The following essay was written by a business school applicant who was admitted to top B-schools in the US. It was aimed to answer a personal statement question: Describe a Challenge you Faced and How you Overcame it?
This question is asked by some top schools and the following sample is intended to provide you with a flavor of a successful essay response to such a question.
Sample Personal Statement Essay: Describe a Challenge you Faced and How you Overcame it?
The most significant challenge I have faced has been moving from Mexico to the United States. It wasn’t just about the cultural shock but about my and my peers’ acceptance. The culture shock hit me very soon when I realized I did not share the same humor, childhood memories, festivities, or sports interests. I felt a sense of alienation. Even my taste buds struggled with classic American food.
To make matters worse, my peers were apprehensive of what they called my “heavy accent” and “mexicaness.” I made an easy target for bullies, being called “fresh off the boat.” Language became a hurdle for my communication. All these factors made me prone to adopt silence, finding silent corners to hide my foreign existence and longing for some sort of acceptance.
My most commendable personal achievement till today has been the change of heart that led me to open up to everything that scared me. After talking with my teachers, I overcame my lack of cultural acceptance by wholly participating in anything I considered different, whether in festivities like Christmas or sports like rugby and baseball. Learning new activities meant interacting with more students and gaining their acceptance, which inevitably led to common ground and shared experiences. This blue phase in my life made me who I am. Everyone now knows me as a person who doesn’t shy away from challenges.