Writing about challenges in your college essay can be a great way to show growth, but there’s a fine line between sharing meaningful experiences and “trauma dumping.” So how do you tell your story without going overboard? Here’s how.

Do: Focus on Growth

Colleges want to see how you’ve grown. If you write about a challenge, make sure to highlight how it helped you become stronger or learn something important. Keep the focus on how you’ve moved forward.

Don’t: Make It All About the Struggle

Your essay shouldn’t just be about the hardship itself. If it’s all struggle with no resolution, it can feel like trauma dumping—where the reader gets the emotional load without seeing your growth. Show how you worked through it and how it changed you for the better.

Key Tips for Writing About Challenges:

• Do: Focus on your personal growth.
• Do: Keep the tone positive.
• Don’t: Dwell only on the hardship.
• Don’t: Overshare to the point where it feels uncomfortable for the reader.

Do: Keep It Relatable

You don’t need a huge life event to write a strong essay. Even small challenges, like learning time management, can work—just show what you learned from it.

Don’t: Overdramatize

Don’t try to make something minor seem like a huge event. Be honest about its impact and how it shaped you.

With ESAI, you can receive assistance and inspo through every step of the writing process, from brainstorming to your final draft. Check out our tools to make the journey smoother. Happy writing!