I have a problem in writing my university application essays. Not because I didn’t know what to write, but because I wanted to write too much of stuffs. My naive and romantic personality believes that more is indeed, more. With limited space available, I have no choice but to start a soul-searching process, to determine what is really the most important thing about me.


I needed help, and Google is always there. Apparently, there are a few questions that one should ask to determine the best topic for an essay. I got these from Essay Advice

• your most memorable experiences

I hate this question.

• the most influential people in your life

My parents, but NOT in a good way. My opposing views with that of theirs shaped me into what I am today.

• the most influential events in your life

The transition between Form 3 and Form 4. The quest for change and a paradigm shift.

• the most influential ideas in your life

The concept of “randomness” of birth and the concept of “universality”

• the most important lessons you have learned

Always be yourself and do what you think is right. “Always do what is right, not what is established”

• your talents or skills

Music, able to read and write.

• your accomplishments

Not really interested in listing them.

• your likes

To be busy

• your dislikes

To waste time and procrastinate

• your academic goals

Learn how to learn things quickly in response to the fast-evolving world, refine learning approach, learn everything, resist worshiping the thoughts of other people but treating them as merely reference, and eventually have the ability to come up with own thoughts

• your career goals

Be an entrepreneur someday. But if that does not work out, do something that I enjoy doing. Turn hobby into career.

• your personal goals

To be able to make the world a better place. Really, even though it sounded trite.

• obstacles or challenges you’ve faced and how you overcame and grew from them

The environment in which I grew up in. It suppressed my true ability. And I defied the environment that I live in.

• your failures and lessons learned

I failed to be the person I want to be. Lesson is, stop wasting time and work hard to be the person I want to be.

• your key strengths

Know what I want out of life, have self-belief, highly individualistic

• your favorite written work

The Medici Effect

• your favorite movies or other performance art pieces

“Meditation from Thais”, by Jules Massenet

• your favorite quotations

“I never let my schooling interfere with my education” - Mark Twain

• your favorite extracurricular activities

Advertising related stuffs, but I’m not too good at it, I think.

• your favorite intellectual activities

Coming up with ideas, figuring out how things work without looking or referencing How Stuffs Works

• the attributes you most respect in others

Tenacity and the quality of being oneself

• the most memorable things about you

I can play the piano?

• how you’ve grown and changes you’ve made

shy and unconfident to a little confident and extroverted

• times when you’ve shown leadership

I volunteered to direct a movie when no one wants to do it

• times when you’ve helped others

I pretended to answer a question on the white board during a presentation by my friend just to notify him about his unzip pants

• times when you’ve shown creativity

“Exclusively” advertising campaign for Prom

• times when you’ve shown ingenuity

I practice repetitive jazz scales on the piano while reading chemistry to save time

• the attributes of a good education or a well-educated person

Creative, innovative, being able to think critically, never stop questioning, never trust formulas and always question its derivation

I am not sure how this is going to work, but these prompts certainly helped me to get the ball rolling in my mind. I would have an idea of possible topic, I hope.