2nd person perspective Remember, this essay is about you, so write in the first person perspective (“I”) and avoid the second person perspective (“you”). Example: ✗ “You’ll never guess what happened to me when I was studying abroad.” ✓ “While studying abroad, I was met with unimaginable challenges that proved to be necessary in order for me to grow.” A boring first line Avoid starting your essay with broad, general statements or stereotypical quotes as they can come off as cliche and boring. If a quote is meaningful to your story, use it as an epigraph (centered at the top of your first page equidistant between the title and first line). Example: ✗ “Once upon a time, when I was 14 years old, I was terrified of being on stage.” ✓ “There I was, shaking, wide-eyed, and gaping on stage as the Scarecrow in my school’s production of The Wizard of Oz.” Too much “telling” Avoid telling the reader something happened, when you can show us through dialogue and action. Vivid scenes bring your story to life and help the reader connect to your experience. Example: ✗ “I angrily told my Mom that my sister was lying but she just ignored me.” ✓ “Mom, that’s not true!” “Honey, not now, I’m on the phone,” she said. “But she’s lying!” I barked. Exhaling, she turned away and twirled the phone cord around her spindly fingers. Lackluster descriptions Be creative in how you describe things. Instead of saying something was “red,” try to use metaphor to describe it. Example: ✗ “The dress was reddish-brown with green stripes.” ✓ “The dress had a backdrop the color of iron-rich dirt, with what looked like laser beams of fluorescent lime shooting across it.” Trying to copy someone’s writing style It may help to read others writing for inspiration, but your writing voice must come from you. So be authentic and write your truth!