"Stereotyped beliefs have the power to become self-fulfilling prophecies for behavior." Respond to this prompt in an essay of not more than 300 words.
Hi, I am new to this website. This is a college's supplement essay that I wrote and I am hoping to receive some feedback. English is my second language, so if you find any awkward phrases and grammatical mistakes, please let me know. Thank you!!
I was born southpaw.
My traditional grandmother, who is now eighty years old, corrected me into righty when I was three. I remember getting scolded-sometimes slapped-whenever I used chopsticks with my left hand. She did it partly because most of the tools, such as scissors, were created for right-handed people but also because some people in Japan, especially my grandmother's generation and older, have a stereotypical belief that left-handedness is practiced by rather dumb and crazy people, who come up with unconventional ideas that are devoid of analytical thinking.
However, my grandmother had-for some reason-forgotten that I was clearly born into a different generation where nobody believes southpaws are inferior. In fact the majority of the Japanese now regard left-handedness as a symbol of creativity and risk-taking bravery. I have friends who are lefty and admired, but none who were corrected into righty.
When my grandmother sees me paint with my left hand, the only trait of my left-handedness, she despises it. When I tell my friends that I was lefty, they would pity me, because now, it is widely recognized that "correction" may make people deficient.
For eighteen years, I have been sandwiched by two opposite stereotypes. However, as long as those years, I have known that those stereotypes do not define me. I am not dumb because I was lefty. I am not deficient because I am now righty. I am special because I am me. The girl who wrote fifty pages of research paper on evil spirits of Tale of Genji, the girl who back-peddles on unicycle in the city of Tokyo, and the girl who loves Sudoku and chess. They are all me, and that makes me special.
I am (my name). It is nice to meet you.
That's a well written essay. Just my 2 cents into it :
You could emphasize a little more on how the correction to right handedness affected you and also expand a little bit on your achievements after that rather than a blunt single line - "The girl who wrote fifty pages of research paper on evil spirits of Tale of Genji, the girl who back-peddles on unicycle in the city of Tokyo, and the girl who loves Sudoku and chess.". I believe that's what the prompt is asking for, how a particular stereotype affected you and your behavior.
Also, while I do see the stress you've placed on being unique, I do not think it is necessary to repeat the fact that you are special, especially seeing that they are one sentence apart. (Referring to "I am special because I am me. ---- . They are all me, and that makes me special.")
