Personal Statement Prompt #1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

I need to write a unique personal statement for common app

1. Overal Theme: Personal Development and Expressing Confidence

2. Deciding on Your Essay Type:

There are various approaches for your personal statement, such as focusing on a key event, using a metaphorical object to represent your journey, or outlining a timeline of significant experiences. Selecting the right approach is crucial for setting the tone of your essay.

• Timeline: This essay picks out multiple key events in the student’s life that connect to one overall theme/event.

• Key event 1: Singing in the bathroom in Vietnam, never want to express musical ability in front of others, including my parents. (fear of parents and friends judgment), especially in Vietnam where school valued academic sucess, I fear that my music interest might be seen as a distraction. 

• Key event 2: The transformation started when I went study abroad in the US where I tried to express myself more through extra curriculars, joining clubs and especially taking guitar class at school.-> gain more confidence in my abilities (which had previously confined in the four walls bathroom) continue to play guitar and singing, fing singing (music) as a refuge during moments of stress and uncertainty, make me feel less homesick. One day, I received the news to perform at a lunch concert at school. I felt a bit nervous but after a while i decided to perform because i truly want to step out of my comfort zone. i started to work on my rehearsals with my peers, we have worked hard for long hours and even stayed after school to practice. at the concert day, i was a bit overwhelmed at first because the stage is huge and i have to stand in front of the crowd of over hundred students. but as i began to sing i felt the nerves went away and keep expressing my musical abilities as I could. After my performance, many audiences applause and cheers, my friends and teachers praised a lot about my performance. I felt very proud because I felt the joy of sharing my music to others. The positive feedback boosted my confidence and then motivated me to seek more opportunities to share my music. Beyond just a musical ability, singing has become a way for me to connect with friends in a new country. It has allowed me to bond with others over shared interests and experiences. My life now has more melody—joyful moments of singing, exciting minutes promoting my projects, and even the bittersweet times of homesickness. Each performance, each practice session, adds a new note to the melody of my life, making it richer and more vibrant.

• Key event 3: At the boarding house for young cancer outpatients near HCMC Oncology Hospital, I set up a music workshop, eager to witness the impact of music on these brave individuals. As I began to perform, I noticed the patients’ faces light up with hope and anticipation. Despite their physical pain, many began to sing along with me. It was as if my music had become a bridge to their own memories and dreams, a way for them to momentarily escape their suffering.

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• One of the most memorable moments came when a young patient, despite battling brain cancer, has inspired by my performance and volunteer to go on stage and perform . Her courage was palpable; she sang with a passion and joy that belied her condition. Her performance was a powerful reminder of music’s ability to uplift and heal. The smiles and the shared songs transformed the atmosphere, turning a moment of pain into one of connection and solace.

1. Picking a Value to Highlight:

To make your essay focused, you need to choose one value you want to highlight about yourself throughout the essay. Is it your value of community? Family? Autonomy? Compassion? Teamwork? Equality? There are a lot of values to choose from, and extensive lists can be found with a simple online search.

1. Creating an Outline:

Your personal statement should include:

• A depiction of your character before a pivotal event.

• The event itself and its immediate consequences.

• How the event transformed you.

• Your future direction, informed by this transformation.

Structure your essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, ensuring each section supports the overarching theme and value you’ve chosen to highlight.

1. Crafting an Intriguing Introduction: 

You need an interesting hook. This, however, is more simple than it seems. When you brainstorm your hook, ask yourself, “If someone read just my hook, would they be curious to read more?”. A hook may just be a simple statement, a quotation, a vivid description of the scenery, etc. (pro tip: AVOID USING A POPULAR QUOTE OR TRUTH AS YOUR HOOK)

1. Describing the Main Event: 

As you begin your body paragraphs, you want to descriptively lay out the main event that resulted in your character transformation. This is where you want to use extremely vivid sentences. In describing the main event, it is good to include the immediate effects of the consequence. Not all consequences have to be negative. (pro tip: AVOID SIMPLY STATING WHAT HAPPENED).

1. Illustrating Growth and Future Aspirations:  

This is the absolute most important part of your personal statement. You want to describe how you changed as a person as a result of the main event. Do not just say, “I became more passionate about service”, but show that you became more passionate about service by describing the homeless shelters you volunteered for or the elderly couple you helped get groceries for every weekend. Remember that you need to focus this part on only YOU!

1. Conclusion:

Reiterate how the event has shaped you today and how you’ll leverage the lessons learned as you move forward. This is a MUST. It’s your chance to leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee, highlighting your resilience, growth, and potential for future success.