The time has come for college-bound members of the Class of 2026 to begin their post-secondary journey. With the end of the school year in sight, NASH juniors are starting to write the Common Application essay in their English classes.
The Common App essay, also known as the Personal Statement, showcases a college applicant’s personal experiences, values, and beliefs. As such, the essay is an important part of the college application process, lending a sense of personality to an otherwise one-dimensional application.
This year, NASH juniors are taking a variety of different approaches to the assignment.
“This essay is kind of the first real step I’ve taken in the college admissions process, so it’s definitely hitting me that, one year from now, I’ll hopefully have decided on a school and be getting ready to go to college,” junior Dean Cammarata said.
Cammarata chose to write about the stereotypical notion that men need to appear tough and can’t show as much emotion and how he discovered through movies that this is not true.
“Often I feel that men’s emotions can be invalidated and there is still a stigma about men’s mental health and what’s an ‘acceptable’ way to deal with those emotions,” he said.
Junior Nandini Jariwala decided to write about her love of music, as she wants to show who she is beyond her academic record.
“I wrote about playing the flute in band and how it helped me shape my three personality traits,” Jariwala said. “I chose this topic because it’s been a meaningful part of my life. I only started playing it after moving here from India in 2022.”
In contrast, junior Leah Campbell chose to explore the inner workings of her personality.
“I wrote about how I used to constantly apologize for things that are out of my control and how I have grown to not blame myself,” stated Campbell. “I chose that because I feel it is something that I have really grown to understand over the course of my life.”
For the Class of 2026, the Common App essay is much more than a school assignment. It’s likely their first glance into the world of college admissions, a head start for the next chapter in their lives.
“The college application process can be stressful, and writing this essay is a good first look into the process,” junior Tanishka Manwatkar said.
NASH English teacher Mrs. Walters agrees.
“This essay has the potential to solidify a future that the student longs for,” she said. “If a student can find their own creative voice in this personal narrative and make themselves stand out from the pack, then chances of admission are increased. This is one assignment that is not just about the immediate award of an English grade, but one that will reap benefits far into the future.”
Junior Natalie Abel summed up what a majority of NASH juniors are feeling while writing this essay.
“It is making me realize that high school is almost over,” she said. “Sometimes I feel like I take things for granted, but I am excited to start a new chapter.”
