How do I make this essay special? MIT Attribute Essay

What attribute of your personality are you most proud of, and how has it impacted your life so far? This could be your creativity, effective leadership, sense of humor, integrity, or anything else you'd like to tell us about. (*) (200-250 words)

In any situation, a person's attitude can make a world of difference. I take pride in my ability to make anything as stress-free and relaxing as possible. Attending a "pressure cooker" high school has only exacerbated the stressful environment in which my peers and I are expected to learn to the point where we live in a constant fear of the next 5-point homework assignment or any grade lower than a 95.

My ability to maintain a low stress level is one attribute that I could not survive without. Because of this, my life so far has been, dare I say it, fun. I love not worrying obsessively after a large exam about what questions I could have answered correctly; I can push all thoughts out of my head and keep calm and composed. It allows me to focus on the task at hand without worrying about what aspects that are out of my control, which improves my concentration. I physically feel better and more aware when I am relaxed than when I am placed in a high-stress scenario, and unfortunately a large number of students live almost exclusively in this mode. Keeping a low-stress mood has contributed to the positive outlook I have and makes my everyday life happy, something not enough people in this world can say.

Any advice is appreciated. I not only want to make this essay good; I want to make it stand out. How, if possible, can this be accomplished?

Thanks in advance!
yungmoni

I'd like to hear more details, and a short example of a situation where you mastered a high stress scenario. Name some personal qualities about yourself that relate to dealing with stress. It is true that some people crumble under stress because they lack the confidence to ride through the storm. Dealing with stress takes ability to assess a problem and quickly use critical thinking skills to find the best solution, without letting worry slow them down. This is a quality of many people who work in professional jobs, so maybe relate this to your career path. Is this personality train innate, or did you have to learn it, sometimes this comes from a life of trials which build up your ability to deal with stress. You have one really long sentence that needs to be adjusted: Attending a "pressure cooker" high school has only exacerbated the stressful environment in which my peers and I are expected to learn to the point where we live in a constant fear of the next 5-point homework assignment or any grade lower than a 95.

I really like what you're saying. However, I might make the essay more interesting. It's a little bit too perfectly formatted, with an intro sentence, supporting evidence, and a conclusion. You may want to start out with a quick story, perhaps you are eating lunch calmly while your friends are cramming. You giggle at their stress. I really like the attribute that you chose though. It refreshingly relaxed. I bet most people are going to choose something cliche and ununique like dedication, hard work, communication, etc.

OK! That's what my English teacher said too, so I'm going to add in 1 or 2 examples or stories to make it more personal.

The more feedback, the merrier! Keep it coming and a great thank you to those who have responded!