What Not to Write in an Essay about Yourself?

At one stage in our lives, each has to create an essay about ourselves, whether it be at school or for a college application. The important thing is to know the difference between an article and a blog post. An essay is a more factual piece, presenting all sides of the story.

A blog post is more about the personal points of view and opinions of the author. When a writer composes a personal essay, it is to inspire the reader with knowledge that indicates their emotions or reflections from a real-life encounter. 

It can likewise be motivational and uplifting, or as a warning to avoid mistakes that the author may have learned from. When it comes to the topic, it can be about any moment in your history that enriched your life with change or growth.

 Writing about you can be challenging, and thus we need to not merely identify what to write, but also what NOT to write.

Here are some tips to help you decide what you need not write in an essay about you-

1. Do Not Skip the Planning Stage

 It would help if you remembered that any written work always calls for a prepared topic. It would be best if you had a well-plotted story. Avoid starting by just writing as you go.

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When drafting an essay about yourself, you shouldn’t be writing to vent or to complain about a position you are in, or a family member, or political view. A good outline should be prepared and establish the tone of the message you wish to share and figure out if this specific message is worth telling people.

2. Avoid a Generalized or Cliché Introduction

 The key to a good essay is grabbing the reader’s attention in the introduction chapter. Using phrases like “My name is Jack” or “When I grew up” or “The lowest moment in my life was…” should be avoided. The objective is to obtain the audience’s attention with a catchy opening statement, thereby sparking his interest in the story.

This is the part where you build a connection with your reader. Avoid opening with a famous quote, since most people do the same, causing it to be a cliché introduction.

3. Do Not Write All over the Place, Jumping from Subject to Subject

When writing about yourself, it is to amuse or educate. Do not make the mistake of rambling on and on and overwhelming with unnecessary information, using large vocabulary and analogies that might not fit in the context of your experience.  

4. Do Not Write an Overly Personal Essay

 It would help if you didn’t cross your boundaries. Avoid sharing too much confidential information that might cause your reader to feel uneasy. Sharing heavily graphic information about a disease, for instance, could put off the reader.  

Examples:

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Do not write about events such as losing your virginity, or anything about your intimate life.

Do not tell a poetic story about your significant other. If your reader has no direct attachment to you, they will probably not have an interest in the delightful details of your love life.

Do not make up fictional stories about yourself; a personal essay should be a truthful experience.

Avoid putting yourself down and scribbling about your personality flaws. Your reader prefers to read a story about achievement, to support what is right, or never giving up.

5. Do Not Write about Someone Else; The Discussion Is about You, after All

While it is okay to mention individuals in your life that impacted the experience you are writing about, the piece should still focus on you. Writing about how well other people do things, or paying tribute to someone important in your story, might make a good paper, but is out of context in this essay.

Your reader would most likely not mind hearing about the impact your mother or grandmother had on your development, and how you would incorporate it in your future growth.

6. Do Not Tell a Story That Doesn’t Include a Lesson

The reason your personal experiences would interest an audience is to apply what you have learned in their own life. They want to be inspired by how you overcame inevitable struggles or how you used knowledge to get that promotion or how you forgave an estranged family member.

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A story of never giving up is what they are looking for. So avoid telling a story about your feelings, and ranting about the issues, instead of sticking to the lesson.

7. Avoid Being Overly Confident

 No reader enjoys reading a story of vanity or how you are the biggest hero in your essay. While not portraying you as a loser, making yourself a superhero doesn’t work either.

It would help if you found a balance, be sincere and honest. Instead, show than tell. Inserting examples of moments where you illustrate the trait is more efficient than saying: “I showed great judgment.”

8. Do Not Forget to Write in Your Style

 The essay should be unique to yourself, and therefore you shouldn’t try to write in the style of a famous writer or someone you admire. You should ensure that you bring your voice to the table, engaging with your audience in a way that makes them get to know you.

If you are a serious type of person, writing a funny, playful piece might be a big challenge for you. You may show different sides of yourself as your essay’s story unfolds, which is perfectly fine. After all, your audience wants to relate to the change you went through.

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Conclusion

While writing about ourselves may be daunting, all of us have stories to share that can inspire people in a season of their life they may be in. By avoiding the mistakes mentioned above and adequately planning the structure of your essay, you will be sure to find the right topic. 

Choosing a specific moment that made an emotional impact or inspired change in your life, is a much better choice than writing about things that happened to you,

Remember, keep to point and not get sidetracked. Focus on being yourself, connecting to your audience, and inspiring them with your writing.