How should I start my college essay?

Question

I have to write an essay about what leadership roles I've taken on and how i've learned from them.

I have to write an essay about what leadership roles I've taken on and how i've learned from them.

Any suggestions on how to kick it off to a good start?

Answer 1

I can't tell you what to write, but I can give you a hint or two on how to write it. Start with the first one on your list, and make it anecdotal -- In other words, build a human interest story around it. Don't just say, "I was a scout leader in the ninth grade." Do it like this: "When I was in the ninth grade, I was asked to be a scout leader. I took the assignment because my parents insisted on it, but it wasn't my choice. When I had to chaperone the group on a camping trip, one of the scouts sat on an ant hill and suffered some embarassing and painful consequences. I never thought I'd ever be applying calamine lotion to the backside of a nine-year-old. However, what I learned from that experience, was that I definitely did not want to become a nurse."

Of course, that is all fiction, but I'm just illustrating how you can make a mundane experience into something funny, scary, or exciting. When those particular emotions are evoked, you have the material for an anecdote, or a short, humorous story.

When you've completed your list of leadership roles, be sure and include overall, how these experiences led to your career choice, and how the pros and cons of each influenced you to decide on what you wanted to do with the rest of your life. Good luck!

Answer 2

I would break up sections into planned areas-Intro, Paragraphs and Conclusion.
Start the introduction with a definition(s) of what leadership means - tradition and your spin(If you have one to add to it!) Then go on to allude in an anecdotal way to the roles you have taken on - but in brief.
Use however many paragraphs you have then on the different roles and what aspect of leadership each one had, and maybe how your interpretation of what constitutues leadership shanged as you took on each task, maybe?
Keep your narrative throughout, and keep referencing the mission you set yourself -i.e. the assignment, to show the examiner that you are not beating around the bush and you are answering the set essay.
In the conclusion come to a strong statement that sums up the tone of your entire essay-not too easy, but it's always good to finish strong!
Hope this helped!

Answer 3

Without giving specific examples of exactly what leadership roles you're taken, and what you learned from the experiences, it's impossible to even hope to get sound advice on an opening statement!!

TFT2P

Answer 4

hmmm...(dont take my suggestion seriously.... I'm in a way lower grade level)

you should start off with how nice it is to be the leader for once, and then say all the good things leadership has gotten you. (ex: good grades, new relationships)

then continue with the bad things it has gotten you. (ex: bad grades, people hating you because of an action you made)

wellllll hope that helps. good luck!

Answer 5

Am I the only person who sees the irony here?