Module Content

How it works: Choose an object or several objects and use it (or them) to reveal different parts of who you are. Here are three options for making this method work:

OPTION A: THE "STUFF IN MY ROOM" ESSAY

How it works: Describe how different things in your room reveal different aspects of your personality. In the example below, the author describes the items on his desk—his laptop, books, a bead bracelet—to reveal his curiosity, leadership, and relationship with his family, respectively. Check it out:

My Desk

BTW: The author didn't title his essay (and no need to title yours), and he didn't bold his thesis sentence; I've done that just so you can easily see his topic.

Six years ago, a scrawny twelve year old kid took his first steps into Home Depot: the epitome of manliness. As he marched through the wood section, his eyes scrolled past the options. Red Oak? No, too ubiquitous. Pine? No, too banal. Mahogany? Perfect, it would nicely complement his walls. As days went on, the final product was almost ready. 91 degree angles had been perfected to 90. Drawer slides had been lubricated ten times over. Finally, the masterpiece was finished, and the little boy couldn't help but smile. A scrawny 12-year-old kid had become a scrawny 12-year-old man. This desk I sit at has not only seen me through the last six years, but its story and the story of the objects I keep on it provide a foundation for my future pursuits.

My trustworthy, five-year old laptop sits in the center of the desk. From accompanying me on my ventures to track Null Pointer Errors in my apps to playing classic Billy Joel after a rough day, my laptop is my first-choice vehicle as I drive through a life of curiosity. Whether executing my simulations of stress-analysis tests, teaching me how to make an origami lily, or showing me a TED talk on why people find it difficult to poop away from home, my laptop has allowed me to find different versions of myself. Though I will probably call myself an engineer someday, my heart is in so many different places. I'm a philosopher, a historian, an economist, a black belt in TaeKwonDo, a tech-y, a farmer, a teacher, an inventor, an entrepreneur, a TED-talk lover, and a sports enthusiast. With each Google search, a new world opens.

To my left is a stack of books. To earn a coveted top spot in the stack, the "winning" book has to have taught me a life lesson OR made me cry. Currently, the book on top is The Way of the Seal by Mark Divine. Divine's memoir details the training required to become an elite warrior and how that mentality can be applied to success in all aspects of life (social, mental, physical, and spiritual). Like Divine, I try to avoid a tunnel-vision attitude and consider the implications of my actions on society at large, as a leader and a role model. While running my company, a non-profit that kindles interest in STEM around the world, I have been particularly guided by the principle of leading from the battlefield. This mantra of collaborative leadership helps me facilitate many processes, from managing social media to collaborating with potential investors. I'm also reminded to sometimes take a step back in the midst of a crisis and let the universe give me the answers.

To the right of the books is a bead bracelet identical to the ones my parents and brother wear. When I look at it, I remember my parents' secret sign language as I stood on the stage of FBLA nationals. One thumbs up means "remember to breathe", two thumbs up means "remember to smile for the photos." Regardless, I forgot to smile for the photo. When I look at the bracelet, I also see my little brother tugging on me, asking me countless questions as I repair my cube-stacking robot. "What's that weird looking spinny thing?" It's obviously a 0.81 lb, 5mm shaft diameter, 5700 rpm, 35 oz-in stall torque, 22 amp stall current, brushless DC motor. Duh.

One day you'll find me in a corner office somewhere, running a couple of different tech startups, but the desk I'll be sitting at is this same one. I never want to forget that, at heart, I am a confident skinny little nerd unafraid and eager to take my next Home Depot trip.

Four Qualities This Essay Demonstrates:

I believe most great essays illustrate four qualities: core values (as we've discussed), insight (in other words an illuminating answer to the question "so what"), vulnerability (it feels personal), and craft (it's well-written). Here's how this essay shows each of these:

1. Values. Note how each paragraph is themed by an object + a value:

1. Laptop → curiosity

2. The Way of the Seal → leadership

3. Bead bracelet → family

He also manages to weave in tons of other values: meticulousness, humor, knowledge, creativity, collaboration, etc.

2. Insight. He answers the "so what" question in a couple surprising ways, including a mention of being guided by the principle of "leading from the battlefield" and how he's learned to "sometimes take a step back in the midst of a crisis and let the universe give [him] the answers."

3. Vulnerability. I find this essay vulnerable in several ways: He makes fun of himself by calling himself "a scrawny 12-year-old man," acknowledges that his "heart is in so many different places," uses humor (including a mention of a TED talk "on why people find it difficult to poop away from home"), and relays a wide range of personal details.

4. Craft. He sets up his essay with a nice thesis at the end of the intro: "This desk I sit at has not only seen me through the last six years, but its story and the story of the objects I keep on it provide a foundation for my future pursuits." This both tells us what to expect in the essay and piques our curiosity. I also appreciate the way the ending returns to the opening.

OPTION B: THE "OBJECTS WITH SOMETHING IN COMMON" ESSAY

You might also choose to describe objects that are the same but somehow different. One past student, for example, described a "Friendship Box," and each paragraph focused on a different note that had been placed inside the box. The notes revealed different "islands of her personality," including family, travel, volleyball, science, and dance. Another student used different bracelets to describe different parts of himself: his connection to his grandfather, a service project, and even challenges he'd overcome. Another student described different pairs of shoes he'd worn in different contexts, while another described different "uniforms" (school uniform, marching band, casual clothes, business suit) and used those to show different sides of himself.

Notice how, in each case, the student is basically describing the same "thing"—a note, bracelet, pair of shoes, or uniform—but in each case, each author reveals a different value or aspect of their personality. In the essay below, the author describes the stickers on her laptop. Again, I've included a title (to make referring to it easier) and have bolded the different stickers so you can see them more easily, but no need for you to include a title or bold any elements in your essay.

Laptop Stickers

My laptop is like a passport. It is plastered with stickers all over the outside, inside, and bottom. Each sticker is a stamp, representing a place I've been, a passion I've pursued, or community I've belonged to. These stickers make for an untraditional first impression at a meeting or presentation, but it's one I'm proud of. Let me take you on a quick tour:

"We < 3 Design," bottom left corner. Art has been a constant for me for as long as I can remember. Today my primary engagement with art is through design. I've spent entire weekends designing websites and social media graphics for my companies. Design means more to me than just branding and marketing; it gives me the opportunity to experiment with texture, perspective, and contrast, helping me refine my professional style.

"Common Threads," bottom right corner. A rectangular black and red sticker displaying the theme of the 2017 TEDxYouth@Austin event. For years I've been interested in the street artists and musicians in downtown Austin who are so unapologetically themselves. As a result, I've become more open-minded and appreciative of unconventional lifestyles. TED gives me the opportunity to help other youth understand new perspectives, by exposing them to the diversity of Austin where culture is created, not just consumed.

Poop emoji, middle right. My 13-year-old brother often sends his messages with the poop emoji 'echo effect,' so whenever I open a new message from him, hundreds of poops elegantly cascade across my screen. He brings out my goofy side, but also helps me think rationally when I am overwhelmed. We don't have the typical "I hate you, don't talk to me" siblinghood (although occasionally it would be nice to get away from him); we're each other's best friends. Or at least he's mine.

"Lol ur not Harry Styles," upper left corner. Bought in seventh grade and transferred from my old laptop, this sticker is torn but persevering with layers of tape. Despite conveying my fangirl-y infatuation with Harry Styles' boyband, One Direction, for me Styles embodies an artist-activist who uses his privilege for the betterment of society. As a $42K donor to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund, a hair donor to the Little Princess Trust, and promoter of LGBTQ+ equality, he has motivated me to be a more public activist instead of internalizing my beliefs.

"Catapult," middle right. This is the logo of a startup incubator where I launched my first company, Threading Twine. I learned that business can provide others access to fundamental human needs, such as economic empowerment of minorities and education. In my career, I hope to be a corporate advocate for the empowerment of women, creating large-scale impact and deconstructing institutional boundaries that obstruct women from working in high-level positions. Working as a women's rights activist will allow me to engage in creating lasting movements for equality, rather than contributing to a cycle that elevates the stances of wealthy individuals.

"Thank God it's Monday," sneakily nestled in the upper right corner. Although I attempt to love all my stickers equally (haha), this is one of my favorites. I always want my association with work to be positive.

And there are many others, including the horizontal, yellow stripes of the Human Rights Campaign; "The Team," a sticker from the Model G20 Economics Summit where I collaborated with youth from around the globe; and stickers from "Kode with Klossy," a community of girls working to promote women's involvement in underrepresented fields.

When my computer dies (hopefully not for another few years), it will be like my passport expiring. It'll be difficult leaving these moments and memories behind, but I probably won't want these stickers in my 20s anyways (except Harry Styles, that's never leaving). My next set of stickers will reveal my next set of aspirations. They hold the key to future paths I will navigate, knowledge I will gain, and connections I will make.

Four Great Qualities This Essay Shows:

1. Values. Again, note how each sticker connects to one or more of the author's values:

   • We < 3 Design → art, design, experimentation

   • Common Threads → authenticity, open-mindedness, diversity

   • Poop emoji → family, goofy side

   • Lol ur not Harry Styles → equality, activism, confidence

   • Catapult → entrepreneurship, social justice, awareness, meaningful work

   • Thank God it's Monday → enjoyable work

   • The Team → collaboration

   • Kode with Klossy → community, social justice

2. Insight. Notice how she answers "so what" several times in her essay. My favorite insight is this: "TED gives me the opportunity to help other youth understand new perspectives, by exposing them to the diversity of Austin where culture is created, not just consumed."

3. Vulnerability. This essay is vulnerable in a few ways. In her paragraph on her brother, the author mentions a poop emoji, which some readers may dislike, but reveals their shared sense of humor. She also ends that paragraph by admitting he is her best friend, even if she is not his. In a separate paragraph, the author reveals her "fangirl-y infatuation" with Harry Styles, which is something the reader may find superficial. She offers context, however, by explaining why she appreciates him so much: his advocacy work. Or at least, why else she appreciates him.

4. Craft. There are so many well-crafted moments in this essay, from the clear simile that opens the essay ("My laptop is like a passport") to the succinct location description of each sticker ("bottom left corner, middle right," etc.) I also love that, while this isn't a "Career" essay, she demonstrates a wide range of qualities that will serve her in her future as an activist. She elected to not mention her future career here, but instead in her "Why us?" essay).

Other variations on this essay include describing the ...

• Books on your bookshelf

• Polaroid photos on your bedroom wall

• Various "tools" lying around your room

• Fish in the fishtank in your room

• Photograph, telescope, laptop, and photograph of your grandma (and how each object reveals a different way you identify → economist, technologist, teacher, philanthropist, entrepreneur, musician, global citizen)

• A range of objects—laptop, whiteboard, business cards, lamp, mirror, sculpture—that have helped you develop qualities that will serve you in a particular career

In each case, each object reveals a different side of the author.

The "Abstract Thing" Variation

While I've been discussing tangible objects so far, it could be that your Essence Object ... isn't an object at all. It could be something more abstract. One student, for example, developed the habit of posting a nightly question on Snapchat for his friends; in his personal statement, he used those questions to reveal different sides of himself. Another student kept a "Happiness Spreadsheet," rating each day on a scale of 1-20 based on how happy he'd been. Another student I met wrote about a "one-second clip challenge," where she'd taken a one-second video each day for almost a year. These made great topics and allowed these students to describe many sides of themselves.

Note: I'm not listing this "abstract thing" idea as a separate option, as it's still basically a single thing with multiple parts—I just wanted to point out how your topic doesn't have to be something that you can pick up and hold (like a bracelet or a book).

OPTION C: THE "ONE OBJECT" ESSAY

You may also choose to write about a single object. This is a bit more difficult, in my opinion, which is why I've listed it last. And, to be honest, I haven't seen many students do this well, in part because I think it's easier to show different sides of yourself through different objects (see the "My Desk" or "Laptop Stickers" examples above) rather than through just one object.

One example does come to mind, though.

Years ago, a student wrote about a whistle that a volleyball coach had given him before she'd passed away from cancer. The student had worked as an assistant to the coach, and she'd taught him a lot about leadership, so the whistle represented a kind of "passing of the torch"—and not just of the coaching responsibilities, but also of some lessons on life. This happened in 2010, so unfortunately, I don't have that essay to share.

But by this point, you should have a sense of how this type of essay can work.

A Mini-Exercise to Get You Started on Your "Essence Objects/Stuff in My Room" Essay

1. Complete the Essence Object Exercise.

Begin by clicking here. Watch the video at the bottom of the module content. Spend 10 minutes doing this.

2. Choose 4-7 objects from your list and connect each one to a value.

Here's an example from the "My Desk" essay above:

• Laptop → curiosity

• The book The Way of the Seal → leadership

• Bead bracelet → family

• Cube-stacking robot → brother

Why 4-7? Because you're likely working with a 500- to 650-word limit, you'll likely choose only 3-5 examples to describe in detail (assuming one main example and value per paragraph), so I'd recommend generating more examples than you'll need so you can see which ones work best. Then keep the best and cut the rest.

Time to start.