An accomplishment can be learning to deal with setbacks or failure, and the event could be a losing game or an embarrassing solo in which you missed that high C. Part of maturing is learning to accept our own shortcomings, and recognizing that failure is both inevitable and an opportunity to learn.

Most Important of All: "Discuss"

When you "discuss" your event or accomplishment, make sure you push yourself to think analytically. Don't spend too much time merely describing and summarizing the event or accomplishment. A strong essay needs to show off your ability to explore the significance of the event you have chosen. You need to look inward and analyze how and why the event caused you to grow and mature. When the prompt mentions "a new understanding," it is telling you that this is an exercise in self-reflection. If the essay doesn't reveal some solid self-analysis, then you haven't fully succeeded in responding to the prompt.

A Final Note for Common Application Option #5

Try to step back from your essay and ask yourself exactly what information it conveys to your reader. What will your reader learn about you? Does the essay succeed in revealing something that you care about deeply? Does it get at a central aspect of your personality? Remember, the application is asking for an essay because the college has holistic admissions —the school is evaluating you as a whole person, not as a bunch of test scores and grades. They essay, then, needs to paint a portrait of an applicant the school will want to invite to join the campus community. In your essay, do you come across as an intelligent, thoughtful person who will contribute to the community in a meaningful and positive way?

No matter which essay prompt you choose, pay attention to style , tone, and mechanics. The essay is first and foremost about you, but it also needs to demonstrate a strong writing ability. These 5 tips for a winning essay can also help guide you.

Finally, realize that many topics fit under multiple options on the Common Application. For example, option #3 asks about questioning or challenging a belief or idea. This can certainly connect with the idea of a "realization" in option #5. Also, option #2 on encountering obstacles could also overlap with some of the possibilities for option #5. Don't worry too much about which option is best if your topic fits in multiple places. Most important is that you write an effective and engaging essay. Be sure to check out this article for tips and samples for each of the Common Application essay options .

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Personal Growth Essay | A Winning Essay Writing Strategy

EssayEdge > Blog > Personal Growth Essay | A Winning Essay Writing Strategy

Personal Growth. Perhaps this topic is the most popular one since it delves into the heart of what the admissions essay is all about: helping the college gain better insight into an applicant’s personality and character. Some schools ask targeted questions — “What was the most challenging event you have ever faced, and how have you grown from it?” — while others leave the topic open: “Describe an event that has had great meaning for you. Explain why and how it has affected you.”

One of the most successful strategies is to use a past event as a lens through which you can assess who you were and the person you became, how you have grown and changed, your transformation. Most children are curious, but were you the one who asked your teacher what caused the change of seasons of the year and then created a solar system model and explained the concept to your classmates? Though you may think that your topic needs to be more grandiose, that is not necessary for an essay to be effective. Instead, success lies in painting an accurate and vivid picture of yourself — one that will show admissions officers that you have much to offer their school.

The most important advice we can give is to be honest, refrain from using clichés, and show maturity. College represents a radical change from high school, so you want your reader to realize that you are more than ready to take the next major step in your life.

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Personal development - Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

An essay on personal development can focus on the journey of self-improvement and growth. It can discuss strategies for setting and achieving personal goals, self-awareness, resilience, and the importance of continuous learning and self-reflection in building a fulfilling and purposeful life. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Personal Development you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

About my own Personal Development Plan at Work

Within my work role, I have a duty to ensure I wear my PPE and maintain safety within our clientele. I also work under the guidelines of a well-documented care plan. As part of our responsibilities, we are often tasked with helping our clients achieve the best possible outcomes. While this may not always be feasible, clients must be encouraged as much as possible. Additionally, I have a responsibility to respect people's beliefs, attitudes, and the views of individuals we […]

The Importance of One’s Value System in Personal Development

At the point when our activities and words are lined up with our qualities, life is commonly great and we feel content, certain, and fulfilled. In any case, when our practices do not coordinate with our qualities, we before long start to detect an uneasiness that starts to swell and develop within us. We live in this existence where guidelines are made, where we need to get together to them so as to be acknowledged. There are various qualities to […]

“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl Analysis

Viktor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who was a survivor of the Holocaust. He created a new way of thinking when dealing with tragedy called logotherapy. He explains what life was like during these times, and what logotherapy is, in his best-selling book, Man’s Search for Meaning. Through the loss of his parents, brother, and pregnant wife, Frankl remained optimistic during the terrible trauma of the Holocaust. He did this by finding personal meaning on this experience, which […]

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Personal Development Plan is very Important

Identify sources of support for your own learning and development. Sources of support for my learning and development include attending all my study days and getting help to finish my apprenticeship program on time. Also, attending all my trainings to stay up-to-date with my role is very important. I can also get support from my mentor, team meetings, conversations with my colleagues, research, appraisals, supervisions, and observations with my mentor or manager. Describe the process for agreeing on a personal […]

About why Personal Development as an Important Piece of Life

First and foremost, the book is quite interesting, not to me in particular, but to almost everyone who sees personal development as an important piece of life. Personally, I think the way this book is written, along with all the tools and experience it conveys, is good enough to dispel all doubts and worries about how to sustain life. That being said, I must certainly say that I agree with the content the book tries to cover. One thing I […]

Human Development in Different Perspectives Across the Life Span: Differences and Similarities between Childhood Versus Adulthood

Throughout this paper, we have explored approaches to human development from different perspectives across the life span, such as in adolescence, childhood, adulthood, and so on. This subject is primarily investigated in terms of mental functioning and social relationships by developmental psychology in this chapter. To understand better, we have studied the stages in human life as prenatal, infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood. Given that developmental research includes various methods, ethics hold […]

Personal Development in the Work Place

Development is any activity or experience that helps an individual to grow, gain new skills, gain insight, and learn. By working with your team and using a number of techniques such as Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based (SMART) targets, you can successfully identify and improve the developmental needs of individuals within your team. Personal development is a self-managed, lifelong commitment to oneself. It is a way for someone to reflect on their potential, access further developmental training, and set […]

Dancing as my Passion

Dance is an art, in my word. Art is the window of my soul, is the tool for the communications with others, and the magic thing about dance is you can use the beauty of your body language to express your feeling and convey your message to the audience. Dance is the language hidden in the soul, every movement is a word, and it combine the dance to this beautiful poem. In fact, I have several years of dance experience […]

Good Time Management Motivates me to Take Control my Time and Schedule

I believe that I possess multiple traits that will enhance my education and future career. Throughout my student years, I have demonstrated qualities of self-drive, leadership, character, and good time management. I am a hard worker and a stellar role model who consistently seeks to help others. With those traits, I plan to further my education in pursuit of my future career. Self-drive means that you are motivated to accomplish something without an external reward. In school and outside school, […]

Benefits of Time Management

A quote by M. Scott Peck states, "Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you won't do anything with it." Time management is a skill that every person must learn. It is among the most important things a college student needs to be happy and successful. Time management will help students learn to utilize time efficiently. Less procrastination, stress relief, and more personal time are all benefits of time management. According to Jeffrey […]

Power of the Time Management

Time is something one can lose and never get back. Time management is the power to plan and control how I spend the hours in my day to accomplish my goals. There's a vast amount of responsibility that student-athletes have to manage. In order to capitalize on the use of my time and achieve my educational goals, I had to execute certain time management strategies. I made several adjustments in how I utilized my time and noticed a significant change. […]

My Educational Background and Work Experience: the Ms Family Nurse Practitioner

The graduate program I am applying to study is the MS Family Nurse Practitioner. My educational background and work experience has prepared me for this program. I attended Utica College for four years as I pursued my degree in nursing with a minor in healthcare ethics. I graduated in May of 2017 and accepted a Graduate Nurse position at Faxton St. Lukes Hospital. I became certified as a Registered Professional Nurse in July of that year. For the past 18 […]

My Battle with Public Speaking

'If you don't prepare, you're only preparing to fail.' This quote speaks of truthfulness. Foremost, it is really crucial to be aware and have some prior knowledge (maybe even a personal experience) on the topic. If you don't care then it can cast back upon your speech. In past speeches, I didn't prepare the way I could have, so I’m sure those performances would’ve shown it. With all the speeches I have prepared for after that, my craftsmanship got better […]

About me and my Sister Future Plans and how they did Throughout the Lifespan and what God Intended for me

Personally I have always had a strong belief that God sends people to us all for specific reasons. When I walked into the room waiting to find my sister to interview I was incredibly nervous. I had concerns of having nothing to discuss or having difficulty relating to my sister’s life experiences. However, as soon as sister Regina sat down with Lauren and I all my worries had gone away completely. The warmth and love sister Regina gives off is […]

Research Related to Student’s Self-development and Importance of Critical Thinking

Bruce Lee once said, "Learning is never cumulative; it is a movement of knowing which has no beginning and no end. The more it is known, the better it becomes." A person entering a new environment is always keen to know about their present surroundings. This cooperation with the surroundings leads to an impactful learning environment that enhances one socially. A new place or a new work environment always builds up skills that are critical and effective. Enrollment in a […]

Studies Related to Personality Development

Personal Development is a process that lasts a lifetime. It serves as a way for individuals to assess their skills and qualities, as well as consider their aims in life and set goals to maximize their potential. Everyone might think they are fully developed, but anything can happen during your lifetime, which could change any goals you might have set. In this paper, I will talk about personality development, focusing on how transferences and biology influence an individual’s personal growth. […]

Developing People in the Workplace

Understand the importance of promoting personal development. At Greenyard, we are continuously looking for non-utilised talent, which is part of our eight wastes. I believe that it is important for everyone to reach their potential within their chosen field. The main benefits to an organization would be- • Gain Key Leadership Skills: For example, Ashley Gower started as an administrator. He quickly showed his key strengths in leadership roles, taking responsibility and accountability for the decisions he had to make. […]

Take your Time Back: Time Management

A new, crucial resource; chasing deadlines and multiple priorities, is now our daily reality. We live in a time when knowledge is so readily available that it's no longer a matter of money or other hard resources to achieve our goals. Currently, the most valuable resource is time! With enough time, you can acquire the right knowledge, skills, money, relationships, and anything else that you need to achieve your goals. The challenge, though, is that there are so many things […]

The Way we Spend our Time Defines who we Are: Time Management

How would you like to spend your time? Each of us has our own aspirations and goals. If you've decided to pick up a time management book, then perhaps you feel that you're not spending your time in a way you'd like to. By now, you've started your time management journey by understanding your weekly routine. This is crucial because you need to know where you're spending your time. The next step is to determine whether your current approach is […]

How to be more Productive with Time Blocking And Time Management Technique

Everyone today seems to have a recipe for a successful, deadline-crushing workday. Normally, these include specific daily routines, practices, and countless apps. However, sometimes the simplest techniques can take us the farthest. Specifically, time blocking can turn you into a productivity master. What is time blocking? Time-blocking is a time management technique where you define the amount of time needed to finish a specific task or activity and then schedule it into your calendar. This way of organizing your schedule […]

Time Management is a very Important Tool for Every Aspect of our Life

"What is time?" Everyone thinks of something similar when they think of time. Some say that time is a type of measurement for everything we do, while others say that it is a commodity that, once used, cannot be replaced. The dictionary states, "Time is a measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues." "Time is the most misused resource known to man. It is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but […]

Time Management, Teaching/training Skills, and other Skills that Need to Achieve the Goals

In this competitive world, organizations look for a definite set of skills in an individual and place great value on utilizing them to achieve their goals. Industry leaders need to understand the growing need for analytical and interpersonal skills across the globe. The capability of a project manager to effectively manage projects lies in using these skills. Nowadays, many managers are unable to successfully lead their projects due to a lack of these necessary skills. In this context, soft skills, […]

Personality Development Based on Myers Briggs Assessment

There are two types of people: those who come into a room and say, "Well, here I am!" and those who come in and say, "Ah, there you are" (JB, n.d.). Even though this statement illustrates it, our general public fundamentally has two primary identity categories. Everyone is aware of those individuals who love to be the life of the party, and those who prefer to observe and reflect privately. The main question is which category each person fits into […]

Accounting and Me: Challenges, Flexibility, and Impact

Introduction When I first started college, I was not sure of what I wanted to study. For one reason or another, I ended up choosing Accounting, and I remember enjoying the classes a lot and taking them from there. Later on, I realized that I had made the right decision because this career will open many doors in the future. Even though it is a very demanding career, it can potentially help me if I ever decide to be self-employed. […]

The Definition of Self-Concept

Self-concept is like a mental mirror showing how we see ourselves—it's a big deal in how we think, act, and deal with others. This idea covers stuff like self-esteem, self-image, and the ideal self. It's crucial 'cause it affects everything from our goals to how we handle problems and relate to people. It's not fixed but changes with our experiences, who we hang with, and the world around us, making it a key part of who we are. At its […]

Crafting a Self-Portrait with Words: Adjectives to Define yourself

Describing oneself is an art that balances self-awareness with honesty, pride with humility, and precision with creativity. Choosing the right adjectives is essential in painting an accurate and compelling self-portrait. The words you select not only reflect how you see yourself but also influence how others perceive you. Here, we delve into some of the best adjectives to describe oneself, exploring their meanings and the contexts in which they can be effectively used. First, think of "adaptable." This adjective emphasizes […]

Embracing Resilience and Adaptability as Core Strengths

One of the most important skills a person can have in the ever-changing modern world is the capacity to deal with change and hardship. Not only are resilience and adaptation trendy terms, but they are critical qualities that define success in both the personal and professional spheres. These traits—which are frequently related—allow people to flourish in the face of adversity, turning setbacks into chances for development and creativity. The ability to bounce back fast from adversity and setbacks called resilience. […]

A Multifaceted Reflection: Words that Capture my Essence

Describing oneself is a challenging endeavor. It requires introspection, honesty, and a willingness to see both strengths and weaknesses. As someone who values self-awareness, I've pondered over the words that best encapsulate my essence. Here, I aim to provide a thoughtful and authentic portrayal of myself through a selection of words that resonate deeply with who I am. Empathetic is the first word that comes to mind. Empathy is more than just understanding others' feelings; it's about connecting with them […]

Capturing Essence: Defining myself with Three Adjectives

When asked to describe oneself using three adjectives, it is an exercise that demands introspection, honesty, and a fair degree of humility. For me, three adjectives that best capture my essence are: resilient, empathetic, and curious. These words not only reflect my personality but also shape my actions and interactions with the world around me. Resilient is a term that has become deeply ingrained in my identity over the years. Life, with its inevitable ups and downs, has taught me […]

The Remarkable Life and Legacy of Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps is not just a name; it's a legend. Born on June 30 1985 in Baltimore Maryland Phelps has etched his name into the annals of Olympic history as the most decorated swimmer of all time. His journey which began as a hyperactive child channeling his boundless energy into swimming is a compelling story of extraordinary athletic achievement intertwined with personal struggles and triumphs. The biographies written about him offer profound insights into the man behind the medals making […]

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Home / Essay Samples / Life / Journey / Patience As The Key To Success: My Journey Towards Personal Growth

Patience As The Key To Success: My Journey Towards Personal Growth

• Category: Life
• Topic: Journey , Personal Growth and Development , Self Reliance

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