✍️ Quick + Chill Essay Guide

(aka: how to turn “my life is boring” → “this actually sounds like me”)

1. Forget the Essay. Tell a Story First 📖

Don’t start by thinking, “what will impress colleges?” That’s a trap. Instead, think:

  • What’s a small moment that actually mattered to you?

  • What’s something your friends always associate with you?

  • What’s a time you learned or changed (even in a tiny way)?

👉 Write these as bullet points — they’re your seeds.

2. Zoom In, Don’t Zoom Out 🔍

Everyone wants to write “how I became a leader” or “why I want to be a doctor.” Too broad. Snooze.
Instead: focus on one moment → like teaching your cousin how to code, getting lost on a hike, or fixing your mom’s old laptop. From there, expand on what it meant.

3. Make It Sound Like You 🎤

Read your draft out loud. If it sounds like a robot or your English teacher wrote it, redo it.
Your voice = how you actually talk. Yes, grammar matters, but it’s not an SAT essay. Colleges want you, not a 5-paragraph formula.

4. Show, Don’t Preach 🎨

Instead of: “I am determined and hardworking.”
Do: “Every morning at 5am, I biked 3 miles to open the bakery with my grandma — even when I wanted to quit, she handed me a donut and said, ‘keep going.’”
See the diff? One makes them feel it.

5. Draft Ugly, Then Polish ✏️ → 💎

Your first draft will be bad. That’s the point. Don’t delete, just dump words out. Then:

  • Round 1: cut fluff.

  • Round 2: sharpen your story.

  • Round 3: check flow + voice.

✨ My Tip: If you’re stuck, try recording yourself telling the story out loud to a friend → then type up what you said. Way easier.

Do This Right Now (literally today)

  • Jot down 3 moments in your life that actually shaped you.

  • Pick one that makes you feel something (even if small).

  • Write a super messy draft about just that one moment.

Boom. You’ve started your essay. 🎉

Need Help Making Sense of It All?

If you want feedback on your essay idea, structure, or final draft, I offer 1:1 essay support — whether you’re stuck at square one or just need a polish before hitting submit.

👉 Check out my services here

You got this ✌️

– Frank