Hey. I am trying to think about a good idea to write my common app essay. "The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?" I just learned to ride a bike when I turned 14, but I always wanted it. I know I never did because I was too afraid to fall, so in my first fall I gave up. I really want to write about it. I am just afraid they get a wrong impression of me. What do you think?
Bike or not? 'I just learned to ride' common app essay - may it bring a wrong impression of me?
I think your experience can directly answer the prompt. However, it may sound cliché because learning to ride a bike/swim is very common in essay topics. If you can write about it with an insightful, different perspective, I will say just do it. If not, you might better find something more interesting.
I tried.
Every child has the first biking experience. The Dad is holding the bike, and the moment that he loose it and the kid I rides the bike for a few meters and falls. The kid tries over and over, and finally learn how to do it aptly. My story is a bit different. I remember when I was seven, and my dad gave me a bike for Christmas. It was Christmas morning and he started to teach me. The beginning was just as usual, but as soon as my dad looses the bike, I looked back I fell. I tried twice and gave up. My dad every year tried again and again, but the fear always pushed me down. I was a really insecure child, afraid of so many things. As far as I remember, my Dad gave up when I was nine.
As a kid, my friends used to me a ride on their bike, but I used to be left off most of the biking activities . I thought I could live without learning that, until my high school Physical Education teacher start to plan a mountain biking outdoor activity with my class. Everybody was so excited, and as much as I wanted to tell them that I did not know how to ride a bike, I was too ashamed to be the only one in my class with biking problems. I left the school, took the train and went for lunch in my grandma's house. It is really hard to see me in a bad mood, so as soon as I crossed the kitchen door and greet my cousin, Janete, and my grandma, they assumed that I was not ok. I told them my problem, and as usual, they started to tease me. What I feared most happened, my cousin offered help.
I had an answer on the tip of the tongue, my old bike was too small for me. Janete brought her bike and insisted me to try. There I was, with 14 years old trying once again. When I started pedaling, the memories of me and my dad came to my mind, and I started to fear the fall. Janete said, do not trust me, trust in yourself. I had two simple choices, look back and fall or, for the first time, follow her instructions and trust me. I was already so independent, going to school in the other part of the city alone. Making my own choices, studying in one of the hardest schools to get into in my state.If I could trust in me to take care of myself, I figured out that maybe I was ready to trust in my skills. I felt when Janete loose the bike. I focused my attention at the end of the street. The feeling of my first meters by myself is unforgettable. The wind in my hair, and raise in my adrenaline level. Everything felt so good. As usual, I feel at the end of the street; However, I was an enjoyable fall. I finally made it, and I was so happy.
I spent some time on the ground, looking up to the sky. It was so blue, so infinite. I started to think about so many things I loose during my childhood because of my silly fear: The Saturday my friends used to go on a race down the hill, the bike trips to the beach and all other fun moments. The outdoor activity was really nice. It is true that I fell twice, but I was happy. Since that day I always try to go out of my comfort zone. I realized I should not fear the unknown, instead I should look straight and never give up. I could trust in myself. Believe it or not, one of my favorite activities today is biking with my dad along the beach.
what do you think?
Every child has the first biking experience. The Dad is holding the bike, and the moment that he loose it and the kid I rides the bike for a few meters and falls. The kid tries over and over, and finally learn how to do it aptly. My story is a bit different. I remember when I was seven, and my dad gave me a bike for Christmas. It was Christmas morning and he started to teach me. The beginning was just as usual, but as soon as my dad looses the bike, I looked back I fell. I tried twice and gave up. My dad every year tried again and again, but the fear always pushed me down. I was a really insecure child, afraid of so many things. As far as I remember, my Dad gave up when I was nine.
As a kid, my friends used to me a ride on their bike, but I used to be left off most of the biking activities . I thought I could live without learning that, until my high school Physical Education teacher start to plan a mountain biking outdoor activity with my class. Everybody was so excited, and as much as I wanted to tell them that I did not know how to ride a bike, I was too ashamed to be the only one in my class with biking problems. I left the school, took the train and went for lunch in my grandma's house. It is really hard to see me in a bad mood, so as soon as I crossed the kitchen door and greet my cousin, Janete, and my grandma, they assumed that I was not ok. I told them my problem, and as usual, they started to tease me. What I feared most happened, my cousin offered help.
I had an answer on the tip of the tongue, my old bike was too small for me. Janete brought her bike and insisted me to try. There I was, with 14 years old trying once again. When I started pedaling, the memories of me and my dad came to my mind, and I started to fear the fall. Janete said, do not trust me, trust in yourself. I had two simple choices, look back and fall or, for the first time, follow her instructions and trust me. I was already so independent, going to school in the other part of the city alone. Making my own choices, studying in one of the hardest schools to get into in my state.If I could trust in me to take care of myself, I figured out that maybe I was ready to trust in my skills. I felt when Janete loose the bike. I focused my attention at the end of the street. The feeling of my first meters by myself is unforgettable. The wind in my hair, and raise in my adrenaline level. Everything felt so good. As usual, I feel at the end of the street; However, I was an enjoyable fall. I finally made it, and I was so happy.
I spent some time on the ground, looking up to the sky. It was so blue, so infinite. I started to think about so many things I loose during my childhood because of my silly fear: The Saturday my friends used to go on a race down the hill, the bike trips to the beach and all other fun moments. The outdoor activity was really nice. It is true that I fell twice, but I was happy. Since that day I always try to go out of my comfort zone. I realized I should not fear the unknown, instead I should look straight and never give up. I could trust in myself. Believe it or not, one of my favorite activities today is biking with my dad along the beach.
what do you think?
@Mvp, I have a few remarks below;
3rd paragraph
- Janete brought her bike and insisted for me to try it .
- There I was,with 14 years old trying once again.
- ...follow her instructions and trustmemyself .
- If I could trustin me toand take care of myself,
Last paragraph
- ...many things I loose during my childhood because of my silly fear:. (mind your punctuation marks)
- The outdooractivityactivities was really nice.
Writing this essay was one of your fears to, but hey, one stroke of your pen, ideas rush in, words fall into place and here you are, one essay full of memories and a few enhancements from my side and you have an interesting piece of article!!!
3rd paragraph
- Janete brought her bike and insisted for me to try it .
- There I was,
- ...follow her instructions and trust
- If I could trust
Last paragraph
- ...many things I loose during my childhood because of my silly fear
- The outdoor
Writing this essay was one of your fears to, but hey, one stroke of your pen, ideas rush in, words fall into place and here you are, one essay full of memories and a few enhancements from my side and you have an interesting piece of article!!!