what i am good at essay

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Things I’m Good at

The author of this piece expresses their love for cooking and the satisfaction they feel when their loved ones enjoy their meals. They believe that cooking can be therapeutic and encourages using all five senses while preparing dishes. Following recipes can be helpful but ultimately, cooking with instinct and love is key. The author has been cooking since they were 16 and have learned different dishes and techniques to improve their skills. Cooking for family creates a special bond and the author believes love is the best ingredient for cooking.

There are lots of things that I can say I’m good at like swimming or painting but what I really love is cooking. Coking is my talent. I love to cook for my family and love ones.

It feels good when I see them satisfied and happy in what I cook for them. I think that’s the best part of all, they say it’s hard to mess up with kitchen but when you see people smile after they eat it’s really feels good and all the sweat and preparations is worth it. You just have to feel passionate about it, and don’t just cook to feed yourself, cook as a therapeutic activity, cooking can de-stress. Best way to be a good cook is to use all five of your senses – touch what u are making with clean hands of course, knead the dough don’t use a machine, our hands give out body heat and that actually works with the dough, smell the lovely aromas, see the ingredients turning into a meal, hear the spices crackling, and lastly taste the wonders u have created.

Furthermore, following recipes makes me feel like I am making a medicine or something, try a recipe from a book once, after that use the book for ingredients and go by instinct on the seasonings etc. I have cooked with my heart since I was 16 and now I think I am pretty good at it and learned different dishes and techniques to improve my cooking skills. I think one of the reasons why I love cooking is that it gives extra fulfillment for me. Knowing your family appreciates what you do and love is overwhelming.

Also, for me I think the best ingredient for cooking is love. Everything that you do no matter what it is will turn out great if you really love it. In addition, cooking for your family will create extra bond and special instead of eating in a restaurant or elsewhere. They say “the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” and I think it really works.

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8 Steps To Help You Answer The Question “What Am I Good At?”

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Asking yourself, “What am I good at?” is key to finding a career that fits your strengths and interests. However, it can be surprisingly difficult to identify what you are good at for yourself.

Whether you’re choosing an occupation for the first time or are considering a career change, keep reading. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to confidently answer, “What am I good at?” as well as how to use that information to find the right job for you.

Key Takeaways:

Understanding the skills that help you thrive and feel empowered is key to knowing what you are good at.

Keep an open mind when thinking about your strengths because sometimes they may be skills you have never considered before.

Knowing what you are good at is different than what you are passionate about because your passions are not necessarily something you have skills in.

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How to answer the question “What am I good at?”

“what are you good at” examples, why knowing your strengths is important, what you’re good at vs. what you’re passionate about, “what am i good at” faq, final thoughts, ask the experts.

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To answer the question, “What am I good at?” you need to think about what tasks you’ve succeeded at doing, what comes naturally to you, and what others compliment you for. A big part of identifying what you are good at doing is thinking about it from different angles and keeping an open mind.

Think about what skills have helped you thrive. Think about your past work, volunteer , and education experiences . What tasks did you do well, and which ones did you enjoy the most? Think about situations that challenged you — which ones were you able to get through that made you feel the most accomplished or earned you recognition?

If there’s a common thread between any of these tasks or skills, you might consider pursuing them and finding an industry or position those skills are suited for.

For example, if you feel particularly energized by participating in fundraisers and you just happen to be a natural leader , perhaps you would have a fantastic career working as a fundraising coordinator .

Consider which activities or skills make you feel empowered. Sometimes our strengths do exactly what they’re meant to do — they make us feel strong and help us succeed. Think about what tasks you do when you feel stressed or overwhelmed and you just want to feel like you’re in control again.

Try to take notice of the times when you feel invigorated or successful — those moments might be the product of you putting your natural talents to use.

What comes to you naturally? It’s easy to overlook our natural talents, especially if you think that everyone can do them or if you just shrug it off as something you’ve always been able to do — just because something comes naturally to you doesn’t mean it comes easy to others, or that your talents aren’t valuable.

When you naturally do something well, it’s easy to unintentionally ignore it. Keep your ears open for compliments that you usually deflect — they may be the key to finding out what your underlying superpowers are.

Notice how you spend your free time. Thinking about your hobbies and the activities you naturally find yourself doing is a great way to figure out your natural strengths and skills.

Over the course of a week, think about five things that you enjoy doing and think about why you like them. Write them down and take note of specific tasks and why they’re fulfilling for you.

For example, if you set aside time every week to write for an hour , and you have a blog that you regularly update with your creative writing and op-ed pieces, then perhaps your natural talents are your abilities to prioritize your time, tap into your creativity , and work autonomously.

What were you good at as a child? Think about activities and hobbies you enjoyed when you were younger that came to you easily — they may reveal an innate talent.

For example, did you enjoy writing one-act plays and performing them in front of your first-grade class? If so, then maybe you should pursue a career in playwriting, stage direction, or acting.

Ask others what you are good at. A great way to figure out your natural strengths is to ask others. Ask people who know you well and who you trust what they think you’re good at.

Talk to friends, family members, coworkers, and former supervisors or professors. Ask them about what they think your strengths are, when they’ve seen you thriving, and which careers they think would fit your personality and natural talents and why.

It can be hard to step back and take an objective assessment of ourselves; an outside opinion might help you start looking at yourself a little differently.

Look for patterns. When asking others about what they think are your strong suits and taking note of what skills you use in your spare time, pay attention to any characteristics or strengths that are mentioned frequently by others or that you notice you spend a lot of time doing.

The skills and hobbies that come up the most frequently are probably your strongest areas. Some of these strengths may be related — if so, try to think of jobs in which these skills could work together.

For example, if a lot of your friends say that you have a keen eye for detail and you notice that you spend a lot of time organizing things in your room, perhaps you could have a fulfilling career as an art curator or designer .

Keep an open mind. Some of the feedback you hear from the people you ask about your strengths might surprise you, and that’s okay. Don’t dismiss aspects of your personality that you had never considered to be strengths before — these unexpected qualities could help you succeed in a job or industry that you’ve never even considered exploring.

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Sometimes it can be difficult to identify things you are good at. When you have a set of skills your whole life, you may not realize that they don’t come as easily to other people. So, here are a few examples of answers to the question, “What are some things I do well?”

What are you good at?” answer examples

Leading others Organizing information Cooking Organizing items Researching Finding efficient ways to do things Teaching others how to do something new Solving problems and puzzles Asking good questions Calming people down Budgeting Painting/drawing/molding Negotiating Grammar Coming up with stories Telling stories Math Reading Taking care of kids Keeping track of details Communicating with many different types of people Understanding contracts Vizualizing future projects Graphs and charts Hospitality Coming up with creative ideas Adapting to new situations Physical strength Building things Designing spaces Empathy Writing Persuading people Being trustworthy Making good decisions under pressure Managing money

It’s important to know your strengths because when you’re naturally good at something, there’s a higher chance you’ll enjoy doing it. While a successful career requires a good deal of perseverance no matter what your strengths are, natural aptitude can make the road to the top much easier.

Of course, it also helps if you’re passionate about your field and your role. But when it’s easier to succeed on a daily basis, you’ll have an easier time staying motivated — hopefully, passion or the drive to improve upon your natural strengths carries you from there.

The things you’re good at may not immediately seem to be relevant to a profession. But with a closer look, you’ll find that seemingly irrelevant skills and talents can be significant in developing as a professional.

In a perfect world, what we’re good at and what we’re passionate about would always align perfectly, but they don’t.

While a good amount of overlap typically exists between the two, it’s important to differentiate the meanings. This is so that you avoid entering a career field that you’re very passionate about, only to discover that your talents don’t really thrive there, and vice versa.

Here are some ways to tell the difference between what you’re good at and what you’re passionate about:

What you’re good at

Natural ability. Whether you like doing it or not, there is some area where you’re naturally efficient or effective at performing certain tasks, handling situations, or applying knowledge. While you’ll still struggle sometimes, you’ll generally improve at a faster pace than others.

Knowledge-based. Most knowledge is learned, but if you’re good at something, you’ll be able to educate yourself on that subject relatively easily. You’ll also be able to easily build on that knowledge with your own ideas.

You’re recognized for it. If you’re applying your skills, you won’t be able to hide your natural talent. People will recognize, appreciate, and comment on things you’re good at without you bringing it up. Don’t feel bad about this; it’s not arrogance to accept praise and lean into your strengths.

What you’re passionate about

Skill level is unimportant. Your passions aren’t necessarily things you’re proficient in. You can be passionate about basketball, for example, without knowing how to play. That’s why following your passion alone isn’t the best recipe for choosing a career path — you need to take your talents into consideration as well.

Interest-based. When you’re passionate about a topic or activity, you’ll naturally want to spend time learning about it or participating it. You find it interesting and enjoyable, even if you don’t necessarily have a lot of experience in it.

Intrinsically motivated. You’ll be happy to do something you’re passionate about whether you’re recognized for it or not. The enjoyment you get from performing a certain task is worth more than any external reward, whether that’s a paycheck or praise.

What if I’m not good at anything?

If you do not feel like you are good at anything, first change your mindset. It is likely that your perspective of yourself is distorted, which is normal.

Many people struggle to self-reflect and be objective about themselves. Try to reframe certain habits to see if you can discover skills within them. Also, it can help to ask others to get an outside perspective.

What if I am not passionate about anything?

Sometimes passions first come from being good at something, so you may need to work at developing your skills. Instead of focusing on current passions, realize that it takes effort to become good at something.

Once you become good at something, then you might start to enjoy it more, which in turn makes you pursue it more, making you even better and even more passionate. In short, you can start a feedback loop with hard work can come skills that can lead to passions.

Is it better to be good or passionate about something?

It would be great to be both good and passionate about something. However, this is not always the case. In this situation, you need to consider your values. Are you willing to struggle at something because you are passionate, or would you prefer to do something that is easier for you?

If you want to improve your situation, work to improve your skills at your passion, but also understand your limitations.

What should I be good at?

What you should be good at depends on your needs. If you have financial needs, then you will want to be good at something that can make you money. However, you may have other needs, such as social or emotional needs, in which case you will want to focus on skills and experiences that can help you in these realms.

How can I find out what I am good at?

You can find out what you’re good at by asking others, noticing what comes easily to you, and taking personality or aptitude tests. Ask those close to you what they believe your strengths are, as they might recognize talents that you overlooked.

In addition, think through what comes easily to you — you might be surprised at how many skills you’ve taken for granted that others struggle with. Finally, take an aptitude or personality test. Don’t take their word on everything, but these tests can help you identify strengths you might be overlooking.

If you’re trying to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life, figuring out what it is that you’re good at is a great place to start.

You might find that your hobbies are actually valuable strengths that you can use to start a career path, or you might learn that you have a talent you never even noticed before.

Once you’ve determined what your strengths are, look at the required skill section on job listings that you think may interest you. If you find that your strengths align with the needs of a job that appeals to you, you may just find your future dream job .

Tips From An Expert To Answer The Question “What Am I Good At?”

Elisabeth Donatella Certified Coaching Practitioner

Consider what your “anchoring belief” is–the way I define an “anchoring belief”: a belief you hold about yourself and your abilities that you know with certainty to be true. For example: let’s say that you believe you are good at writing. You know this, without a shadow of a doubt, because you’ve written several articles in the past that have received lots of positive attention from people in your life, been featured in a publication, or maybe they just conveyed exactly what you were thinking and what message you wanted to get across that you felt so proud of them. When you believe something this strongly, the belief is unshakable–no matter how many people tell you, “your writing isn’t good,” it won’t matter, because you don’t believe them. You KNOW that you’re a talented writer . Remember, it’s a very normal, human response to feel an immediate sense of panic, confusion, frustration, or anxiety when we’re asked deeper questions that really get us to think. Considering our “anchoring belief” will help ground us and will help point us in the right direction.

Consider the things you enjoyed doing in previous jobs. If you haven’t had a job yet, that’s OK! You can still consider the things you enjoyed doing in school, in an internship , or even with your friends. Are you the extroverted friend in your group who loves planning all of your outings? You might want to consider looking into Event Planning. Did you really enjoy making sense of the spreadsheets on your team? You might want to consider a job in accounting or finance.

What’s something you can’t stop talking about? If you find yourself able to talk for hours about a specific topic, that may be a great indicator for a career path! Let’s say that you already know a lot about health and nutrition and find yourself talking with your friends and family about the ways in which they can improve their quality of life through a nutrition plan or workout program. You might want to consider a job in the health and wellness space!

Take a look at your resume . Are there any themes in the previous jobs you’ve had? Are there things that stick out to you very clearly that you could group into a list of “I-don’t-ever-want-to-do-that-again”? Remember that honestly identifying things that you don’t like is just as important as identifying the things that you do like.

Harvard Business Review – Know Your Strengths

University of Illinois – Assess Your Values, Interests, and Skills

Winona State University – Develop Your Strengths

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Maddie Lloyd was a writer for the Zippia Advice blog focused on researching tips for interview, resume, and cover letter preparation. She's currently a graduate student at North Carolina State University's department of English concentrating in Film and Media Studies.

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• What Am I Good At

The New York Times

The learning network | what are you good at.

What Are You Good At?

Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

• See all Student Opinion »

A teenager in Connecticut has come to be in high demand as an interior decorator and is regarded as something of a “rising star,” according to a profile in the Times’s Home and Garden section. What are your talents and skills? What products or services might you be able to provide, either free of charge, or for a fee?

The article “Sam Allen, Teenage Decorator” by Steven Kurutz looks at the 19-year-old’s career and how he got his start:

Mr. Allen landed his first real client two years ago, when his father, Lloyd, who runs a farmstand in Westport, overheard a customer saying she wanted to turn a nanny suite into a playroom for her daughters. “I go over, meet the woman, she tells me her wants and needs, and I tell her my vision,” Mr. Allen recalled. “I was hired on the spot.” He turned the nanny’s drab kitchenette into a candy station with a hot-pink mini-fridge, he said, and added bunk beds and a zebra-stripe rug. By charging less than other designers (his initial rate was $20 an hour, though he now charges $100) and posting photos of his work on Facebook, Mr. Allen secured more jobs. In the beginning, most of them involved decorating children’s rooms.

Students: Tell us what you are good at. How and when did you first realize you had this aptitude or knack? How do you use your skills and talents? How have your peers and adults reacted to your abilities? Are you passionate about the things you are good at? Can you put your skills in service of others, either on a volunteer basis or to build a business, as Mr. Allen has?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name. For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

I am good at graphic design and motion design. I am very passionate about this and noticed I was good at it when I was 12. I want to be an animator some day.

I am good at the computer. I first realized this when I was in third grade. I use my talents to make PowerPoint’s for school stuff and help the teachers out when I can. I think that my friends respect my ability because they always ask me to help them.

I think I would have to say I am good at is basketball. I have played sience I was 6 and it has been my passion ever sience. Basketball has always took a place in my heart and never left. When ever I am on the court, I feel like I’m in my own world and it’s just amazing. The reson I’m good at is tho, is because when I play, I always strive the extra mile, and good for me, is never good enough.

I really don’t know in what I’m good at yet, I like to do a lot of things and one of them can be sewing. I am really passionate about what I do and i know I’m really good at it too.

Im good at drawing and socializing I first relized it when I started drawing when I was almost 8 I think and I realized that im good at socializing when people tell me I talk alot. I used my drawing skill for my enjoyment and socializing skills help me meet new people and make new friends. My peers have told me im good at both of them and that I do them very often. Im passionate about them because I enjoy them alot and it helps me think. If I put them to use I could draw portraits of people or I can help talk and debate with my socializing skills.

In my opinion, I am good at playing the guitar. I think this because when i started playing, it came natural to me. I learned how to play my first song within a week of playing. I am passionate about the guitar because I think that it is one of the most fun instruments to play and not many people can play it. I think that it is a great skill to have and is a fun one at that!

I am good at a few different things but, I would like to overall talk about how I’m good at sports. I first realized that I was good at sports when my friends and coaches told me I was good. I am very passionate about the sports i play and I’m very competitive and when I’m playing sports I don’t think about anything else.

I think one of the things I’m good at is being very organized and clean. I realized this when I used to share a room with my sister I couldn’t sleep until my room was spotless and clean. I use my skills I guess you would say, to keep my room clean. My mom is happy because she doesn’t have to worry about my room or the house being messy most of the time because I’m home most of the time. I like being organized because it makes me and my house not look like a mess. Well, if I really wanted to, I could make a cleaning business.

I am a extremely good game rand I realized this when i got my first xbox and started to play several diffrent types of games.sometimes I just use these talents to play some tournaments or to just simply have fun.I wouldnt say im really passionate about my skills but I do like how im good at alot of games.My friends did not really react to it nor did my parents.

I’m good at a lot of things (with the “a lot” italicized). I play 4 instruments very well. I am the best golfer in my school and have excelled in math. I also started swimming recently and am very good at it too. I realized these talents around the time between 6th and 7th grade. I am very passionate of my talents and my peers encourages me to do what I want and use my talents everyday.

I am an avid musician. I started taking piano, violin lessons since I was five years old or so but I learned to play guitar by myself as I found the lesson by experts useless. I am exuberant most when I play Taylor Swift’s songs both on piano and guitar in my leisure time.

Moreover, I am an ardent artist as well. When I joined drama club, I realized that I was truly passionate about performing whether it is in front of the class or on the stage. I love every aspects relating to performing from writing the play to participating in the musicals although it means more responsibility, dedication and less hanging out, less TV.

To put my skills in service of others, my friends and I are making a plan to organize Christmas party for the orphans and disadvantaged children. We will be playing music, performing a short play relating to Christmas and organizing some activities and games for the children.

I have become really good at math. I use to have trouble with math, I could never understand what to do, now though I can do really complicated problems with extreme ease.

I think I’m good at procrastinating. I found out I was good at this because of school. I use them to forget about homework and do it at the last minute or not at all. They have been angry. I am very passionate about it. No, I cannot use this skill to help others.

i good at mma

I am good with cars because they are my passion. I can name any car that drives by me on the road. I can also build cars from the ground up, I know all about engines, paint, and body work.

the one thing im good at is makeing friends i am very socale person.i first relized this in first grade whe i became friends with eveyone in my class.

I feel that I am great at soccer. I have played the sport ever since I was five years old and have played it every year of my life. I am 18 years old right now and continue to play. I played in the senior all-star game this year and even ended making first team. I am hoping to play club soccer at college next year. I think what makes me really good at the sport though is that I played it and excelled in it within a football-dominated community. It’s not an easy thing to do. The town I come from is football crazy. Just about everyone here has played or is playing football. Every single one of my friends that plays a fall sport plays football. I am the one of the very few kids who hasn’t played a single year of football and instead has played soccer every single year of his life. The community I live in and the surrounding communities offer very little for soccer players. I don’t get a lot of recognition for what I do and it really bothers me because a great athlete who plays football will receive tons of recognition and respect while I don’t receive nearly the same amount of recognition and respect even though I am just as good of an athlete as they are. I think that I am great at soccer because I have played it for as long as I have and have gotten extremely good at it with little support. It’s one of those things that not many people can do.

I try to find something im really good at but i think im just to young to find my true calling.

What I am good at. I was fighting Mixed Martial Arts for 3 years but i recently had to stop due to my knees.

I am good at many things. One thing that I am good at is organizing events. Last year I was in a club that wanted to do fund raising. I knew exactly what we were going to do. When we had the event It was terrific and we made alot of money.

I am good at softball. I realize that i was good at this sport is when i was playing tee ball. How i realized that was when my coach told me that i could hurt someone really bad with my throw. Which made me sad but then he said i have a strong throw and i could throw to first base from the outfield. I use this skill when i am playing with my friends or when the season begins each spring, winter and winter clinics.

I am good at football, basketball, baseball, video games, and making friends.

I am good at playing video games reading books and runing out side with my friends.

Im good at a few weird thing. i like to be unique so i do not try the things other people do. Im good at balancing on my head. im good at burping really loud. I dont know what else to say. so yeah.

im good at boxing

What's Next

9 Tips for Writing an Essay About Yourself

You know yourself better than anyone else, but writing about yourself can still be tough! When applying for scholarships or to college, essay prompts  can feel so general (and yet so specific!) that they leave us stumped.  So we’ll show you 8 tips to write an essay about yourself, so that you can land more scholarships. (Psst – Going Merry makes applying easy .)

1. Create a List of Questions

2. brainstorm and outline, 3. be vulnerable, 4. use personal examples, 5. write in the first person, 6. don’t be afraid to show off…but stay on topic, 7. show personality , 8. know your audience, 9. proofread and edit.

Let’s start with some examples of personal essay prompts:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Describe a challenge or event that made you who you are today.
• What are your short and long-term goals, and how do you plan to achieve them?
• Write about a time you failed at something. How did it affect you?

These are just a few of many scholarship essay prompts that require you to look internally, to answer a question, solve a problem, or explain a scenario in your life.  

We get it. You might not be a big fan of bragging about yourself, or you might want to keep your personal stories to yourself. But by opening up and sharing your story, you can show scholarship providers, colleges and universities who you are, and why you’re deserving of their scholarship.

(Don’t just take our word for it – check out our scholarship winners page full of students like you who were brave enough to share their stories with us).

To get started, check out these 9 tips on how to write an essay about yourself:

After reading through the scholarship essay prompt, breathe, and make a list of smaller questions you can answer, which relate to the big essay prompt question. 

Let’s say the main essay prompt question asks you, “What were challenges or barriers you had to work to overcome?” Then the smaller questions might be something like:

• What is your background? Family, finances, school.
• What was challenging about that background?
• What’s your greatest accomplishment? How did you get there? How have previous challenges influenced your goals?

Think of these questions as mini-prompts. They explain your story and help you answer the main essay prompt with more details than if you just answered it without a plan in place.

After considering smaller questions, it’s time to brainstorm your answers.  Take out a pen and paper – or open up a document on a computer – and take your time in answering each mini-prompt. Organize your responses in order:

• Intro to main essay prompt.
• Answer about 3 mini-prompt questions.
• Conclude by rewriting the answer to the main essay prompt with a summary of your mini-prompt answers.

This organization will help you stay on topic and answer the prompt directly. (Or check out these 6 scholarship essay examples for alternative essay structures.)

Don’t be afraid to let your strengths, challenges, and personal stories shine through in your essay! Scholarship and admissions committees love to see that you’re self-aware how you can improve as a person, or how you’ve grown because of your experiences. Honest writing can help tell the best stories (in this case, YOUR story).

Since this essay is all about you , you should make your answer as specific as possible! Avoid using generalizations (e.g., “I’m really good at music). Instead, go for more personalized statements (e.g., “My fourth-grade teacher Ms. Matay really inspired me to pursue my interest in the clarinet”). Your personal examples are what will help your scholarship essay stand out among the thousands of applicants..

 You’re telling your story, so write from your perspective! You can narrate your story. You can provide an overview of what you learned from your experiences. However you choose to answer the prompt, we recommend writing in an active tone, and using “I” and “me” throughout your essay.

Most students worry about bragging in their essay, but we say go for it! This is your time to shine, so highlight your accomplishments and strengths.  Review your essay to make sure that you’re keeping the tone informative and that you’re still on topic. (Brag while answering the essay prompt; don’t just mention random, unrelated but impressive facts about yourself!)You can use this brag sheet where you can brainstorm your accomplishments. While the worksheet is geared toward requesting letters of recommendation , you can still use it to write out your hobbies, interests, college list , and strengths to help you answer your scholarship essay prompt.

Just because it’s an essay doesn’t mean it has to be dry and boring. This essay is all about you, so let your personality shine through. If you’re the class clown, you can use a bit of humor. If you wear your heart on your sleeve, don’t be afraid to show emotion. Trying your best to express who you are as a person will have a huge effect on the admissions or scholarship committee!

If you’re applying for a scholarship, research the scholarship provider. If you’re applying to college, research the school. Understanding what makes the provider/college unique and what their motivations are, will allow you to incorporate that information in your essay. For example, many scholarships are funded by private companies that sell products. You might want to reference those products in your essay. A good example of this is Emily Trader’s essay for the Life Happens organization , where she uses her personal narrative to explain the importance of insurance planning, since that is the mission of the organization (which is funded by insurance companies).

The last step in answering your essay prompt is to double-check your work! One typo can be distracting and cause scholarship providers to scratch their head while reading the essay. ( Psst, humble brag: Going Merry’s application platform includes spellcheck because we’ve got your back .) In addition to proofreading for typos and grammatical errors, also consider whether the sentence or paragraph structure makes sense. Are you breaking paragraphs in the right place? Are you using topic sentences well to signpost your main ideas? Does the essay flow? Consider these “bigger” structural questions too.  You might also want to ask a friend, family member, teacher, or guidance counselor to review your essay. They might catch something you didn’t see the first time around, and that can really help your essay! In fact, that is scholarship winner Daniel Gill ’s #1 tip. (Another tip is to apply for scholarships using Going Merry !)

Also, check out this helpful list of the 10 most common scholarship essay topics while you’re brainstorming!

Now that you know how to write an essay about yourself, it’s time to start applying for scholarships! Remember: You’ve got this. 

Sign up for your free Going Merry profile . From there, you can easily upload and submit your essay for thousands of scholarships. We make it easy so you’ll only need to enter your profile information once! And then, you can apply away. In fact, we even have some bundled scholarships so that you only enter your essay once, to apply for multiple scholarships at the same time.

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Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students

How To Write An Essay: Beginner Tips And Tricks

Updated: July 11, 2022

Published: June 22, 2021

Many students dread writing essays, but essay writing is an important skill to develop in high school, university, and even into your future career. By learning how to write an essay properly, the process can become more enjoyable and you’ll find you’re better able to organize and articulate your thoughts.

When writing an essay, it’s common to follow a specific pattern, no matter what the topic is. Once you’ve used the pattern a few times and you know how to structure an essay, it will become a lot more simple to apply your knowledge to every essay. 

No matter which major you choose, you should know how to craft a good essay. Here, we’ll cover the basics of essay writing, along with some helpful tips to make the writing process go smoothly.

Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash

Types of Essays

Think of an essay as a discussion. There are many types of discussions you can have with someone else. You can be describing a story that happened to you, you might explain to them how to do something, or you might even argue about a certain topic. 

When it comes to different types of essays, it follows a similar pattern. Like a friendly discussion, each type of essay will come with its own set of expectations or goals. 

For example, when arguing with a friend, your goal is to convince them that you’re right. The same goes for an argumentative essay. 

Here are a few of the main essay types you can expect to come across during your time in school:

Narrative Essay

This type of essay is almost like telling a story, not in the traditional sense with dialogue and characters, but as if you’re writing out an event or series of events to relay information to the reader.

Persuasive Essay

Here, your goal is to persuade the reader about your views on a specific topic.

Descriptive Essay

This is the kind of essay where you go into a lot more specific details describing a topic such as a place or an event. 

Argumentative Essay

In this essay, you’re choosing a stance on a topic, usually controversial, and your goal is to present evidence that proves your point is correct.

Expository Essay

Your purpose with this type of essay is to tell the reader how to complete a specific process, often including a step-by-step guide or something similar.

Compare and Contrast Essay

You might have done this in school with two different books or characters, but the ultimate goal is to draw similarities and differences between any two given subjects.

The Main Stages of Essay Writing

When it comes to writing an essay, many students think the only stage is getting all your ideas down on paper and submitting your work. However, that’s not quite the case. 

There are three main stages of writing an essay, each one with its own purpose. Of course, writing the essay itself is the most substantial part, but the other two stages are equally as important.

So, what are these three stages of essay writing? They are:

Preparation

Before you even write one word, it’s important to prepare the content and structure of your essay. If a topic wasn’t assigned to you, then the first thing you should do is settle on a topic. Next, you want to conduct your research on that topic and create a detailed outline based on your research. The preparation stage will make writing your essay that much easier since, with your outline and research, you should already have the skeleton of your essay.

Writing is the most time-consuming stage. In this stage, you will write out all your thoughts and ideas and craft your essay based on your outline. You’ll work on developing your ideas and fleshing them out throughout the introduction, body, and conclusion (more on these soon).

In the final stage, you’ll go over your essay and check for a few things. First, you’ll check if your essay is cohesive, if all the points make sense and are related to your topic, and that your facts are cited and backed up. You can also check for typos, grammar and punctuation mistakes, and formatting errors.  

The Five-Paragraph Essay

We mentioned earlier that essay writing follows a specific structure, and for the most part in academic or college essays , the five-paragraph essay is the generally accepted structure you’ll be expected to use. 

The five-paragraph essay is broken down into one introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a closing paragraph. However, that doesn’t always mean that an essay is written strictly in five paragraphs, but rather that this structure can be used loosely and the three body paragraphs might become three sections instead.

Let’s take a closer look at each section and what it entails.

Introduction

As the name implies, the purpose of your introduction paragraph is to introduce your idea. A good introduction begins with a “hook,” something that grabs your reader’s attention and makes them excited to read more. 

Another key tenant of an introduction is a thesis statement, which usually comes towards the end of the introduction itself. Your thesis statement should be a phrase that explains your argument, position, or central idea that you plan on developing throughout the essay. 

You can also include a short outline of what to expect in your introduction, including bringing up brief points that you plan on explaining more later on in the body paragraphs.

Here is where most of your essay happens. The body paragraphs are where you develop your ideas and bring up all the points related to your main topic. 

In general, you’re meant to have three body paragraphs, or sections, and each one should bring up a different point. Think of it as bringing up evidence. Each paragraph is a different piece of evidence, and when the three pieces are taken together, it backs up your main point — your thesis statement — really well.

That being said, you still want each body paragraph to be tied together in some way so that the essay flows. The points should be distinct enough, but they should relate to each other, and definitely to your thesis statement. Each body paragraph works to advance your point, so when crafting your essay, it’s important to keep this in mind so that you avoid going off-track or writing things that are off-topic.

Many students aren’t sure how to write a conclusion for an essay and tend to see their conclusion as an afterthought, but this section is just as important as the rest of your work. 

You shouldn’t be presenting any new ideas in your conclusion, but you should summarize your main points and show how they back up your thesis statement. 

Essentially, the conclusion is similar in structure and content to the introduction, but instead of introducing your essay, it should be wrapping up the main thoughts and presenting them to the reader as a singular closed argument. 

Photo by AMIT RANJAN on Unsplash

Steps to Writing an Essay

Now that you have a better idea of an essay’s structure and all the elements that go into it, you might be wondering what the different steps are to actually write your essay. 

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Instead of going in blind, follow these steps on how to write your essay from start to finish.

Understand Your Assignment

When writing an essay for an assignment, the first critical step is to make sure you’ve read through your assignment carefully and understand it thoroughly. You want to check what type of essay is required, that you understand the topic, and that you pay attention to any formatting or structural requirements. You don’t want to lose marks just because you didn’t read the assignment carefully.

Research Your Topic

Once you understand your assignment, it’s time to do some research. In this step, you should start looking at different sources to get ideas for what points you want to bring up throughout your essay. 

Search online or head to the library and get as many resources as possible. You don’t need to use them all, but it’s good to start with a lot and then narrow down your sources as you become more certain of your essay’s direction.

Start Brainstorming

After research comes the brainstorming. There are a lot of different ways to start the brainstorming process . Here are a few you might find helpful:

• Think about what you found during your research that interested you the most
• Jot down all your ideas, even if they’re not yet fully formed
• Create word clouds or maps for similar terms or ideas that come up so you can group them together based on their similarities
• Try freewriting to get all your ideas out before arranging them

Create a Thesis

This is often the most tricky part of the whole process since you want to create a thesis that’s strong and that you’re about to develop throughout the entire essay. Therefore, you want to choose a thesis statement that’s broad enough that you’ll have enough to say about it, but not so broad that you can’t be precise. 

Write Your Outline

Armed with your research, brainstorming sessions, and your thesis statement, the next step is to write an outline. 

In the outline, you’ll want to put your thesis statement at the beginning and start creating the basic skeleton of how you want your essay to look. 

A good way to tackle an essay is to use topic sentences . A topic sentence is like a mini-thesis statement that is usually the first sentence of a new paragraph. This sentence introduces the main idea that will be detailed throughout the paragraph. 

If you create an outline with the topic sentences for your body paragraphs and then a few points of what you want to discuss, you’ll already have a strong starting point when it comes time to sit down and write. This brings us to our next step… 

Write a First Draft

The first time you write your entire essay doesn’t need to be perfect, but you do need to get everything on the page so that you’re able to then write a second draft or review it afterward. 

Everyone’s writing process is different. Some students like to write their essay in the standard order of intro, body, and conclusion, while others prefer to start with the “meat” of the essay and tackle the body, and then fill in the other sections afterward. 

Make sure your essay follows your outline and that everything relates to your thesis statement and your points are backed up by the research you did. 

Revise, Edit, and Proofread

The revision process is one of the three main stages of writing an essay, yet many people skip this step thinking their work is done after the first draft is complete. 

However, proofreading, reviewing, and making edits on your essay can spell the difference between a B paper and an A.

After writing the first draft, try and set your essay aside for a few hours or even a day or two, and then come back to it with fresh eyes to review it. You might find mistakes or inconsistencies you missed or better ways to formulate your arguments.

Add the Finishing Touches

Finally, you’ll want to make sure everything that’s required is in your essay. Review your assignment again and see if all the requirements are there, such as formatting rules, citations, quotes, etc. 

Go over the order of your paragraphs and make sure everything makes sense, flows well, and uses the same writing style . 

Once everything is checked and all the last touches are added, give your essay a final read through just to ensure it’s as you want it before handing it in. 

A good way to do this is to read your essay out loud since you’ll be able to hear if there are any mistakes or inaccuracies.

Essay Writing Tips

With the steps outlined above, you should be able to craft a great essay. Still, there are some other handy tips we’d recommend just to ensure that the essay writing process goes as smoothly as possible.

• Start your essay early. This is the first tip for a reason. It’s one of the most important things you can do to write a good essay. If you start it the night before, then you won’t have enough time to research, brainstorm, and outline — and you surely won’t have enough time to review.
• Don’t try and write it in one sitting. It’s ok if you need to take breaks or write it over a few days. It’s better to write it in multiple sittings so that you have a fresh mind each time and you’re able to focus.
• Always keep the essay question in mind. If you’re given an assigned question, then you should always keep it handy when writing your essay to make sure you’re always working to answer the question.
• Use transitions between paragraphs. In order to improve the readability of your essay, try and make clear transitions between paragraphs. This means trying to relate the end of one paragraph to the beginning of the next one so the shift doesn’t seem random.
• Integrate your research thoughtfully. Add in citations or quotes from your research materials to back up your thesis and main points. This will show that you did the research and that your thesis is backed up by it.

Wrapping Up

Writing an essay doesn’t need to be daunting if you know how to approach it. Using our essay writing steps and tips, you’ll have better knowledge on how to write an essay and you’ll be able to apply it to your next assignment. Once you do this a few times, it will become more natural to you and the essay writing process will become quicker and easier.

If you still need assistance with your essay, check with a student advisor to see if they offer help with writing. At University of the People(UoPeople), we always want our students to succeed, so our student advisors are ready to help with writing skills when necessary. 

Related Articles

• How to Write a College Essay

College admissions experts offer tips on selecting a topic as well as writing and editing the essay.

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Students can go online to review essay requirements for the colleges they want to apply to, such as word limits and essay topics. Many students may start with the Common App, an application platform accepted by more than 1,000 schools.

For college applicants, the essay is the place to showcase their writing skills and let their unique voice shine through.

"The essays are important in part because this is a student's chance to really speak directly to the admissions office," says Adam Sapp, assistant vice president and director of admissions at Pomona College in California.

Prospective college students want their essay, sometimes called a personal statement, to make a good impression and boost their chances of being accepted, but they have only several hundred words to make that happen.

This can feel like a lot of pressure.

"I think this is the part of the application process that students are sometimes most challenged by," says Niki Barron, associate dean of admission at Hamilton College in New York, "because they're looking at a blank piece of paper and they don't know where to get started."

That pressure may be amplified as many colleges have gone test optional in recent years, meaning that ACT and SAT scores will be considered if submitted but are not required. Other schools have gone test-blind and don't consider such scores at all. In the absence of test scores, some admissions experts have suggested that more attention will be paid to other parts of an application, such as the essay.

But just as each applicant is unique, so are college admissions policies and priorities.

"Being test optional hasn't changed how we use essays in our selection process, and I wouldn't say that the essay serves as a substitute for standardized test scores," Barron wrote in an email. "A student's academic preparation for our classroom experience is always front and center in our application review process."

On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against college admissions policies that consider an applicant's race. The ruling, though, does not prohibit students from writing essays on how their race has affected them, which experts say could significantly affect how students approach this portion of their applications.

Essay-writing tips offered by experts emphasize the importance of being concise, coherent, congenial, unique, honest and accurate. An applicant should also flex some intellectual muscle and include vivid details or anecdotes.

From brainstorming essay topics to editing the final draft, here's what students need to know about crafting a strong college application essay.

Getting Started on the College Essay

How long should a college essay be, how to pick a college essay topic, writing the college essay, how the affirmative action ruling could change college essays, editing and submitting the college essay.

A good time for students to begin working on their essays is the summer before senior year, experts say, when homework and extracurricular activities aren't taking up time and mental energy.

Starting early will also give students plenty of time to work through multiple drafts of an essay before college application deadlines, which can be as early as November for students applying for early decision or early action .

Students can go online to review essay requirements for the colleges they want to apply to, such as word limits and essay topics. Many students may start with the Common App , an application platform accepted by more than 1,000 schools. Students can submit that application to multiple schools.

Another option is the Coalition Application, an application platform accepted by more than 130 schools. Students applying through this application choose from one of six essay prompts to complete and include with their application.

In addition to the main essay, some colleges ask applicants to submit one or more additional writing samples. Students are often asked to explain why they are interested in a particular school or academic field in these supplemental essays , which tend to be shorter than the main essay.

Students should budget more time for the writing process if the schools they're applying to ask for supplemental essays.

"Most selective colleges will ask for more than one piece of writing. Don't spend all your time working on one long essay and then forget to devote energy to other parts of the application," Sapp says.

Though the Common App notes that "there are no strict word limits" for its main essay, it suggests a cap of about 650 words. The Coalition Application website says its essays should be between 500 and 650 words.

"While we won't, as a rule, stop reading after 650 words, we cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention for as long as you'd hoped it would," the Common App website states.

The word count is much shorter for institution-specific supplemental essays, which are typically around 250 words.

The first and sometimes most daunting step in the essay writing process is figuring out what to write about.

There are usually several essay prompts to choose from on a college application. They tend to be broad, open-ended questions, giving students the freedom to write about a wide array of topics, Barron says.

The essay isn't a complete autobiography, notes Mimi Doe, co-founder of Top Tier Admissions, a Massachusetts-based advising company. "It's overwhelming to think of putting your whole life in one essay," she says.

Rather, experts say students should narrow their focus and write about a specific experience, hobby or quirk that reveals something personal, like how they think, what they value or what their strengths are. Students can also write about something that illustrates an aspect of their background. These are the types of essays that typically stand out to admissions officers, experts say. Even an essay on a common topic can be compelling if done right.

Students don't have to discuss a major achievement in their essay – a common misconception. Admissions officers who spoke with U.S. News cited memorable essays that focused on more ordinary topics, including fly-fishing, a student's commute to and from school and a family's dining room table.

What's most important, experts say, is that a college essay is thoughtful and tells a story that offers insight into who a student is as a person.

"Think of the college essay as a meaningful glimpse of who you are beyond your other application materials," Pierre Huguet, CEO and founder of admissions consulting firm H&C Education, wrote in an email. "After reading your essay, the reader won't fully know you – at least not entirely. Your objective is to evoke the reader's curiosity and make them eager to get to know you."

If students are having trouble brainstorming potential topics, they can ask friends or family members for help, says Stephanie Klein Wassink, founder of Winning Applications and AdmissionsCheckup, Connecticut-based college admissions advising companies. Klein Wassink says students can ask peers or family members questions such as, "What are the things you think I do well?" Or, "What are my quirks?"

The essay should tell college admissions officers something they don't already know, experts say.

Some experts encourage students to outline their essay before jumping into the actual writing, though of course everyone's writing process differs.

The first draft of an essay doesn't need to be perfect. "Just do a brain dump," Doe says. "Don't edit yourself, just lay it all out on the page."

If students are having a hard time getting started, they should focus on their opening sentence, Doe suggests. She says an essay's opening sentence, or hook, should grab the reader's attention.

Doe offered an example of a strong hook from the essay of a student she worked with:

"I first got into politics the day the cafeteria outlawed creamed corn."

"I want to know about this kid," she says. "I’m interested."

The key to a good college essay is striking a balance between being creative and not overdoing it, Huguet says. He advises students to keep it simple.

"The college essay is not a fiction writing contest," Huguet says. "Admissions committees are not evaluating you on your potential as the next writer of the Great American Novel."

He adds that students should write in the voice they use to discuss meaningful topics with someone they trust. It's also wise to avoid hyperbole, as that can lose the readers' trust, as well as extraneous adverbs and adjectives, Huguet says.

"Thinking small, when done right, means paying close attention to the little things in your life that give it meaning in unique ways," he says. "It means, on the one hand, that you don’t have to come up with a plan for world peace, but it also means thinking small enough to identify details in your life that belong only to you."

The Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action has left some students feeling in limbo with how to approach their essays. Some are unsure whether to include racial identifiers while others feel pressure to exclude it, says Christopher Rim, CEO and founder of Command Education, an admissions consulting company.

"For instance, some of our Asian students have been concerned that referencing their culture or race in their essay could negatively impact them (even moreso than before)," Rim wrote in an email. He noted that many students he works with had already begun crafting their essays before the ruling came. "Some of our other students have felt pressure to disclose their race or share a story of discrimination or struggle because they expect those stories to be received better by admissions officers."

Some of the uneasiness stems from what feels like a contradictory message from the court, Rim says. In his majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., said the ruling shouldn't be construed "as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise." But he added that colleges may consider race only if it's tied to an applicant’s individual experiences or qualities, such as demonstrating courage against discrimination.

Personal essays shouldn't serve as a way for universities to ask students about their race as a means to admit them on such basis, Roberts added.

Rim says he expects there to be a lot of confusion from parents and students as they navigate that line when writing their essay. He says his guidance will vary with each student depending on their specific situation.

"For a student from an immigrant family, sharing their racial and cultural background may be integral to understanding their identity and values and therefore should be included in the essay," he says. "On the other hand, a student who has never meaningfully considered ways in which their race has shaped their life experience and worldview should not push themselves to do so in their essay simply because they believe it will better their chances."

While admissions officers try to learn about students via the essay, they are also gauging writing skills, so students want to make sure they submit top-notch work.

"The best writing is rewriting," Sapp says. "You should never be giving me your first draft."

When reviewing a first essay draft, students should make sure their writing is showing, not telling, Huguet says. This means students should show their readers examples that prove they embody certain traits or beliefs, as opposed to just stating that they do. Doing so is like explaining a joke to someone who's already laughed at it, he says.

"Let’s say, for example, that the whole point of a certain applicant’s essay is to let admissions officers know that she thinks outside the box. If she feels the need to end her essay with a sentence like, 'And so, this anecdote shows that I think outside the box,' she’s either underestimating the power of her story (or the ability of her reader to understand it), or she hasn’t done a good enough job in telling it yet," Huguet says. "Let your readers come to their own conclusions. If your story is effective, they’ll come to the conclusions you want them to."

After editing their essay, students should seek outside editing help, experts recommend. While there are individuals and companies that offer paid essay help – from editing services to essay-writing boot camps – students and families may not be able to afford the associated fees. Some providers may offer scholarships or other financial aid for their services.

The availability and level of feedback from free essay advising services vary. Some college prep companies offer brief consultations at no charge. Free essay workshops may also be available through local high schools, public libraries or community organizations. Khan Academy, a free online education platform, also offers a series of videos and other content to guide students through the essay writing process.

Colleges themselves may also have resources, Barron notes, pointing to pages on Hamilton's website that offer writing tips as well as examples of successful admissions essays. Likewise, Hamilton also holds virtual panel discussions on writing admissions essays.

Students have other options when it comes to essay help. They can ask peers, teachers, school counselors and family members for help polishing an essay. Huguet says it's typically wise to prioritize quality over quantity when it comes to seeking feedback on essays. Too many perspectives can become counterproductive, he says.

"While it can be valuable to have different perspectives, it's best to seek out individuals who are experts in the writing process," he says. "Instructors or professors can be helpful, particularly if they possess subject expertise and can provide guidance on refining arguments, structure and overall coherence."

Proofreaders should not change the tone of the essay. "Don't let anyone edit out your voice," Doe cautions.

And while proofreading is fair game, having someone else write your essay is not.

When an essay is ready to go, students will generally submit it online along with the rest of their application. On the Common App, for example, students copy and paste their essay into a text box.

Sapp says even though students often stress about the essay in particular, it's not the only thing college admissions officers look at. "The essay is the window, but the application is the house," he says. "So let's not forget that an application is built of many pieces."

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How to Be a Good Person Essay

What does it mean to be a good person? The essay below aims to answer this question. It focuses on the qualities of a good person.

Introduction

What does it mean to be a good person, qualities of good person, works cited.

The term “good” has relative meanings depending on the person who is defining it. Several qualities can be used to define what constitutes a good person. However, there are certain basic qualities that are used to define a good person. They include honesty, trust, generosity, compassion, empathy, humility, and forgiveness (Gelven 24).

These qualities are important because they promote peaceful coexistence among people because they prevent misunderstandings and conflicts. A good person is fair and just to all and does not judge people. He or she is nice to everyone regardless of religion, race, social and economic class, health status, or physical state (Gelven 25).

A good person treats other people with respect, care, and compassion. Respect shows that an individual values and views the other person as a worthy human being who deserves respect. Compassion is a quality that enables people to identify with other people’s suffering (Gelven 27). It motivates people to offer help in order to alleviate the suffering of others. A good person has compassion for others and finds ways to help people who are suffering. Showing compassion for the suffering makes them happy.

It promotes empathy, understanding, and support. In addition, good people are forgiving. They do not hold grudges and let go of anger that might lead them to hurt others. They think positively and focus their thoughts on things that improve their relationships (Needleman 33). They avoid thinking about past mistakes or wrongs done by others. Instead, they think of how they can forgive and move on.

A good person is honest and trustworthy. This implies that they avoid all situations that might hurt the other person, such as telling lies, revealing secrets, and gossiping (Needleman 34). As such, their character or personality cannot be doubted because they do not harbor hidden intentions.

They act in open ways that reveal their true characters and personalities. On the other hand, good people are kind and respectful. They offer help voluntarily and work hard to improve the well-being of other people. In addition, they treat all people equally despite their social, physical, or sexual orientations. Good people do not discriminate, hate, deny people their rights, steal, lie, or engage in corrupt practices (Tuan 53).

Good people behave courageously and view the world as a fair and beautiful place to live in (Needleman 40). They view the world as a beautiful place that offers equal opportunities to everyone. Good people believe that humans have the freedom to either make the world a better or worse place to live in. They act and behave in ways that improve and make the world a better place.

For example, they conserve the environment by keeping it clean for future generations. A popular belief holds that people who conserve the environment are not good but just environmental enthusiasts. However, that notion is incorrect and untrue. People conserve the environment because of their goodness. They think not only about themselves but also about future generations (Tuan 53). They are not self-centered and mean but generous and caring.

Good people are characterized by certain qualities that include trust, honesty, compassion, understanding, forgiveness, respect, courage, and goodwill. They do not steal, lie, discriminate, or deny people their rights. They think about others’ welfare and advocate for actions that make the world a better place. They promote justice and fairness because they view everyone as a deserving and worthy human being.

Gelven, Michael. The Risk of Being: What it Means to be Good and Bad . New York: Penn State Press, 1997. Print.

Needleman, Jacob. Why Can’t We be good? New York: Penguin Group US, 2007. Print.

Tuan, Yi-Fu. Human Goodness . New York: University of Wisconsin Press, 2008. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 28). How to Be a Good Person Essay. https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-it-means-to-be-a-good-person/

"How to Be a Good Person Essay." IvyPanda , 28 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/what-it-means-to-be-a-good-person/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'How to Be a Good Person Essay'. 28 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "How to Be a Good Person Essay." October 28, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-it-means-to-be-a-good-person/.

1. IvyPanda . "How to Be a Good Person Essay." October 28, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-it-means-to-be-a-good-person/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "How to Be a Good Person Essay." October 28, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-it-means-to-be-a-good-person/.

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What am I good at? 17+ Surprising Answers

There's a point in life when you want to know what you're really good at. Maybe you want a new career, or maybe you want to answer that question in a job interview.

Either way, here's a list of 17 skills you can use to figure out what you're good at.

Examples of skills and strengths:

• Negotiating : can you reach agreements that are advantageous to you?

How to find your own skills and strengths:

What are your skills?

There are two types of skills: hard skills and soft skills .

Hard skills are teachable and you can easily measure your progress in them. A good example is knowing how to use Excel or learning how to operate a cash register.

Soft skills are innate traits we have that make us good at some things. Those could be social skills, creativity, good memory, attention to detail, or discipline.

Make a list of your hard and soft skills by looking back on your life and identifying those moments where your unique abilities let you shine.

You can use the list at the top to help you compile your list of skills.

How to identify your skills

Nearly everybody has something they're better at than other people. No, this is not one of those "everybody is special" statements.

Look back on your life and make a list of those things that set you apart from others. What are the things that made you special ? The things that made people say "wow". What have you excelled at in your career?

What were you good at school?

Even people who had poor grades in school had a favorite class where they did better than expected.

What classes did you excel in ? Maybe it was Spanish, or maybe it was computer science. Maybe you had a liking to history or mathematics. Make that list and keep going.

What do people compliment you on?

When you're good at something, you will get compliments from other people. Looking back on your life, what are the things people most often praise about you ?

Is it your artistic ability? Your math skills? Are you a human calculator? Maybe you have a good fashion sense.

Either way, keep making your list bigger. We will analyze it later on.

What are your passions?

People say that skills are more important than passions. "Passion doesn't pay the bills" they say. And they're not wrong.

Some have life goals they're passionate about but will never get them anywhere. Those goals and dreams won't pay them for their effort.

But identifying your passions can often help you understand what you're good at. Make a list of the things you are truly passionate about.

These should be the things that you would work on, even if you don't get paid to do them. It could be a hobby or a childhood dream of yours, like being a singer.

Those passions will often hide things you are truly good at. Add those things to the list of your skills and keep going.

Ask your family and friends

Ask around: "what do you think I'm good at?".

People who know you for a long time know you very well. Ask your friends, family, people at work . You can even ask your boss if you want to.

You'll be surprised by the answers. We are often blind to ourselves and require external feedback to help us understand reality.

What are your hobbies?

You might not be paid to do woodwork, but if you do it as a hobby, there's a reason for it: you're probably good at it .

If you write a blog, you might be good at communication and writing. If you like to solve sudokus, you might have good mathematical skills.

When we engage in a hobby, we often do it to express our abilities. Add those skills to your list of skills and keep going.

Take a personality/assessment test

Assessment tests are tests you can take to understand more about your personality and your cognitive skills. Things like your verbal intelligence, abstract thinking ability, or logical thinking.

Taking those tests can help you understand what you're good at. If you know you're better with abstract thinking, then maybe you should get an engineering job?

Here are some examples of assessment tests:

• Intelligence : Raven's Progressive Matrices, Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scales

Categorize your skills and strengths

Now that you have a master list of skills and strengths, it's time to put them into categories.

Do you see the patterns ? Is there any category of skills and strengths that dominates your list? That might be the thing ‌you're truly good at.

Choose a career based on your strengths

How often do we spend our lives fighting our weaknesses rather than focusing on our strengths?

Once you know what you're good at, you can shift your career towards an area you excel in rather than having a disappointing career that won't ever get you anywhere.

Mention your skills on your resume and job interviews

When you have a good idea of your skills, ‌mention them not only on your resume but also when taking part in job interviews.

However, instead of blindly copy-pasting your list of strengths into your resume, ‌ adapt that list towards the needs of the companies you're applying for.

The more targeted your resume and the answers in the job interview, the more likely you are to get the job.

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13 things I’m good at

After this little ditty on strengths and weaknesses , I thought it might be a good idea to jot down what some of mine are. I’m still undecided about whether or not it’s a good idea to share these with you, but here’t goes anyway…

• Keeping a conversation going: Sometimes I seriously doubt this one. In general, though, compared to the average person (who really doesn’t even exist), I think I might enjoy it more. That gives me a head start. But I’m still learning.
• Abstracting ideas:  I think I’m pretty good at spotting random patterns within things and making up abstract conclusions from what I see. Doesn’t mean the conclusions make any sense to anyone else, just that I’m good at making them up.
• Seeing connections between things and ideas:  This follows from the previous point, but it’s slightly different. I can see how one thing relates to another, or make up a way they relate, that others might not see. In other words, I tend to be good at ascribing new meanings to things based on their connections to other things, the key word there being “connections.”
• Saving money: I’ve been good at this since I was a kid, too good sometimes .
• Trying new foods: I like food, I like experiences, and I like new. Put that together, and yeah, I’ve got a strength in there somewhere.
• Living spontaneously: I don’t mind making plans last minute. I often enjoy them more that way, so sometimes I even plan to not make plans.
• Extremifying , at least on a small scale: I feel like I’m pretty good at turning something normally, well, normal into something extreme. Eating peanut butter , for example.
• Reading: I don’t know how else to say this. It’s not that I’m particularly good at comprehending what’s on the page or quick at getting through it. It’s just that I read a lot and enjoy it. That has to count for something (it’s my list, after all).
• Sleeping through things: I didn’t realize this until recently. Part of it might just be a result of not getting enough sleep, but in general I can sleep through things that would normally wake people up: cold, hot, sounds, people moving around, and so on.
• Making up unconventional strategies for doing things: This might be as simple as playing a game differently than everyone else. In any case, I tend to be able to come up with these sorts of strategies better than most people.
• Arguing or advancing controversy:  A classic devil’s advocate, I love debate just for the sake of debate. I’ll argue for things I know aren’t true just to prod and discover more, or just for the fun of it.
• Sharing my opinion: Closely connected to that previous one, I’m not the kind of person who shies away from sharing what I think. I might go along with the crowd in some cases, because I value friendships and want to feel like I’m part of the group, but when it comes to ideas I’m usually fine with holding my own, regardless of what everyone else thinks.
• Staying thankful: I think I’m getting better at this. I’m not sure it’s a natural trait or just one of those things where God’s like, “Dude, you need to learn this, so I’ll help you out.” Either way, I’m thankful for it.

What are you good at?

Essay on Who Am I for Students and Children

500+ words essay on who am i.

In this world, many people surround us. Though we all apparently look similar, yet we all are unique in our own ways. The uniqueness gives us an identity. I am a teenage girl. I am like most teenage girls but I am also different from others. Those differences make me who I am.

I am a girl in mid-teenage. From childhood, I always loved to interact with people. I like to know people and make friends. I am a social person and go out with my friends and family. Also, I like to visit new places. Nature attracts me. Therefore, whenever I get the vacation I always insist on my friends and family for a getaway in nature’s lap.

Travelling gives me immense pleasure. I always capture beautiful moments and places in my camera. Whenever I am sad, I revisit my photo album to look at the beautiful places and moments. The thought of those happy moments and beautiful places makes me happy.

I am serious and disciplined about my studies and read many books other than my textbooks. Reading autobiographies and detective storybooks are what I like. I am involved in extra curriculum activities. I am learning music and love to sing.

Also, I listen to all genres of music but Hindustani classical , semi-classical, Bollywood songs are my favorite. Melodious songs are close to my heart. I always participate in musical and cultural events organized in my school. I also take part in the inter-school competition and have been a winner at an inter-school competition a couple of times. Those are cherishable and proud moments of my life.

Every person is a mix of good and bad qualities. I am not an early riser by nature. I understand that waking up early is very important to become productive. Still, during my holidays I take the liberty of waking up late.

I am an ambitious person and a dreamer. My dream is to become a teacher. I think a teacher is a big motivator and guide. I would like to motivate people and guide them to do good for society.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Me in several roles

While growing up I have realized that I am an individual but I play several roles throughout the day. As per these roles, my behavior and attitude keep altering. This variation adds various shades in my personality.

In my home firstly, I am a daughter. I try to listen and follow what my parents teach me. When I do well in studies, they become proud. Yet when I do not obey them, they scold me. I get lots of love, care and attention from my parents.  I also care, love, and respect them. My parents are my first identity in this world.

Secondly, I am a sister. I have an elder brother. He takes care of me and guides to follow the path to success. My brother is also my friend. We spend quality time together playing, laughing at jokes together, and watching our favorite cartoon shows. The love, care, the fight makes a beautiful bond between us.

Thirdly, I am a student. Our teachers always try to guide us to realize our path of life. They want us to be sincere in studies and build a successful career . They also instill in us the values of a good human being. I try to be a sincere and obedient student and always do my homework and do well in studies. I also respect my teachers and am an obedient student. My teachers are patient and they always guide me to overcome my mistakes.

Fourthly, the role that we all love is that of a friend. I have many friends. I love moving out and spending time with my friends. We help each other in times of need. We live happy moments together. Friendship is very beautiful. I love to make my friends feel special, and never miss wishing them on their birthdays.

Conclusion             

Life is full of experiences. Every moment we meet different people and face different situations. In this course of life, we not only get to know different people, but we also get to know ourselves in different ways.

As we grow, our likes dislike interest changes. Our perception and outlook toward life also change with time and experience. Thus, the search to the answer to the question of who I am is a lifelong process.

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Who Am I Essay

Introduction on who am i essay.

Who am I? This is a question that keeps bothering you at times. Isn’t it? You want to know what I am and what are qualities that make you unique from others. Before someone asks about you, there has to be a proper understanding of who you are and the things that you do are different. The reason is that when such questions are prompted, you must be in a position to speak fearlessly about yourself without hesitation. Most of the time, you just speak in short sentences about yourself, which includes, name, class, or place that you belong to. But there are people who might be interested in knowing more about you than the brief introduction. It can include your likes, dislikes, passions, goals, dreams, etc. Therefore, you need to analyze yourself and come up with things that you are good at. In this particular who am I essay, you have to speak about yourselves and the things that you like to do. Here is an example for you. 

Who Am I Essay Example

I am in grade 5 and live in California. We are a family of four members. My father is an architect and my mother is a teacher. I have two siblings who are older than me.  I am someone who is an extremely shy and quiet person. This often makes people misunderstand that I cannot speak confidently. But, it is not true as I have immense knowledge on different things. However, I like to assess the place and situation before speaking. When someone approaches me, I would like to be humble and kind enough to answer their questions. 

Most importantly, I’m comfortable with people whom I know, so that the information being conveyed will be interpreted easily. While studying or participating in any activities, I try to focus so that my concentration is towards the things that I’m doing. My hobbies are basically reading, drawing, singing, playing sports, and many more things that fascinate me. I try to give my best in all the activities that I participate in. Moreover, I believe that all the activities require complete focus and dedication in order to gain knowledge and develop essential skills. I dislike or have fear of certain things like slimy creatures, cockroaches, and heights. But, my focus is also towards overcoming these fears. 

I have a lot of belief in dreaming big and setting goals for myself. There are many things that I would like to achieve and do systematically in life. It includes taking care of my parents, siblings, and people around me. The most important thing is to dedicate myself to the service of others. There is nothing more satisfying than helping others. Therefore, I have to educate myself really well on things that I want to do. Apart from this, I am keen on learning new things each and every day. While learning, I pay attention to developing important skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, decision making, analytical and communication skills. Moreover, I’m very punctual and like to do things on time. 

I am extremely friendly to all the people around me which makes me a happy person. There is a sense of happiness in spending time with friends. This also gives an opportunity to be part of their lives. We all hang out together and eat delicious food prepared at home or sometimes visit restaurants. Occasionally, we go for a picnic or tour with friends and family members. I am fortunate enough to see beautiful places and learn new things from there. Besides this, I like to do crafts activities at home. This will enhance my creativity and imagination to do something better. 

Hence, the who am I essay is extremely beneficial in extracting the areas that you are interested in. Sometimes, we might not express all this information when you try to communicate with others. This also gives an opportunity to explore your likes and dislikes. 

Also explore: Personality essay and friendship essay .

We hope you found this who am I essay helpful. For more essays, check Osmo’s essays for kids .

Frequently Asked Questions on Who Am I Essay

How can you write a who am i essay in less than 100 words.

Here is an example of a who am I essay in less than 100 words: I’m the youngest member of my family, but I have several other roles to play. I’m a good and responsible daughter to my parents, a good sister to my siblings and a supportive and understanding friend. I set goals for myself and work hard to achieve them. I love to play basketball and I am learning to play the piano too. My hobbies include reading, baking and listening to music. Like everyone I too have bad habits, but I constantly work towards making myself better person.

How to write a good essay on yourself?

Some of the steps to write a good essay about yourself are 1. Describe yourself in detail with honesty. 2. Write about your hobbies and interests. 3. Include your achievements but avoid boasting about yourself. 4. Use personal experiences and examples. 5. Add some personality and creativity to make the essay more interesting.

COMPOSITION ABOUT A SPORT I AM GOOD AT

Teacher’s Activities

Activity one (1): Draw out sentences from the sport they are good at.

Activity two (2): To guide the pupils in writing a detailed composition about the topic, write and explain the following guidelines on the board.

Activity four (4): Look at, interpret, and explain the example.

                                  GUIDELINES

Paragraph one (1):   Write about, the name game you are good and how fun it is.

Paragraph two (2): Write about who can play it, how many players and teams are required at a time. Also write about the styles, skills and tricks of the game.

Paragraph three (3): write about the negative and positive things about the game. 

Paragraph four (4): write about how other people see the sport. 

COMPOSITION: A sport I am good at

I am very good at basketball. Playing basketball is fun and interesting. Basketball is a way of exercise and a great way to have fun with friends. I am very good at the game and I also enjoy watching the game on TV.

 Basketball is a very interesting and entertaining sport and can be played by anyone. It is the best thing I can do with my friends to have fun while burning a few calories. The game is played between two teams at a time, each having five players. There are styles and skills used in the game. Passing, playmaking, shooting, defending and throwing are some of such skills. The trick involved make the game more enjoyable.

Basketball help burn calories, exercise the body and enhance blood circulation. There are so many interesting things when it comes to the thought of basketball. Sometimes, fatal injuries can also be sustained while playing the game.

Basketball is not only seen as a good game to many but also considered as a passion for many others.

Pupil’s Activity one (1): Read the example and pay attention.

Pupil’s Activity two (2): Write a detailed composition about a sport you are good at.

PREPARATION OF COMPOST/MANURE

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Why Am I So Bad At Writing Essays?

• July 10, 2020
• Essay Guides and Topics

Here's What We'll Cover

Why am I so bad at writing Essays? let me give you a secret. When it comes to essay writing, the majority of the students focus on just writing and miss out on things that help in writing the best essays. There are things that you need to avoid where you have been bad at writing essays. You will agree with me that writing a good essay is challenging and quite hard.

You don’t have to struggle writing your essay alone. Our professional tutors can help you with all your essay assignments of any topic, level, and complexity. 

Why am I so bad at writing essays? The question is very familiar to many students today.

The majority of the students find themselves struggling with essays , and even when they craft their best, their grades do not portray much of the excellence.

Writing a good essay takes more than writing skills. Also, though you have had a tiresome essay writing journey, all hope is not lost.

Below are some of the reasons why you fail in essay writing. 

• Failure to follow instructions 
• Focus on the obvious
• Feeling as if essay writing is a punishment
• Choosing a broad topic
• Lack of a thesis statement 
• The absence of an outline
• Answering the “what” question and not the “why” and “how” questions

Failure To Follow Instructions 

The reason why you are bad at writing essays is primarily caused by failure to understand and follow instructions.

Every tutor or professor avails instructions and guidelines to be followed when crafting the essay.

Not unless you know and follow the instructions keenly, you will always miswrite your essays.

Therefore, ensure to examine all the guidelines, and after understanding them, proceed to craft your essay. 

Focusing On The Obvious

While writing your essay, you need to avoid stressing out the obvious and surprise the reader.

A professor can not award you an A for an essay full of apparent facts. Therefore, You need to tell a story that synchronizes both the conflict and change.

Your article must be argumentative on several ideas that portray the different aspects of the story. Change is described as you avail your perception of those ideas. 

Feeling As If Essay writing Is A Punishment

There is no doubt that essay writing can be daunting and hassling at times.

Nevertheless, mark your motivations right. Dullness, while writing essays, is a major reason why you are bad at it.

It would be best if you had fun while writing the essay. 

Writing from a space full of distractions is no fun. Therefore, identify a welcoming environment that allows you to concentrate. Acquire the right motivation and always write while within the peripherals of your motivator. 

Choosing A Broad Topic

If your professor doesn’t avail of a specific topic of discussion, you should consider narrowing it.

Majority of students fail to conclude their area of focus and end up confusing the reader.

There are other instances when you over-narrow the topic hence limiting yourself.

You require moderation when it comes to choosing an ideal theme for your essay. 

Lack Of A Thesis Statement 

What is your essay’s main idea? Answering the question helps you stick within the perimeters of a credible but provocative argument.

Many are the times when one fails to define a thesis statement for their essay.

A thesis statement helps define your attitude towards the topic under discussion.

The body of your essay depends on your thesis statement. Therefore, you need to have a thesis statement and it must appear in your introduction part. 

Absence Of An Outline

Lack of an outline contributes to a lack of consistency. Your essay lacks flow and credibility, where you fail to understand the point that precedes what idea.

It would help if you had a sequential organization for all your ideas. Therefore, an outline enables you to define the three parts of an essay and identify the information contained in each section.

You are required to establish an overview that will allow you to pinpoint your main points and parts of the essay. 

Answering The “What” Question And Not The “Why” And “How” Questions

Essays have a word count requirement. The majority of students experience hardships in meeting the word count.

Where your essay focuses on answering the “what” question, you will always struggle to meet the word count.

Nonetheless, trying to explain the “Why” and “how” questions make it possible for you to have more information than you need.

Therefore, eliminate the limitations in meeting your word count requirements through abhorring answering “what” question. 

Waiting until the last minute for you to start writing the essay is disastrous. Hastiness is the enemy of writing the best essay.

Therefore, ensure to commence your essay writing as early as possible. Taking your time to craft the essay allows you to get all the facts, citations , references, and grammar right. 

It is very easy to get and remain bad at writing essays. However, it is also very easy to master the right way of essay writing and ace in the exercise.

Therefore, you need to understand your failures and pave a different path of approach in your essay writing journey. 

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Watch CBS News

"We're not the sex police": Here's what intimacy coordinators actually do on film and TV sets

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Cara Tabachnick

April 27, 2024 / 10:00 AM EDT / CBS News

More than  70% of Americans say  a rewarding career or job is extremely important for them to live a fulfilling life — more important than family, friends or wealth. CBS News interviewed a broad array of workers who chose unique jobs, for a series we call:  Unique jobs, extraordinary lives.

Have you ever heard of an intimacy coordinator? Most people don't know they are the professionals who help bring intimate scenes to life on screens.  

"We are there to help coordinate any scene with simulated sex acts, nudity, or vulnerable scenes," explained Amy Northrup, a New York City-based intimacy coordinator for film and television.

Intimacy coordination is a relatively new and growing field. The first production to hire and credit a designated intimacy coordinator was HBO's "The Deuce," starring James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal, which premiered in 2017 and depicted the porn industry in 1970s New York City. 

There are more than 100 certified intimacy coordinators working on film and television sets today. Their pay is roughly in line with that of stunt coordinators, whose minimum rates the union sets are about $1,500 a day. They make, on average, between $60,000 to $90,000 per year. 

In its latest union contract, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) stated that productions must make a good-faith effort to hire intimacy coordinators when necessary. According to the Motion Picture Association, the film and television industry employs 2.74 million people and pays more than $242 billion in wages annually to everyone from stunt performers to hair and makeup artists across domestic productions. 

Northup told CBS News she gets frequent questions about the career path she took to instruct a pair of actors to "make love" based on a script that offers few other descriptive details. She said intimacy coordinators need to bring a variety of skills to set in order to make actors feel comfortable performing such scenes. 

"We're not the sex police"

The perception of what intimacy coordinators do on set has evolved too — producers and directors have come to lean on them for guidance to realistically depict "vulnerable" moments on screen. "Vulnerable" scenes can also include an actor depicting someone giving birth or someone in a wheelchair being bathed. A scene with breastfeeding or that shows a gynecological appointment would qualify too.  

"Anything asking people to put their bodies in a hyper-exposed, vulnerable state is where intimacy coordinators can be effective team members," Northrup told CBS News. 

Actor Zendaya recently spoke publicly about how working with an intimacy coordinator on scenes filmed for director Luca Guadagnino's "Challengers," whose story follows a love triangle, made her feel safe and comfortable while filming intimate scenes with her co-stars.

"It's really expanded in last five years and people recognize that intimacy coordinators are creative resources who come with dramaturgy expertise around sex and sexuality," Northup said. "We are not the human resources department, we're not the sex police."

Much of the work Northup and her colleagues do takes place before the cameras start rolling. That can include talking to directors about how they envision scenes unfolding, and what precise positions they want actors' bodies in — details that aren't always included in scripts. 

"Scenes are usually written as 'They go at it,' or 'They make love,'" Northup said. "For one director it could mean they kiss, fall into bed and the camera directs away. For another it would be we stay on them, one person climbs on top, and there's a moment that could be really detailed. So the first thing we ask the director is, 'What are you picturing? What are shot setups, what is the body positioning, the degree of nudity, what actual sex acts do they engage in?'"

Other times intimacy coordinators must consider actions to keep actors safe such as making sure an actor's scene partner doesn't eat peanuts because someone has a peanut allergy and kissing them would be dangerous.

Navigate the "messiness" of human interaction

There's no traditional career path to become an intimacy coordinator. The job requires a unique blend of skills that intimacy pros working today might have picked up working as actors or in other film industry roles. 

It also demands soft skills that are harder to teach, like a certain demeanor and a gentle touch. 

"We are here to help navigate the messiness of human interaction. Demeanor-wise, it's important to bring levity to the role, a light touch, and to be expert at de-escalating and intervening in a way that no one knows it happened," Northup said. 

While professionals don't need certification to work, several training programs meet SAG-AFTRA's standards. The union maintains a list of about 70 registered intimacy coordinators. Jessica Steinrock is the founder and CEO of SAG-AFTRA accredited Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, which she says has certified about 100 professionals. 

Among other topics, certification programs teach consent training, movement coaching techniques, modesty garment and barrier application, and bystander intervention protocols.

While certification is one way to demonstrate qualification, Steinrock noted that many capable intimacy practitioners aren't officially certified. On-set experience is always helpful, too, and some intimacy pros balance coordination with work as actors, assistant directors or the costume team. 

Lucy Shapiro, a seasoned costume designer who has worked on TV series including "Life and Beth and "Only Murders in the Building," said there's a crossover between what her department does and intimacy coordination. She even founded a company, Covvier, that makes modesty garments with protective barriers for actors to wear while filming nude or intimate scenes. 

Previously, she and other costumers made use of shoe insoles, yoga mats and deflated pilates balls to create barriers between actors filming intimate scenes. 

"It wasn't until intimacy coordinators came around and said there should be a standard garment that we started our company," she told CBS MoneyWatch. "Working side by side with intimacy coordinators has been such an industry change and has made it so much better to everyone all around."

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.

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Opinion Dogs are our greatest creation. And we might be theirs.

Tommy Tomlinson is the author of “ Dogland .” He lives in Charlotte with his wife, her mother and a cat named Jack Reacher.

The dog is humankind’s greatest invention. The wheel, the lightbulb, concrete — all amazing. Top of the line. But nothing in human creation has been as essential and adaptable as the countless descendants of the ancient gray wolf.

How did we do it? I spent three years following the traveling carnival of American dog shows — like a Grateful Dead tour with Milk-Bones — in search of the answer. My journey culminated in the dog world’s most prestigious event: the Westminster Dog Show. Show dogs are bred from the purest stock, culled from litters at just a few weeks old, trained with the dedication of Olympic gymnasts — and groomed like supermodels. They’d be unrecognizable to their ancient kin — and to ours.

The American Kennel Club, arbiter of bloodlines, now recognizes about 200 breeds, while tracking crossbreeds like goldendoodles, and even mutts. From the most massive mastiff to the tiniest teacup chihuahua, all dogs trace back to the same common ancestors.

Scientists think this weird and powerful companionship of humans and dogs might have started somewhere between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago. Humans of that era were mainly hunters traveling in camps. They ate meat by the fire. The cooking meat attracted wolves who were drawn to the aroma but stayed safely out of range of the flames. Every so often, a human would fling a bone into the darkness. The wolves gnawed on the bones. They trailed the humans to the next campsite, still keeping their distance. There was an unspoken arrangement. The wolves alerted the humans to intruders, and the humans fed the wolves well.

Over time the wolves crept closer. One fateful night a curious wolf came all the way into the firelight. The humans didn’t chase it off.

Slowly, the humans mingled with the wolves. After days or months or generations or centuries, a wolf curled up at a human’s feet. Maybe got its belly rubbed. That was the first dog.

As far as we can tell, dogs are the first animals that humans ever tamed. The wolves that hung out with humans found themselves changing inside and out. They developed shorter muzzles and smaller teeth. Their instinct to run became a desire to stay close. With time, dogs were manufactured through breeding to meet different human needs. We made huskies to pull sleds and Newfoundlands to pull fish nets and dachshunds to catch badgers.

Dogs taught humans the early science of designer genes. In the mid-19th century, as we moved off the farm and into the factory, we created dogs we could bring indoors at the end of a workday. And we created dogs we could bring to work: French bulldogs (now the most popular breed in America ) started out as literal lap dogs for lace-makers in France. We molded dogs to be friends, companions, playmates and unofficial therapists.

So dogs are not just humanity’s greatest invention but also its longest-running experiment.

That’s one way to look at it.

Now switch out the frame. Swap the subject and the object. Change the verbs.

Here’s another view:

Around the time early humans evolved, Neanderthals also walked the planet. At some point — roughly 40,000 years ago — humans started to thrive while Neanderthals died off. And this is about the time when those first curious wolves began to evolve into dogs. Some scientists believe the timing is not a coincidence. Maybe the dog was the key advantage in the triumph of humankind.

Dogs enabled humans to settle down and stop their endless wandering. Dogs protected humans at this vulnerable transition from nomadic to settled life. Dogs did work that humans did not have the strength or stamina to do: guarding, herding, hunting, pulling sleds. They created time for humans to build and think and create without having to focus every moment on the next meal or the next threat.

We domesticated dogs, and they domesticated us.

Today, dogs provide not just companionship but also an uncomplicated kind of love in an ever more complicated world. And for those restless souls wandering from town to town, chasing job after job — nomads again — a dog can be an anchor, something to hold on to on a lonely night.

From the gray wolf by the ancient fire to a coifed Pomeranian prancing around the show ring, dogs have been with us nearly as long as we have been human.

They might be our greatest creation. And we might be theirs.

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What Sentencing Could Look Like if Trump Is Found Guilty

By Norman L. Eisen

Mr. Eisen is the author of “Trying Trump: A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial.”

For all the attention to and debate over the unfolding trial of Donald Trump in Manhattan, there has been surprisingly little of it paid to a key element: its possible outcome and, specifically, the prospect that a former and potentially future president could be sentenced to prison time.

The case — brought by Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, against Mr. Trump — represents the first time in our nation’s history that a former president is a defendant in a criminal trial. As such, it has generated lots of debate about the case’s legal strength and integrity, as well as its potential impact on Mr. Trump’s efforts to win back the White House.

A review of thousands of cases in New York that charged the same felony suggests something striking: If Mr. Trump is found guilty, incarceration is an actual possibility. It’s not certain, of course, but it is plausible.

Jury selection has begun, and it’s not too soon to talk about what the possibility of a sentence, including a prison sentence, would look like for Mr. Trump, for the election and for the country — including what would happen if he is re-elected.

The case focuses on alleged interference in the 2016 election, which consisted of a hush-money payment Michael Cohen, the former president’s fixer at the time, made in 2016 to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who said she had an affair with Mr. Trump. Mr. Bragg is arguing that the cover-up cheated voters of the chance to fully assess Mr. Trump’s candidacy.

This may be the first criminal trial of a former president in American history, but if convicted, Mr. Trump’s fate is likely to be determined by the same core factors that guide the sentencing of every criminal defendant in New York State Court.

Comparable cases. The first factor is the base line against which judges measure all sentences: how other defendants have been treated for similar offenses. My research encompassed almost 10,000 cases of felony falsifying business records that have been prosecuted across the state of New York since 2015. Over a similar period, the Manhattan D.A. has charged over 400 of these cases . In roughly the first year of Mr. Bragg’s tenure, his team alone filed 166 felony counts for falsifying business records against 34 people or companies.

Contrary to claims that there will be no sentence of incarceration for falsifying business records, when a felony conviction involves serious misconduct, defendants can be sentenced to some prison time. My analysis of the most recent data indicates that approximately one in 10 cases in which the most serious charge at arraignment is falsifying business records in the first degree and in which the court ultimately imposes a sentence, results in a term of imprisonment.

To be clear, these cases generally differ from Mr. Trump’s case in one important respect: They typically involve additional charges besides just falsifying records. That clearly complicates what we might expect if Mr. Trump is convicted.

Nevertheless, there are many previous cases involving falsifying business records along with other charges where the conduct was less serious than is alleged against Mr. Trump and prison time was imposed. For instance, Richard Luthmann was accused of attempting to deceive voters — in his case, impersonating New York political figures on social media in an attempt to influence campaigns. He pleaded guilty to three counts of falsifying business records in the first degree (as well as to other charges). He received a sentence of incarceration on the felony falsification counts (although the sentence was not solely attributable to the plea).

A defendant in another case was accused of stealing in excess of $50,000 from her employer and, like in this case, falsifying one or more invoices as part of the scheme. She was indicted on a single grand larceny charge and ultimately pleaded guilty to one felony count of business record falsification for a false invoice of just under $10,000. She received 364 days in prison.

To be sure, for a typical first-time offender charged only with run-of-the-mill business record falsification, a prison sentence would be unlikely. On the other hand, Mr. Trump is being prosecuted for 34 counts of conduct that might have changed the course of American history.

Seriousness of the crime. Mr. Bragg alleges that Mr. Trump concealed critical information from voters (paying hush money to suppress an extramarital relationship) that could have harmed his campaign, particularly if it came to light after the revelation of another scandal — the “Access Hollywood” tape . If proved, that could be seen not just as unfortunate personal judgment but also, as Justice Juan Merchan has described it, an attempt “to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election.”

History and character. To date, Mr. Trump has been unrepentant about the events alleged in this case. There is every reason to believe that will not change even if he is convicted, and lack of remorse is a negative at sentencing. Justice Merchan’s evaluation of Mr. Trump’s history and character may also be informed by the other judgments against him, including Justice Arthur Engoron’s ruling that Mr. Trump engaged in repeated and persistent business fraud, a jury finding that he sexually abused and defamed E. Jean Carroll and a related defamation verdict by a second jury.

Justice Merchan may also weigh the fact that Mr. Trump has been repeatedly held in contempt , warned , fined and gagged by state and federal judges. That includes for statements he made that exposed witnesses, individuals in the judicial system and their families to danger. More recently, Mr. Trump made personal attacks on Justice Merchan’s daughter, resulting in an extension of the gag order in the case. He now stands accused of violating it again by commenting on witnesses.

What this all suggests is that a term of imprisonment for Mr. Trump, while far from certain for a former president, is not off the table. If he receives a sentence of incarceration, perhaps the likeliest term is six months, although he could face up to four years, particularly if Mr. Trump chooses to testify, as he said he intends to do , and the judge believes he lied on the stand . Probation is also available, as are more flexible approaches like a sentence of spending every weekend in jail for a year.

We will probably know what the judge will do within 30 to 60 days of the end of the trial, which could run into mid-June. If there is a conviction, that would mean a late summer or early fall sentencing.

Justice Merchan would have to wrestle in the middle of an election year with the potential impact of sentencing a former president and current candidate.

If Mr. Trump is sentenced to a period of incarceration, the reaction of the American public will probably be as polarized as our divided electorate itself. Yet as some polls suggest — with the caveat that we should always be cautious of polls early in the race posing hypothetical questions — many key swing state voters said they would not vote for a felon.

If Mr. Trump is convicted and then loses the presidential election, he will probably be granted bail, pending an appeal, which will take about a year. That means if any appeals are unsuccessful, he will most likely have to serve any sentence starting sometime next year. He will be sequestered with his Secret Service protection; if it is less than a year, probably in Rikers Island. His protective detail will probably be his main company, since Mr. Trump will surely be isolated from other inmates for his safety.

If Mr. Trump wins the presidential election, he can’t pardon himself because it is a state case. He will be likely to order the Justice Department to challenge his sentence, and department opinions have concluded that a sitting president could not be imprisoned, since that would prevent the president from fulfilling the constitutional duties of the office. The courts have never had to address the question, but they could well agree with the Justice Department.

So if Mr. Trump is convicted and sentenced to a period of incarceration, its ultimate significance is probably this: When the American people go to the polls in November, they will be voting on whether Mr. Trump should be held accountable for his original election interference.

What questions do you have about Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial so far?

Please submit them below. Our trial experts will respond to a selection of readers in a future piece.

Norman L. Eisen investigated the 2016 voter deception allegations as counsel for the first impeachment and trial of Donald Trump and is the author of “Trying Trump: A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial.”

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 .

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Ezekiel Elliott free agency: Jerry Jones says former Cowboys RB is 'good enough to be a starter' in 2024

Dallas released elliott last offseason, but reconnected with him on wednesday.

FRISCO, Texas -- Free agent running back Ezekiel Elliott was once one of the faces of the Dallas Cowboys , and the fan favorite may soon be once again. CBS Sports HQ senior NFL insider Josina Anderson reported that the Cowboys are meeting with Elliott's representation at The Star in Frisco on Wednesday a day before the start of the 2024 NFL Draft . 

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones and team COO and EVP Stephen Jones confirmed the report Thursday night.  "We spent a lot of time with Zeke yesterday" Jerry Jones said Thursday. 

"Yeah, we just bumped into each other and visited a little bit," Stephen Jones said Thursday with a laugh. "Had a little beer and moved on."

The younger Jones met with Elliott and his representation, Rocky Arceneaux, Wednesday at a restaurant near The Star, the Cowboys' team facility. That same night, Dallas' personnel department had dinner at Dee Lincoln Prime, a steakhouse near the facility, and both Elliott and Arceneaux happened to also be dining there. They were then invited to sit down with the Cowboys' brass. 

The elder Jones didn't want to guarantee a reunion with Elliott because he revealed the pursuit of the running back is "a competitive situation" meaning Dallas isn't the only team talking to Zeke. He did make clear that his interest in Elliott is "real."

"Is it real that Zeke is going to play next year in my mind?'' Jerry rhetorically questioned. "I think it's very real that he's going to play in my view. But I don't want to go too far here because it's competition.''

Dallas lost eight of its own players in free agency, tied for the third-most in a single offseason in Cowboys history, and that number includes the team's 2023 starting running back Tony Pollard , who signed a three-year, $21.8 million contract with the Tennessee Titans . Rico Dowdle , an undrafted free agent in 2020, and 2023 sixth-round pick Deuce Vaughn are the top two backs on the Cowboys' current depth chart. 

Elliott, who turns 29 on July 22, totaled career-lows across the board in rushing yards (642), rushing touchdowns (three), carries (184) and yards per carry (3.5) for the 4-13 New England Patriots . The fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft racked up three Pro Bowl seasons in his first four years with the Cowboys, and he led the NFL in rushing yards twice in 2016 and 2018. They released him in the earlier portion of a six-year, $90 million extension they signed him to back in 2019, two years before his rookie deal was set to expire. 

"Just let me say this,'' Jerry said. "I thought he played well the last part of the season at New England. Very well."  

His rushing yards per game figure has subsequently declined every season he has been in the NFL after he burst onto the scene in 2016 by leading the league in rushing yards (1,631), rushing yards per game (108.7) and carries (322). He earned his only First Team All-Pro selection that season. Elliott's 8,262 rushing yards and 68 rushing touchdowns stand as both the third-most in each category in Cowboys history behind only two Pro Football Hall of Famers in Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith. 

Elliott totaled 16 rushing yards on six carries as well as six receiving yards on two catches in his homecoming to AT&T Stadium in Week 4, a game Dallas won over New England 38-3.

"He is always going to be loved here," Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said in the lead up to that game. "The love that he has, still today, in this locker room is tremendous. In our time together, he was clearly one of the most popular players. He is a tremendous teammate. He still is. His name usually comes up once a week. Great guy."

Quarterback Dak Prescott referred to Elliott as "like my little brother, a best friend obviously" when asked about his former running back before squaring off with the Patriots. 

"That's like my little brother, a best friend obviously," Prescott said back in September . "We came into this thing together and grew on the field and off the field. It [his time with Elliott] was awesome. Obviously, it was unfortunate for him to go play for another team, but it's part of this business. We learn that pretty quick and seeing it when we had to part, it's part of it. Happy for him, always pulling for him. He's doing well. Excited for him."  

However, the pursuit of Elliott isn't adding any shades of gray to Dallas' plan to look at potentially selecting a running back in the draft's second or third round Friday evening. 

"No," Jerry said when asked if Elliott will impact their draft plans. 

Nor will having his name show up on their 2024 salary cap sheet twice, once for a new contract and another time for the just over $6 million in dead cap space that they have for releasing him early from the six-year extension they signed him to years ago. 

"Not even a consideration,'' Jerry said. "He's earned that $6 million. We've already spent it. You have to pay that whether he's here or not. It won't affect one thing with how he would help our team this year.''

Zeke as RB1?

The Cowboys addressed their offensive and defensive fronts in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, but Dallas still has a hole at running back. That's an opening Jerry Jones would be fine filling with Zeke and returning him to his former status of "starting running back of the Dallas Cowboys."

"Yes," Jones said Friday night when asked if Elliott has RB1/starter capabilities at this stage of his career. "We talked about this last night too: Is Zeke someone of interest? Yeah, he is someone of interest. I saw him play his last games with New England. I thought he played well enough to be a starter."  

But, with four picks remaining on Saturday, a fifth (No. 174), a sixth (No. 216) and two sevenths (No. 233 and No. 244), there are still opportunities to pluck a running back they like and place him onto the Dallas roster. Only four running backs were drafted in the first three rounds, all of which were selected on Day 2: Texas' Jonathon Brooks (46th overall to the Panthers), Florida State's Trey Benson (No. 66 overall to the Cardinals), Michigan's Blake Corum (No. 83 to the Rams) and USC's MarShawn Lloyd (No. 88 overall to the Packers). 

"First of all, the draft is not over, and that's a thought," Jones said. "There was a long time before a running back was taken actually in today's draft, and you also are keenly interested in seeing what the future might look like with Zeke.

Jones isn't ruling out any running back acquisition options, making it clear the way the Cowboys running back room looks now will not be its final form entering training camp. 

"We have it in our power to feel good about the running back room. Period," Jones said. "Are we through with the running back room? I'm not going to answer that. I'm not trying to be coy. I don't need to answer that. Zeke is good enough to be in the running back room, and he is good enough to play for the Cowboys. ... We do have other running backs, and by the way, there's very likely after the draft as time goes along, I've seen good running backs change hands during the season. ... Yes, it hasn't surprised us at all how the running backs have gone [in the draft]." 

Even if the team selects a running back, there very well still may be a spot for Elliott on the 2024 Dallas Cowboys. 

"Well, that's assuming Zeke is here, but I thought Zeke was one of the best teammates, practice players, committers giving you everything that as a mentor or as an example of how to prepare, practice and be ready to play a game," Jones said. "I don't know that I remember a player that's done it any better than Zeke, and I have all the confidence in the world that should we have him, he'll bring that to the table. He would be a great at any position to have around the locker room. He's outstanding in the locker room."

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