I’ve written before that your college applications and essays should be all about you. It’s fine to write about someone else who’s influenced you in some way, but colleges are looking to learn about you, not about someone you admire.
So how do you handle a question like this one from Gonzaga University?
As part of Gonzaga’s Presidential Speaker Series, the University brings to campus world-renown individuals whose scholarly research and commitment to social justice inspire students to action. Dr. Jane Goodall and Thomas Friedman were the 2012-13 speakers. If you were to choose a living person to speak at Gonzaga, in three to five sentences, who would you choose and why?
Again, keep the focus on you.
Start by thinking honestly about the question. Who would you want to hear at graduation? Anyone could make an argument for an influential figure in today’s society by reciting a list of facts and accomplishments. But the colleges aren’t looking for a biography about someone else. They want to know why you would choose this person.
It’s fine and probably necessary to include some biographical information about your subject. But keep the details on you and your choice.
For example:
I can’t even count how many times my dad has made me and my brothers listen to stories about his basketball idol, NBA legend Larry Bird. When we were growing up, he always told us that Bird was an example of someone who didn’t have natural ability but made up for it with hard work and an insatiable desire to win, even if it meant letting his teammates have the glory. My dad and his stories are the reason why I managed to make contributions on my high school basketball team by passing the ball a lot more often than I shot. Larry Bird wasn’t just a great player. He made all of his teammates better players. And I can’t think of a better way to inspire students than to encourage them to make not just themselves, but also everyone else around them better.
Now the college learns a little about Bird, but even more about the applicant.