college essay about not giving up

Never Give Up Essay Examples

Never give up is a phrase that many of us have heard throughout our lives. It has been used to encourage and motivate people during difficult times and remind them not to give in despite the struggles they may be facing. The idea behind never giving up can be applied to any situation, no matter how big or small it might seem. Whether it’s a challenge you are facing at work, school, or even in your personal life, never giving up can help you overcome adversity and reach success. First and foremost, perseverance is key when trying to achieve something worthwhile. If you don’t put in the effort and dedication necessary for success, then your chances of succeeding decrease greatly. When we face a setback or failure it’s important to remember that this is part of the process towards achieving our goals ” learning from mistakes helps us grow stronger each time we fail or make a mistake so that next time we know what not do differently. Additionally, having supportive people around us who remind us not to give up and believe in ourselves can be incredibly helpful during tough times because their motivation gives us an extra boost when needed most. Lastly, if we want something bad enough then nothing should stop us from pursuing it until we have achieved our desired outcome; this doesn’t mean there won’t be obstacles along the way but with hard work comes great reward. Keeping focused on what matters most provides determination which will lead you closer towards reaching goals – always look ahead instead of dwelling on past failures as this attitude brings forth positive energy that leads towards growth rather than discouragement. With patience and resilience anything is possible so long as the belief remains strong within oneself – never give up.

“If you cannot fly, then run… I f you cannot run; then walk… If you cannot walk, then crawl… but do whatever you have to do to move forward”. This is a famous quote by the great Martin Luther King, which also acts as a great motivation whenever I think about success. We all want […]

In the book of Oceania, the author has clearly spelled out the theme of friendship and love with utmost clarity. Winston, the main character in the book lives in Oceania where his world mainly entailed thought police to telescreens. Despite being very lonely in Oceania, Winston is being watched although, and this gives him urges […]

Basically marginalization is a process in which some people are pushed to the edge of group and given lesser importantance (J, 2013). Marginalization can involve a society being involved in global level while communities and classes can actually be marginalized from dominant social order. This paper asserts to discuss my practice experience with more marginalized […]

Inequality still remains a source of great anguish as the primary cause and spread of conflict. Generally, in a society that seeks to proclaim freedom, unlimited mobility, and individualism, inscriptive lines of gender and race appears to contradict and this has influenced the association amongst the Africans, Mexicans, and Native Americans. Absolutely, distinct speeches, texts, […]

Every day of my life, I have written this statement not once but many times in my head. I have tried to find words that can be enough to express my feelings but no words can really bring out how I feel. It was my 17th birthday when I decided to go and celebrate from […]

The liberal education classes I have taken are the ones that are a requirement for the completion of the American education system. I am of the opinion that while it is important to be exposed to the Liberal Education classes as a foundation for further education in future, some of the content learnt may never […]

Malory treats Arthur as the hero of Arthurian legends. Arthur is not only courageous but he also struggles to follow the honour code he has set his knights to follow even when the code does not benefit him in any way (Malory et al 49). The code demands God service, defenceless and poor protection, women […]

The issues of the twenty first century affect the lives of human beings in some direct or indirect ways. That is why it is not reasonable to just watch and say that nature is taking its course. Philosophical thinking could be of great benefit in trying to understand the issues in the twenty first century. […]

Growing up as a child in an alcoholic family can be a troublesome ordeal that can influence children who experience childhood in such situations for the rest of their lives. The presence of liquor abuse tends to influence the conduct of everybody around it, notwithstanding essentially adjusting the conduct of the individual who is routinely […]

Popular Questions About Never Give Up

Haven't found what you were looking for, search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards.

• Enter your topic/question
• Receive an explanation
• Ask one question at a time
• Enter a specific assignment topic
• Aim at least 500 characters
• a topic sentence that states the main or controlling idea
• supporting sentences to explain and develop the point you’re making
• evidence from your reading or an example from the subject area that supports your point
• analysis of the implication/significance/impact of the evidence finished off with a critical conclusion you have drawn from the evidence.

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Sayings — Never Give Up

Essay Examples on Never Give Up

Never give up essay topics for college students.

Choosing the right essay topic is crucial for your academic success. It allows you to showcase your creativity and explore your personal interests. Here, we provide a variety of essay topics to help you find the perfect one for your Never Give Up essay.

Argumentative Essay Topics

• The impact of social media on mental health
• The importance of renewable energy for a sustainable future
• The effects of technology on human relationships

Paragraph Example:

In today's digital age, social media has become an integral part of our lives. However, its impact on mental health is a topic of growing concern. This essay will explore the negative effects of excessive social media use and the need for greater awareness and regulation.

As social media continues to influence our lives, it is essential to recognize its potential harm on mental well-being. By raising awareness and advocating for responsible usage, we can create a healthier online environment for ourselves and future generations.

Descriptive Essay Topics

• A vivid memory from a significant life event
• The beauty of nature in different seasons
• An exploration of a historical place or landmark

Standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, I was overwhelmed by the breathtaking beauty that lay before me. The vastness of the canyon and the vibrant colors of the rock formations left an indelible impression on my mind, inspiring me to capture this awe-inspiring experience in words.

The Grand Canyon is not just a geological wonder, but a testament to the power and beauty of nature. By immersing ourselves in such natural wonders, we gain a deeper appreciation for the world around us and the importance of preserving these treasures for future generations.

Educational Value

Each essay type offers unique opportunities for learning and growth. Argumentative essays develop critical thinking and persuasive writing skills, while descriptive essays hone your ability to paint vivid pictures with words. By exploring diverse topics, you can expand your knowledge and enhance your writing prowess.

We Should Never Give Up on Our Hopes and Dreams

Never give up and don't afraid of failure, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

The Human’s Dilemma to Give Up The Idea of Giving Up

A lesson to never give up in "the odyssey", a poem by homer, review of the significance of the film "the butterfly circus", never give up no matter how hard the situation is: 'believe it to achieve it' review, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Relevant topics

• Winter Break
• Professionalism
• Role Models
• Thanksgiving
• Parenting Styles

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• Entertainment
• Environment
• Information Science and Technology
• Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Life Never Give Up

Never Give Up: Why People Sould Not Stop Pursuing Their Dreams

*minimum deadline

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below

Related Essays

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Student Essays

Essays-Paragraphs-Speeches

Essay on Never Give Up [ Meaning, Concept & Importance ]

Leave a Comment

We all hear very often, in our life, Never Give Up! The phrase implies that in all circumstances one should never ever give up one’s struggle and aim with resilience towards success. Never Give up typically stands for not loosing efforts and hopes while striving against an odd to reach at the goal. The following essay is very helpful for children and students, to understand the meaning and importance of never giving up in life.

List of Topics

Essay on Never Give Up | Meaning & Concept, Never Loose Hope & Struggles Essay

Giving up is easy. It’s a natural response to feeling overwhelmed, tired, or hopeless. But it’s also a surefire recipe for failure. That’s because giving up means you stop trying, and when you stop trying, you stop making progress. The saying Never give up lays emphasis on the fact that one should never give up on his dreams. No matter how difficult the situation is, one should not lose hope but keep trying until he achieves success.

Meaning & Concept of Never Giving Up

The phrase never give up on your dreams means that you should pursue your goals even when the going gets tough. It’s a reminder that anything worth achieving will require hard work and determination. Dreams don’t come true simply because you want them to; they come true because you’re willing to fight for them.

The phrase never give up on your dreams is a reminder that anything worth achieving requires hard work and determination. The saying is a motivational message that encourages people to keep going even when times are tough.

Importance of Never Giving up

The phrase never give up on your dreams is important because it reminds us that we need to persist through difficult times in order to achieve our goals. Pursuing our dreams can be a difficult and challenging endeavor, but it is often through these challenges that we grow and learn the most about ourselves. The phrase never give up on your dreams is a reminder to keep going even when things are tough.

What Students can Learn from this Phrase?

This phrase has unique relevance in terms of struggles for academic performance for students. Quitting or giving up on academics, especially during tough semesters, can be disastrous for their career and academic future. The phrase never give up on your dreams is a reminder to keep going even when times are tough and not to succumb to the pressure of academics and other activities.

With a little perseverance and grit, students can get through any academic challenge and achieve their dreams. One should never give up easily. Success is the result of continuous efforts taken. Stopping the struggles would make a man frustrated and fill with the guilt of failure and repentance. So, it is better to keep trying with full hope and energy.

Things will always be tough, but the key is to never give up on your dreams. Pursue your goals with determination and hard work. Don’t let anything stand in your way of achieving your dreams. Remember, anything worth having is worth fighting for. So never give up and keep pushing forward until you reach your goals.

>>>> Read Also : ” Essay on Optimism is Strength”

Therefore, as per this phrase, success is impending. One never know at what moment one may achieve success. It’s always illusive and imminent. So, the best thing is to keep struggling with full energy and hope. One should never lose courage in himself/herself. He/she should keep on pushing until he/she gets success. This is what this phrase teaches us. We should never give up on our dreams.

Related Posts:

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the “Overcoming Challenges” Essay + Examples

What’s covered:.

• What is the Overcoming Challenges Essay?
• Real Overcoming Challenges Essay Prompts
• How to Choose a Topic
• Writing Tips

Overcoming Challenges Essay Examples

• Where to Get Your Essay Edited

While any college essay can be intimidating, the Overcoming Challenges prompt often worries students the most. Those students who’ve been lucky enough not to experience trauma tend to assume they have nothing worth saying. On the other hand, students who’ve overcome larger obstacles may be hesitant to talk about them.

Regardless of your particular circumstances, there are steps you can take to make the essay writing process simpler. Here are our top tips for writing the overcoming challenges essay successfully.

What is the “Overcoming Challenges” Essay?

The overcoming challenges prompt shows up frequently in both main application essays (like the Common App) and supplemental essays. Because supplemental essays allow students to provide schools with additional information, applicants should be sure that the subject matter they choose to write about differs from what’s in their main essay.

Students often assume the overcoming challenges essay requires them to detail past traumas. While you can certainly write about an experience that’s had a profound effect on your life, it’s important to remember that colleges aren’t evaluating students based on the seriousness of the obstacle they overcame.

On the contrary, the goal of this essay is to show admissions officers that you have the intelligence and fortitude to handle any challenges that come your way. After all, college serves as an introduction to adult life, and schools want to know that the students they admit are up to the task. 

Real “Overcoming Challenges” Essay Prompts

To help you understand what the “Overcoming Challenges” essay looks like, here are a couple sample prompts.

Currently, the Common Application asks students to answer the following prompt in 650 words or less:

“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

For the past several years, MIT has prompted students to write 200 to 250 words on the following:

“Tell us about the most significant challenge you’ve faced or something important that didn’t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?”

In both cases, the prompts explicitly ask for your response to the challenge. The event itself isn’t as important as how it pushed you to grow.

How to Choose a Topic for an Essay on Overcoming Challenges

When it comes to finding the best topic for your overcoming challenges essays, there’s no right answer. The word “challenge” is ambiguous and could be used to reference a wide range of situations from prevailing over a bully to getting over your lifelong stage fright to appear in a school musical. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when selecting an essay subject.

1. Avoid trivial or common topics

While there aren’t many hard-and-fast rules for choosing an essay topic, students should avoid overdone topics.

These include:

• Working hard in a challenging class
• Overcoming a sports injury
• Moving schools or immigrating to the US
• Tragedy (divorce, death, abuse)

Admissions officers have read numerous essays on the subject, so it’s harder for you to stand out (see our full list of cliché college essay topics to avoid ). If events like these were truly formative to you, you can still choose to write about them, but you’ll need to be as personal as possible. 

It’s also ideal if you have a less traditional storyline for a cliché topic; for example, if your sports injury led you to discover a new passion, that would be a more unique story than detailing how you overcame your injury and got back in the game.

Similarly, students may not want to write about an obstacle that admissions committees could perceive as low stakes, such as getting a B on a test, or getting into a small fight with a friend. The goal of this essay is to illustrate how you respond to adversity, so the topic you pick should’ve been at least impactful on your personal growth.

2. Pick challenges that demonstrate qualities you want to highlight

Students often mistakenly assume they need to have experienced exceptional circumstances like poverty, an abusive parent, or cancer to write a good essay. The truth is that the best topics will allow you to highlight specific personal qualities and share more about who you are. The essay should be less about the challenge itself, and more about how you responded to it.

Ask yourself what personality traits you want to emphasize, and see what’s missing in your application. Maybe you want to highlight your adaptability, for example, but that isn’t clearly expressed in your application. In this case, you might write about a challenge that put your adaptability to the test, or shaped you to become more adaptable.

Here are some examples of good topics we’ve seen over the years:

• Not having a coach for a sports team and becoming one yourself
• Helping a parent through a serious health issue
• Trying to get the school track dedicated to a coach
• Having to switch your Model UN position last-minute

Tips for Writing an Essay About Overcoming Challenges

Once you’ve selected a topic for your essays, it’s time to sit down and write. For best results, make sure your essay focuses on your efforts to tackle an obstacle rather than the problem itself. Additionally, you could avoid essay writing pitfalls by doing the following:

1. Choose an original essay structure

If you want your overcoming challenges essay to attract attention, aim to break away from more traditional structures. Most of these essays start by describing an unsuccessful attempt at a goal and then explain the steps the writer took to master the challenge. 

You can stand out by choosing a challenge you’re still working on overcoming, or focus on a mental or emotional challenge that spans multiple activities or events. For example, you might discuss your fear of public speaking and how that impacted your ability to coach your brother’s Little League team and run for Student Council. 

You can also choose a challenge that can be narrated in the moment, such as being put on the spot to teach a yoga class. These challenges can make particularly engaging essays, as you get to experience the writer’s thoughts and emotions as they unfold.

Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to have succeeded in your goal for this essay. Maybe you ran for an election and lost, or maybe you proposed a measure to the school board that wasn’t passed. It’s still possible to write a strong essay about topics like these as long as you focus on your personal growth. In fact, these may make for even stronger essays since they are more unconventional topics.

2. Focus on the internal

When writing about past experiences, you may be tempted to spend too much time describing specific people and events. With an Overcoming Challenges essay though, the goal is to focus on your thoughts and feelings.

For example, rather than detail all the steps you took to become a better public speaker, use the majority of your essay to describe your mental state as you embarked on the journey to achieving your goals. Were you excited, scared, anxious, or hopeful? Don’t be afraid to let the reader in on your innermost emotions and thoughts during this process.

3. Share what you learned 

An Overcoming Challenges essay should leave the reader with a clear understanding of what you learned on your journey, be it physical, mental, or emotional. There’s no need to explicitly say “this experience taught me X,” but your essay should at least implicitly share any lessons you learned. This can be done through your actions and in-the-moment reflections. Remember that the goal is to show admissions committees why your experiences make you a great candidate for admission. 

Was I no longer the beloved daughter of nature, whisperer of trees? Knee-high rubber boots, camouflage, bug spray—I wore the g arb and perfume of a proud wild woman, yet there I was, hunched over the pathetic pile of stubborn sticks, utterly stumped, on the verge of tears. As a child, I had considered myself a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free. I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms. Yet here I was, ten years later, incapable of performing the most fundamental outdoor task: I could not, for the life of me, start a fire. 

Furiously I rubbed the twigs together—rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers. No smoke. The twigs were too young, too sticky-green; I tossed them away with a shower of curses, and began tearing through the underbrush in search of a more flammable collection. My efforts were fruitless. Livid, I bit a rejected twig, determined to prove that the forest had spurned me, offering only young, wet bones that would never burn. But the wood cracked like carrots between my teeth—old, brittle, and bitter. Roaring and nursing my aching palms, I retreated to the tent, where I sulked and awaited the jeers of my family. 

Rattling their empty worm cans and reeking of fat fish, my brother and cousins swaggered into the campsite. Immediately, they noticed the minor stick massacre by the fire pit and called to me, their deep voices already sharp with contempt. 

“Where’s the fire, Princess Clara?” they taunted. “Having some trouble?” They prodded me with the ends of the chewed branches and, with a few effortless scrapes of wood on rock, sparked a red and roaring flame. My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame. 

In the tent, I pondered my failure. Was I so dainty? Was I that incapable? I thought of my hands, how calloused and capable they had been, how tender and smooth they had become. It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive. And I’d gotten glasses, having grown horrifically nearsighted; long nights of dim lighting and thick books had done this. I couldn’t remember the last time I had lain down on a hill, barefaced, and seen the stars without having to squint. Crawling along the edge of the tent, a spider confirmed my transformation—he disgusted me, and I felt an overwhelming urge to squash him. 

Yet, I realized I hadn’t really changed—I had only shifted perspective. I still eagerly explored new worlds, but through poems and prose rather than pastures and puddles. I’d grown to prefer the boom of a bass over that of a bullfrog, learned to coax a different kind of fire from wood, having developed a burn for writing rhymes and scrawling hypotheses. 

That night, I stayed up late with my journal and wrote about the spider I had decided not to kill. I had tolerated him just barely, only shrieking when he jumped—it helped to watch him decorate the corners of the tent with his delicate webs, knowing that he couldn’t start fires, either. When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.

This essay is an excellent example because the writer turns an everyday challenge—starting a fire—into an exploration of her identity. The writer was once “a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes,” but has since traded her love of the outdoors for a love of music, writing, and reading. 

The story begins in media res , or in the middle of the action, allowing readers to feel as if we’re there with the writer. One of the essay’s biggest strengths is its use of imagery. We can easily visualize the writer’s childhood and the present day. For instance, she states that she “rubbed and rubbed [the twigs] until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers.”

The writing has an extremely literary quality, particularly with its wordplay. The writer reappropriates words and meanings, and even appeals to the senses: “My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame.” She later uses a parallelism to cleverly juxtapose her changed interests: “instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano.”

One of the essay’s main areas of improvement is its overemphasis on the “story” and lack of emphasis on the reflection. The second to last paragraph about changing perspective is crucial to the essay, as it ties the anecdote to larger lessons in the writer’s life. She states that she hasn’t changed, but has only shifted perspective. Yet, we don’t get a good sense of where this realization comes from and how it impacts her life going forward. 

The end of the essay offers a satisfying return to the fire imagery, and highlights the writer’s passion—the one thing that has remained constant in her life.

“Getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Coach Rob Stark’s motto never fails to remind me of his encouragement on early-morning bus rides to track meets around the state. I’ve always appreciated the phrase, but an experience last June helped me understand its more profound, universal meaning.

Stark, as we affectionately call him, has coached track at my high school for 25 years. His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running. When I learned a neighboring high school had dedicated their track to a longtime coach, I felt that Stark deserved similar honors.

Our school district’s board of education indicated they would only dedicate our track to Stark if I could demonstrate that he was extraordinary. I took charge and mobilized my teammates to distribute petitions, reach out to alumni, and compile statistics on the many team and individual champions Stark had coached over the years. We received astounding support, collecting almost 3,000 signatures and pages of endorsements from across the community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to the board.

They didn’t bite. 

Most members argued that dedicating the track was a low priority. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called a team meeting where we drafted a rebuttal for the next board meeting. To my surprise, they chose me to deliver it. I was far from the best public speaker in the group, and I felt nervous about going before the unsympathetic board again. However, at that second meeting, I discovered that I enjoy articulating and arguing for something that I’m passionate about.

Public speaking resembles a cross country race. Walking to the starting line, you have to trust your training and quell your last minute doubts. When the gun fires, you can’t think too hard about anything; your performance has to be instinctual, natural, even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the podium was my starting line. As I walked up to it, familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Instead of the track stretching out in front of me, I faced the vast audience of teachers, board members, and my teammates. I felt my adrenaline build, and reassured myself: I’ve put in the work, my argument is powerful and sound. As the board president told me to introduce myself, I heard, “runners set” in the back of my mind. She finished speaking, and Bang! The brief silence was the gunshot for me to begin. 

The next few minutes blurred together, but when the dust settled, I knew from the board members’ expressions and the audience’s thunderous approval that I had run quite a race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; the board voted down our proposal. I was disappointed, but proud of myself, my team, and our collaboration off the track. We stood up for a cause we believed in, and I overcame my worries about being a leader. Although I discovered that changing the status quo through an elected body can be a painstakingly difficult process and requires perseverance, I learned that I enjoy the challenges this effort offers. Last month, one of the school board members joked that I had become a “regular” – I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Just as Stark taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have been beaten when I appealed to the board, but I certainly didn’t lose, and that would have made Stark proud.

While the writer didn’t succeed in getting the track dedicated to Coach Stark, their essay is certainly successful in showing their willingness to push themselves and take initiative.

The essay opens with a quote from Coach Stark that later comes full circle at the end of the essay. We learn about Stark’s impact and the motivation for trying to get the track dedicated to him.

One of the biggest areas of improvement in the intro, however, is how the essay tells us Stark’s impact rather than showing us: His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The writer could’ve helped us feel a stronger emotional connection to Stark if they had included examples of Stark’s qualities, rather than explicitly stating them. For example, they could’ve written something like: Stark was the kind of person who would give you gas money if you told him your parents couldn’t afford to pick you up from practice. And he actually did that—several times. At track meets, alumni regularly would come talk to him and tell him how he’d changed their lives. Before Stark, I was ambivalent about running and was on the JV team, but his encouragement motivated me to run longer and harder and eventually make varsity. Because of him, I approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The essay goes on to explain how the writer overcame their apprehension of public speaking, and likens the process of submitting an appeal to the school board to running a race. This metaphor makes the writing more engaging and allows us to feel the student’s emotions.

While the student didn’t ultimately succeed in getting the track dedicated, we learn about their resilience and initiative: I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Overall, this essay is well-done. It demonstrates growth despite failing to meet a goal, which is a unique essay structure. The running metaphor and full-circle intro/ending also elevate the writing in this essay.

Where to Get Your Overcoming Challenges Essay Edited

The Overcoming Challenges essay is one of the trickier supplemental prompts, so it’s important to get feedback on your drafts. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Never Give Up Essay Example

Whether big or small, everyone faces obstacles every day. What matters is how you handle the challenges, and whether or not you give up. “Never Let Go” showcases the importance of working hard and never giving up. It consists of a ladder, lion, infinity necklace, rope, and watch which represent the mindset needed to never quit. I was inspired to create this portrait based on my personal experiences and challenges.

The first symbol, the ladder, represents ascension and the realization of potential. When working towards a goal, it is natural to fail. Each mistake needs to be turned into motivation to try again. For example, in gymnastics, I was put in the same level twice. I saw this as a huge setback, but it motivated me to work hard. I learned that each setback is one step up the ladder of success. The second symbol is a lion, signifying the importance of courage. When you confront a challenge, it might be hard at first. You must be brave enough to overcome the hard part. This is why I am not afraid of trying new tasks. I learned not trying is even worse than a failure. The next symbol is the infinity necklace, which represents the idea of never giving up. To be infinite means to be endless, and you should not end until you have reached your goal. For example, I couldn’t come up with an idea for science fair. It took me a long time, but I kept trying and found a topic that took me to Regionals. I learned that even if it takes time, you should not quit. 

The fourth symbol is a rope, symbolizing the importance of persistence. If you let go of the rope while climbing, you will fall. You must persist till the end and not give up. I experienced this while climbing ropes in gymnastics. When we have to climb multiple ropes, my arms feel like letting go. But, I cannot just stop in the middle or else I will get hurt. This taught me to always begin with the end in mind and to persist. Consistency is as important as persistency, which is symbolized through the watch. To work like clockwork means to work according to plan. In order to do that, you must work consistently. For example, you cannot just relax for a long time, and then work hard at the last minute. If you do this, your work will be much harder and you will feel like giving up even more. This is why I space out my school work everyday.

All five symbols in the portrait have one common point-- positivity. The yellow and orange colors in the background symbolize the optimism and warmth needed when facing a challenge. The blue shirt represents how calm you need to be in order to succeed. You should not get easily frustrated by mistakes. The image placement also plays a key part in the portrait. The rope and ladder are the two biggest symbols because persistence and learning from mistakes are very important. The lion is near the heart because the courage to continue comes from your heart. The watch is small because it might seem insignificant, despite its importance. Similarly,  it might feel like it consistency does not matter as long as things get done in the end. Since the main message is to never quit, the infinity sign is on the neck in the center, where it is visible.

Whenever I face a tough situation, I do not give up. I learn from my mistakes and I am brave, persistent, and consistent to overcome my obstacles. I have felt like quitting many times in life, but I knew that this would lead to a greater failure. I learned that if you work hard and never give up, you can accomplish anything.

Related Samples

• The Bystander Effect Essay Example
• Learning from Mistakes Essay Example
• Example Essay About Experience in Life: The Game
• Last Day of My Life Essay Example
• A Little Hope Essay Example
• The Brightest Human Emotion - Fear Essay Example
• The Qualities of Tragic Hero Essay Example
• Personal Narrative Essay: I am Cuban
• What Shapes Our Character Traits Essay Sample
• Instructional Essay Example: How to Build a Mousetrap Car

Didn't find the perfect sample?

You can order a custom paper by our expert writers

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, getting college essay help: important do's and don’ts.

College Essays

If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service?

If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one.

Table of Contents

What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get?

What's Good Editing?

What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid.

What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay?

Who Can/Should Help You?

Advice for editors.

Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing?

The Bottom Line

What's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get.

Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product.

Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you."

Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved.

Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering.

Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view.

Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do?

Help Brainstorm Topics

Sometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you.

If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay .

Help Revise Your Drafts

Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers .

Revision questions should point out:

• Places where more detail or more description would help the reader connect with your essay
• Places where structure and logic don't flow, losing the reader's attention
• Places where there aren't transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader
• Moments where your narrative or the arguments you're making are unclear

But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves.

Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision.

You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:

• Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn't come from you
• Use a thesaurus to make your college essay sound "more mature"
• Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn't come from you
• Tell you what to say and how to say it
• Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you
• Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager

Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions.

Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.

• An editor should say that the opening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it.
• An editor should point out where your prose is unclear or vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay.
• An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go.

Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader.

Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters.

Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must.

Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing).

Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's.

A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:

• If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished.
• If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes.
• If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing.

What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?

Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important.

On the Importance of Editing

Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College )

Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College )

On the Value of Proofreading

Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University )

Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College )

On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence

Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College )

Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University )

Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self.

Parents or Close Relatives

Your family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you.

A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent?

One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard.

Teachers or Tutors

A humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work.

Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you."

If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft.

Guidance or College Counselor at Your School

The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay.

At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application.

Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version.

Friends, Siblings, or Classmates

Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you .

Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you.

You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work.

If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation.

First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked .

Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you.

Introduction Questions

• Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not?
• Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea?
• Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through.

Essay Body Questions

• Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words?
• How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay?
• Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing?
• Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs? Between the narrative and moments of insight?

Reader Response Questions

• Does the writer's personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of "who he or she is"?
• Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well?
• Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough?
• Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay?
• What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement?

Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?

One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet.

My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service.

When to Consider a Paid Editor

In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you.

If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!)

If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see.

If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students.

If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays .

If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more.

Should You Hire an Essay Coach?

On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you.

But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you.

If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises.

Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?

On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results.

On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay.

Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores.

Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?

Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this!

For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this:

I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application )

For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies.

Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students.

• You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading
• A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed
• A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you
• A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting
• All of them agree that getting light editing and proofreading is necessary
• Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings
• If you can't ask any of those, you can pay for college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches who over-edit you work
• Don't buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it'll make your whole application sound false.

Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay .

Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges .

Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

• How It Works
• All Projects
• Write my essay
• Buy essay online
• Custom coursework
• Creative writing
• Custom admission essay
• College essay writers
• IB extended essays
• Buy speech online
• Pay for essays
• College papers
• Do my homework
• Write my paper
• Custom dissertation
• Buy research paper
• Buy dissertation
• Write my dissertation
• Essay for cheap
• Essays for sale
• Non-plagiarized essays
• Buy coursework
• Term paper help
• Buy assignment
• Custom thesis
• Custom research paper
• College paper
• Coursework writing
• Edit my essay
• Nurse essays
• Business essays
• Custom term paper
• Buy college essays
• Buy book report
• Cheap custom essay
• Argumentative essay
• Assignment writing
• Custom book report
• Custom case study
• Doctorate essay
• Finance essay
• Scholarship essays
• Essay topics
• Research paper topics
• Top queries link

Best Narrative Essay Examples

Do not give up on any dream.

1623 words | 6 page(s)

People have their own experiences in life. These experiences are learned from making mistakes or observing other people’s mistakes. Such experiences are also learned from personal success or observing other people’s success. I made many mistakes in my life that I learned from and I also made some great decisions that I benefited from. A big part of my experience came from studying abroad. There were many obstacles and I had to sacrifice many things to come to the United States. I suffered at first but then when I learned how to live in the United States my life changed and I feel happy because I think I made the right decision coming to America. My story starts right after graduating from my college in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

After graduating from college, I was confused about whether to study abroad or complete my major in my country. I went directly to my father and consulted him about my situation because I needed advice. However, my father didn’t give me advice but instead he told me ” being far away from your home and your family is not something easy that everyone can deal with; nevertheless, if you decide to go and study abroad I will give you my full support and encourage you forever.” I looked at my father’s eyes and replied that I want to study abroad. Later that night I stayed up in my room thinking about the decision that I made earlier. At the same time, I had many great job offers that pay well, but I decided to follow my dreams to study abroad. I chose the United States of America to start my educational journey abroad. This meant that I had to learn English so I started surfing the web looking for a good English institute where I could start learning this universal language that p most of the world speaks. I decided to start my journey in Maryland. I bought my ticket to the United States, packed my stuff, my father gave me some money, and then I started my journey.

Use your promo and get a custom paper on "Do Not Give Up On Any Dream".

I thought about many things while I was on the plane, and felt many feelings. When I first got on the plane I tried to calm myself because saying goodbye to my family and friends in Saudi Arabia was difficult. I started thinking about the time that I`d spend in the United States. I wondered how hard it would be to make friends in America and I had a lot of questions in my mind about the culture and about the people. I wondered again if this is the right decision to make then I told myself that I’m an adult now and it’s time to take control of my life. I also felt that this time in my life is the perfect time to learn more, work more and shape my future plans. I felt that I was going to start a new life where I will have many responsibilities and many challenges. I took a deep breath and calmed myself and finally arrived in the United States.

When I arrived in the United States, I only knew a few basic English words, so I faced many fears and some problems. I arrived in the United States and had my first problem in the airport when the man in the airport started asking me questions about how long I was staying, where I was staying and why I was in America. I didn’t know how to reply to these answers, I felt like I could speak English well enough and I started mumbling some words. I wasn’t the first arrival to the United States that couldn’t speak English well, so the man handled the situation quite well. After that I went to my apartment that I chose before arriving, and thus began my life in Maryland. After a week of placement tests and orientations, I went to my first day of classes at the institute, I was very excited, yet I was afraid. I didn’t know how to communicate with other people, my language was very poor and my communication skills weren’t that great either. Another obstacle that I faced is the big difference between teaching style in America and teaching style in Saudi Arabia. I really wasn’t used to this new style of teaching, I also wasn’t used to coed classes because in Saudi Arabia all the classes are single-sex classes. I also couldn’t sleep at night sometimes because I was excited and afraid at the same time. I was always looking for the next day to come, but at the same time I was afraid of the next day. So I had this system where I`d stay up all night and think about the next day.

After two weeks of studying, I overcame my fears and I started organizing myself and my time to make the most out of my journey to the United States. All the things that I was afraid of, culture, communication, making friends were all related to the level of English I spoke. The more I learned English, the more I made friends and adjust to the American lifestyle. I saw a lot of international students in the institute who suffered from the same things that I suffered from. I also saw them trying harder and learning faster than me in those few weeks. I felt motivated and I felt the need to become better than them to prove to myself that I was also trying hard. Therefore, I had to study English more. I felt that I was not learning enough from the institute so I had to use various methods of improving my English language learning. I started by watching a movie twice a week in English, watching the daily news, reading the papers and engaging in conversations with other people on the bus or the subway. I was able to improve greatly in a short time and I managed to make a lot of friends and I`ve learned something from each one of them. I applied for a scholarship from SACM (Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission), and my dream was to get accepted into this great scholarship.

After six months, I got an acceptance letter from SACM, and I felt that I started succeeding in my journey. However, having a scholarship is a big responsibility. When I got the scholarship from SACM I felt the need to work harder than before. They’ve accepted me and gave me a scholarship which means they trusted me and I was afraid to let them down. After getting accepted into the scholarship, I`ve decided to move from Maryland to another place where I can study English in a more academic wayto prepare myself for the university. I had many choices because there are a lot of good schools in the United States, but I decided to go to Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to leave Maryland until I had to move. I had such a great time there and I learned many things from the students, the teachers and all the people there. Even though I liked Maryland, it was time for me to go to a better institution to learn more. Moving from Maryland to Atlanta was much easier than I thought, a main reason for that is the improvement of my English language which helped me to find an apartment and register at the institution much easier and faster than when I had to register in Maryland.

In Atlanta, I faced a lot of challenges and obstacles, but I learned a lot and finished my language requirements there. The institute which I studied at in Maryland and the one I went to in Atlanta were different from one another. The one in Maryland is more suitable for people with a poor language. On the other hand, the institution in Atlanta is for a higher level of English and that was the first challenge I faced in Atlanta. The level of students there is higher and more intellectual, and the teaching methods were also different. Another obstacle I faced while learning academic English is that the movies that I used to learn from and the stories I used to read were not enough to teach me difficult academic words. So I had to come up with a new way to learn English outside of the institution. Also, it was time for me to take the IELTS test, because it’s requirement of the universities and I myself wanted to determine my English level to know my standing. My skills in English started developing and I took the test more than one time and my grade was increasing each time. This allowed me to know that I’m learning more every day. At last, I got the grade that I wanted, and I started applying to universities, and my dream was to study in California. Finally, I got accepted at the university and came to California to start my new journey.

When I graduate from the university I`ll go back to Saudi Arabia with a big smile on my face and with many experiences in my mind. Coming to the United States is the best decision I`ve made in my life. Not only have my English skills developed, but my communication skills, my thinking methods, my knowledge about different cultures, and meeting people from around the globe is a great experience that I`d never have experienced if I didn’t come to the United States. The one big lesson that I learn is not to give up and to always follow my dreams until all of them come true.

Have a team of vetted experts take you to the top, with professionally written papers in every area of study.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

I Thought the Bragg Case Against Trump Was a Legal Embarrassment. Now I Think It’s a Historic Mistake.

By Jed Handelsman Shugerman

Mr. Shugerman is a law professor at Boston University.

About a year ago, when Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, indicted former President Donald Trump, I was critical of the case and called it an embarrassment. I thought an array of legal problems would and should lead to long delays in federal courts.

After listening to Monday’s opening statement by prosecutors, I still think the Manhattan D.A. has made a historic mistake. Their vague allegation about “a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election” has me more concerned than ever about their unprecedented use of state law and their persistent avoidance of specifying an election crime or a valid theory of fraud.

To recap: Mr. Trump is accused in the case of falsifying business records. Those are misdemeanor charges. To elevate it to a criminal case, Mr. Bragg and his team have pointed to potential violations of federal election law and state tax fraud. They also cite state election law, but state statutory definitions of “public office” seem to limit those statutes to state and local races.

Both the misdemeanor and felony charges require that the defendant made the false record with “intent to defraud.” A year ago, I wondered how entirely internal business records (the daily ledger, pay stubs and invoices) could be the basis of any fraud if they are not shared with anyone outside the business. I suggested that the real fraud was Mr. Trump’s filing an (allegedly) false report to the Federal Election Commission, and only federal prosecutors had jurisdiction over that filing.

A recent conversation with Jeffrey Cohen, a friend, Boston College law professor and former prosecutor, made me think that the case could turn out to be more legitimate than I had originally thought. The reason has to do with those allegedly falsified business records: Most of them were entered in early 2017, generally before Mr. Trump filed his Federal Election Commission report that summer. Mr. Trump may have foreseen an investigation into his campaign, leading to its financial records. Mr. Trump may have falsely recorded these internal records before the F.E.C. filing as consciously part of the same fraud: to create a consistent paper trail and to hide intent to violate federal election laws, or defraud the F.E.C.

In short: It’s not the crime; it’s the cover-up.

Looking at the case in this way might address concerns about state jurisdiction. In this scenario, Mr. Trump arguably intended to deceive state investigators, too. State investigators could find these inconsistencies and alert federal agencies. Prosecutors could argue that New York State agencies have an interest in detecting conspiracies to defraud federal entities; they might also have a plausible answer to significant questions about whether New York State has jurisdiction or whether this stretch of a state business filing law is pre-empted by federal law.

However, this explanation is a novel interpretation with many significant legal problems. And none of the Manhattan D.A.’s filings or today’s opening statement even hint at this approach.

Instead of a theory of defrauding state regulators, Mr. Bragg has adopted a weak theory of “election interference,” and Justice Juan Merchan described the case , in his summary of it during jury selection, as an allegation of falsifying business records “to conceal an agreement with others to unlawfully influence the 2016 election.”

As a reality check, it is legal for a candidate to pay for a nondisclosure agreement. Hush money is unseemly, but it is legal. The election law scholar Richard Hasen rightly observed , “Calling it election interference actually cheapens the term and undermines the deadly serious charges in the real election interference cases.”

In Monday’s opening argument, the prosecutor Matthew Colangelo still evaded specifics about what was illegal about influencing an election, but then he claimed , “It was election fraud, pure and simple.” None of the relevant state or federal statutes refer to filing violations as fraud. Calling it “election fraud” is a legal and strategic mistake, exaggerating the case and setting up the jury with high expectations that the prosecutors cannot meet.

The most accurate description of this criminal case is a federal campaign finance filing violation. Without a federal violation (which the state election statute is tethered to), Mr. Bragg cannot upgrade the misdemeanor counts into felonies. Moreover, it is unclear how this case would even fulfill the misdemeanor requirement of “intent to defraud” without the federal crime.

In stretching jurisdiction and trying a federal crime in state court, the Manhattan D.A. is now pushing untested legal interpretations and applications. I see three red flags raising concerns about selective prosecution upon appeal.

First, I could find no previous case of any state prosecutor relying on the Federal Election Campaign Act either as a direct crime or a predicate crime. Whether state prosecutors have avoided doing so as a matter of law, norms or lack of expertise, this novel attempt is a sign of overreach.

Second, Mr. Trump’s lawyers argued that the New York statute requires that the predicate (underlying) crime must also be a New York crime, not a crime in another jurisdiction. The Manhattan D.A. responded with judicial precedents only about other criminal statutes, not the statute in this case. In the end, they could not cite a single judicial interpretation of this particular statute supporting their use of the statute (a plea deal and a single jury instruction do not count).

Third, no New York precedent has allowed an interpretation of defrauding the general public. Legal experts have noted that such a broad “election interference” theory is unprecedented, and a conviction based on it may not survive a state appeal.

Mr. Trump’s legal team also undercut itself for its decisions in the past year: His lawyers essentially put all of their eggs in the meritless basket of seeking to move the trial to federal court, instead of seeking a federal injunction to stop the trial entirely. If they had raised the issues of selective or vindictive prosecution and a mix of jurisdictional, pre-emption and constitutional claims, they could have delayed the trial past Election Day, even if they lost at each federal stage.

Another reason a federal crime has wound up in state court is that President Biden’s Justice Department bent over backward not to reopen this valid case or appoint a special counsel. Mr. Trump has tried to blame Mr. Biden for this prosecution as the real “election interference.” The Biden administration’s extra restraint belies this allegation and deserves more credit.

Eight years after the alleged crime itself, it is reasonable to ask if this is more about Manhattan politics than New York law. This case should serve as a cautionary tale about broader prosecutorial abuses in America — and promote bipartisan reforms of our partisan prosecutorial system.

Nevertheless, prosecutors should have some latitude to develop their case during trial, and maybe they will be more careful and precise about the underlying crime, fraud and the jurisdictional questions. Mr. Trump has received sufficient notice of the charges, and he can raise his arguments on appeal. One important principle of “ our Federalism ,” in the Supreme Court’s terms, is abstention , that federal courts should generally allow state trials to proceed first and wait to hear challenges later.

This case is still an embarrassment of prosecutorial ethics and apparent selective prosecution. Nevertheless, each side should have its day in court. If convicted, Mr. Trump can fight many other days — and perhaps win — in appellate courts. But if Monday’s opening is a preview of exaggerated allegations, imprecise legal theories and persistently unaddressed problems, the prosecutors might not win a conviction at all.

Jed Handelsman Shugerman (@jedshug) is a law professor at Boston University.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

• Buckeyes In the NFL
• FanNation FanNation FanNation
• SI.COM SI.COM SI.COM
• SI Swimsuit SI Swimsuit SI Swimsuit
• SI Sportsbook SI Sportbook SI Sportsbook
• SI Tickets SI Tickets SI Tickets
• SI Showcase SI Showcase SI Showcase
• SI Resorts SI Resorts SI Resorts

© Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA

One NFL Team Eyeing Trade Up For Ohio State Buckeyes Star Marvin Harrison Jr.?

One NFL GM has teased the possibility of trading up for Ohio State star Marvin Harrison Jr.

• Author: Matt Galatzan

Ohio State Buckeyes star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is set to be one of the top players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Until lately, most projected Harrison to be the No. 1 receiver in the class, and was almost a universal top-5 pick, with the Arizona Cardinals being the most popular destination among mock draft experts.

Even leading up to the final hours before the draft kicks off, that still seems be the prevailing theory.

Lately, however, some have projected LSU's Malik Nabers to have overtaken Harrison for the title of WR1, due in large part to his perceived lack of speed, which could result in Harrison falling a couple of spots.

Will that result in Harrison dropping out of the top 5? Likely not. What it could do, however, is give teams like Arizona the confidence to trade back, and still get a true No. 1 guy like Nabers or Rome Odunze.

And with that possibility on the table, there could also be teams looking to trade up and attempt to get their hands on Harrison Jr. - including the team his father spent 13 seasons with - the Indianapolis Colts.

Marvin Harrison chats with his son, Marvin Jr. on the sidelines near the end of the game. Baltimore

Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY

Per a report from FOX 59 in Indianapolis, the Colts have serious interest in Harrison Jr., albeit with the caveat that trading up for him could be a bit too expensive. Nevertheless, Colts owner Jim Irsay isn't ruling it out.

“I wouldn’t rule anything out,’’ Irsay said in the interview. “We’re open-minded.”

So what would it cost for the Colts to make the move up to No. 4? Well, perhaps a bit too much.

Per the OverTheCap Trade Value Chart , the Colts would likely have to send the first and a third-round pick back to Arizona for the rights to move up. Whereas the DraftTek Trade Value chart suggests that they would also have to add a second-round pick to the deal.

Either way, while the possibility seems unlikely, Irsay and the Colts could desperately use a true No. 1 alpha receiver to get their offense over the top, and Harrison Jr. could be exactly that.

Latest Buckeyes News

WATCH: C.J. Stroud and Dawand Jones Give Advice to NFL Prospects at Buckeyes Pro Day

How Well Do You Know Big 10 Athletic Directors

Marvin Harrison Jr. Not Expected To Work Out At Ohio State Pro Day

Ryan Day Reveals Decision-Making Process Behind Chip Kelly Hire

Source: Marvin Harrison Jr. Won’t Work Out at OSU’s Pro Day