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UC Essay Example: Personal Insight Question #7

by Winning Ivy Prep Team | Feb 3, 2023 | UC Personal Insight Essay Examples

UC Essay Examples

This UC Prompt is one that students seem to gravitate towards. So, we have tons of UC Personal Insight Essay examples for this one. 

So, what have you done to make your school or community a better place?

A lot, I’m sure. But how do you put all this passion and hard-work into 350 words? That’s what makes answering the UC Personal Insight Questions so tricky. But don’t fret! In this post, we’ve got a successful, creative UC essay prompt 7 example for you. 

And if you’re looking for more UC Personal Insight Questions examples, checkout this blogpost: 2020 Ultimate Guide: 20 UC essay examples .

UC Personal Insight Example: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

Within six months, four students from my school district committed suicide, shocking the community.  These were our classmates and neighbors—why did they do it?  As a good friend to one of the students, I knew he suffered from insomnia—and I wondered about the correlation between unhealthy sleep habits and depression.   

My sorrow and yearning for clarity directed me towards sleep research—I walked into Dr. _____ leading sleep research lab at the VA Hospital, seeking to join their mission to better understand sleep.  I was blessed when she took me on as an intern during my sophomore year.  Dr. _____’s lab focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-i).  CBT-i tackles insomnia on two fronts: cognitive therapy helps patients overcome mental sleeping blocks, and behavioral therapy ensures that the patients’ behaviors enhance sleep.  We investigate individual effects of the cognitive and behavioral parts.

This was my chance to learn about the science behind insomnia—especially about its effects on our overall wellness—to better understand my friend’s tragic situation.  My first duty was patient recruitment through marketing our clinical study to the community, but soon transitioned to data analysis and treatment.  Statistical programs such as R and SAS became my best friends, and tests for cognitive ability and neuropsychological status like MOCA and RBANS were my favorite patient evaluations.  I’ve always enjoyed science, but my time with Dr. _____ helped me gain a deeper appreciation for research.

Research and medicine are integral parts of my future—there is still ways to go in finding an effective long-term solution to teenage sleep issues and well-being.   I have ideas such as marketing CBT-i sleep therapy to increase its accessibility and prevent more tragedies like the ones at my school, and the guidance of UC professors as well as the tight-knit student body gives me the best chances of pursuing my goals and contribute back to the community.  An education in the University of California system would provide me with plentiful resources to continue making strides towards solving this problem.

Source: One of my students that was admitted to Berkeley & UCLA.

UC Personal Insight Prompt #7 Pro Tips

Hold on! Before you go off and write your UC Essays, take a moment and analyze the strengths of this UC Personal Insight example. We’re giving you highly successful UC essay examples here — in fact, this student got into all the UCs he applied to, including UCLA and Berkeley. So, here are some best practices and tips. 

UC Essay Example: Personal Insight Questions

UC Prompt 7 Tip #1: Consider a unique angle

Most essays I read that attempt to answer this UC Personal Insight Question prompt 7 usually delve deeply into volunteering and community service. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s always nice to read a fresh take on a prompt that gets almost monotonous. This UC essay example does a fantastic job of creating a unique take on this prompt!

UC Essay Example Tip #2: Discuss goals for the future

Many UC essays I read do a good job of telling the story of the past/present. For instance, this UC essay example does just that — it talks in great detail about the student’s research and the motivation behind his research project. This UC Personal Insight example however, goes one step further than most others: The student ends the essay by giving a concrete idea of how he wants to take his current research and delve deeper into it at a UC. 

This idea is important because UC admissions officers love to see that students aren’t doing activities for the sake of doing it — admissions officers love it when students are passionate about the extracurricular activity, and have ideas to continue pursuing it throughout college to contribute to the academic environment!

UC Essay Example Tip #3. Show your curiosity

A common pitfall that students have when writing UC essays (and college essays in general) is throwing around words like “passion” with nothing to back it up. 

Remember: you’ve got to show , not tell. 

This particular UC essay example does a great job doing that. This student makes it abundantly clear: He has a genuine, deep love for learning. He has a personal WHY he is invested in tackling the issue of sleep, which compels him to follow his curiosities into a research setting. 

This motivation to seek opportunities to deepen your interests in an academic setting is absolutely critical to be a successful UC applicant (at least, for UCLA and UC Berkeley). 

Alright, now that we’ve gone through this successful UC essay prompt 7 example, you’re probably wondering: how are you going to write a stellar UC essay yourself? Well, we’ve got you covered! Take a look at this UC Personal Insight essay guide . 

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How to Make Your School a Better Place

Last Updated: December 19, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Alicia Oglesby . Alicia Oglesby is a Professional School Counselor and the Director of School and College Counseling at Bishop McNamara High School outside of Washington DC. With over ten years of experience in counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. She also studied Race and Mental Health at Virginia Tech. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 237,027 times.

Making your school a better place will make everyone around you happier and will get you more pumped to go every day. In addition, a better atmosphere will also make you more productive. As a student, you can help other students and maintain a positive attitude and take the lead when it comes to promoting improvements in the school. As a faculty member or teacher, there are other strategies that you can use to create a better working environment. Whether you're a student, faculty member, or teacher, you should always be thinking of ways to make your school a better place.

Helping Other Students

Step 1 Stand up to bullies.

  • When you see someone getting bullied you can say something like “Hey, that's not funny at all. Stop bullying her.”
  • Or you could say, “Cut it out. They didn't do anything to you, stop being mean to them.”
  • You can also ask the bully something like, "How would you like it if someone did that to you? Do you think it's fun to be humiliated?"

Step 2 Try to resolve conflicts between other kids.

  • For example, if someone was spreading rumors about someone else, you could say something like, "The only reason Jessica is yelling is because of the rumor you spread, Jack. I think instead of fighting you both should talk about it. Why did you start the rumor, Jack?"

Step 3 Spread a positive attitude.

  • For example, if someone is complaining about how hard physics is, you can say something like “Sure, it's hard, but just imagine how much this is going to prepare us for college. It's better to learn it now than to struggle with it later.”

Step 4 Tutor other students if you can.

  • When students struggle in school, there's a chance that they can lash out and disrupt learning for everyone. [4] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source

Step 5 Make friends with students that are lonely.

  • If you notice that a student that's sitting alone at lunch, walk up to them and say something like, "Hey, you're in my math class. Mind if I sit with you for lunch?"
  • If you notice a student who doesn't have many friends, walk up to them and ask them "What are you doing this Saturday? I'm going to play basketball. Want to come along?"

Step 6 Communicate serious issues with teachers and administration.

  • For example, if your friend is struggling with getting bullied and the bullies won't stop, report it to the principal before something more serious occurs.

Participating at School

Step 1 Run for student...

  • Once you become a member of student government, you can raise money for better school facilities or start new clubs that promote positivity.

Step 2 Become a leader at school.

  • You can become a team captain, a club leader, or just be a person that other students look up to.
  • To be a good leader, you need to be responsible, reliable, and willing to collaborate. The best leaders are also fun, know how to have a good time, and don't take themselves too seriously.

Step 3 Support a sport at school.

  • You can go up to students and say something like "Hey, you going to the game this Friday? We are facing our rivals, you should definitely go."

Step 4 Participate in the arts.

  • If there is ever a performance or art show, you should let other students know by saying something like, "You gotta make it out to the art show this Thursday. Everyone from Ms. Kenney's class is going to be displaying their best works."

Step 5 Pick up trash...

Making the School Better as Faculty or Staff

Step 1 Encourage a collaborative atmosphere.

  • You can say something like "Hey a couple of teachers and I are planning on going to Joe's Crab Shack this Friday. Are you interested in coming with us?"

Step 3 Speak positively about what's going on at your school.

  • For instance, if there is construction happening in the school you can say something like, "Well at least we'll have a bigger and better school once it's done!"

Step 4 Give the students the ability to make meaningful change.

  • You can inspire students by saying something like, "I want the students to have control over where the Poet Society goes. I want to give you the power to dictate what the club will do in the future, and I have full confidence in you."

Community Q&A

Community Answer

You Might Also Like

Keep Your School Clean

  • ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/bullies.html
  • ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/conflict-resolution-skills.htm
  • ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/positive-mindset/
  • ↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/10/mental-health-campus-care
  • ↑ https://www.edutopia.org/blog/school-community-collaboration-brendan-okeefe
  • ↑ https://www.apa.org/about/governance/bylaws/rules-110
  • ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/leadership-activities/
  • ↑ https://www.apa.org/topics/sport-rehabilitation/psychologists
  • ↑ https://hbr.org/2022/10/the-power-of-work-friends
  • ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/what-is-positive-psychology-definition/

About This Article

Alicia Oglesby

You can make your school a better place by getting more involved and helping out your fellow students. Try running for student government if your school has one so you can make changes to improve your school, such as raising money to improve facilities or starting up a new club. You could also get involved with a sports program by playing on the team or promoting them at school. For example, you could raise the school spirit by putting on face paint and cheering loudly at the games. To help out your classmates, try to resolve conflicts that you see arise between them and stand up to any kids you see bullying other kids. You’ll create a more positive environment, which will make your school a better place for you, your teachers, and your peers. For tips about how to make friends with students that are lonely, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Tips for Writing a Standout Community Service Essay

←6 Diversity College Essay Examples

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Through your college applications process, you’re likely to come across the term “community service” many times. In fact, you may be asked to write an essay about it. This post will cover the specifics of a community service essay and how to go about writing one, including what to cover and common mistakes to avoid. 

What is a Community Service Essay?

You may encounter the community service essay as you’re writing your supplemental essays for college. These are school-specific prompts that only go to the college that requests them, unlike the personal statement , which goes to every school you apply to. Not all schools require community service essays, but several do. It’s also a common requirement for scholarship applications, especially if it’s a school-specific merit scholarship. 

The community service essay is an essay that describes the initiatives you have taken outside of the classroom to benefit your community. In a 2018 survey of 264 admissions leaders across the US, 58% said that community service is a tie-breaker between students who are otherwise equally qualified. The community service essay offers you the opportunity to shine light on the work you have done to make an impact on the world and people around you, and is an additional way to help you stand out among other applicants. 

Approaching the Community Service Essay 

Understand the essay requirements  .

As with any essay, it’s important to first understand what is expected of your essay. For a start, elements to pay attention to include: 

  • Length requirements
  • Focus or subject of the essay prompt 
  • Organization of the essay 

Although all community service essays ultimately have the same purpose of having you describe your local service activities, they can come with different types of prompts. Below are three sample prompts. Note the differences in topic specificity, length requirements, and breadth of the prompt. 

From the CGCS – Bernard Harris Scholarship Program: 

Please describe a meaningful volunteer or community service experience, including what you learned from participating.

From the University of California Application :

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? (350 words).

From the Equitable Excellence Scholarship:

Describe your outstanding achievement in depth and provide the specific planning, training, goals, and steps taken to make the accomplishment successful. Include details about your role and highlight leadership you provided. Your essay must be a minimum of 350 words but not more than 600 words.

Brainstorming for your community service essay 

Once you have an understanding of what is required of the specific you are to write, the next step is to brainstorm ideas for a specific topic. If you have various community-engaged service experiences under your belt, consider the following before you finalize your decision. 

The best topics:

Are substantial in length and scope. It’s better to cover a long-term commitment than a one-off afternoon at the food pantry or animal shelter. 

Are transformative or inspiring. Although community service is “others”-oriented, colleges are looking to learn more about you. The ideal community service essay topic should be an experience that changed or challenged your perspective, and was ultimately fulfilling. 

Illustrate personal qualities or passions that you want to highlight. Given the specific prompt, and taking the rest of your application into consideration, which personal interests do you want to highlight? Which activity illuminates the personal quality that you want to bring attention to? 

These are all elements to consider before you begin writing your essay. 

essay on how to make your school a better place

Tips for Writing Your Community Service Essay 

1. include anecdotes.

Anecdotes are a great way to begin your essay, not only as a way to grab your reader’s attention, but by launching right into the experience of your service activity. You can start with a line about a particularly busy afternoon at the orphanage, or a morning cleaning up the streets after a storm, or the sense of accomplishment you felt when you watched a dog under your care at the animal shelter get adopted. 

2. Show, don’t tell 

We’re sure you’ve heard this axiom of general writing before, but it applies to college essays just as much as with any other piece of writing. Opt for evocative examples over plain explaining whenever possible. Take this sentence: “There was a lot of food waste at our school cafeteria.” It’s not nearly as powerful as this description: “I peered into the tall, gray trash cans to inspect the mountain of Styrofoam trays and discarded food. There were countless pizza crusts, globs of green beans, and unopened cartons of milk.” 

Anyone could write the first sentence, and it’s not a unique experience. In the second description, we’re shown the scene of the writer’s lunchroom. We get a peek into their perspective and life, which makes the writing more vivid and relatable. Aim to bring your reader into your world as much as possible.

3. Share your responsibilities and accomplishments.

The more tangible your community service activities feel to the reader, the more powerful your essay will be. Concretize your work by stating the basic details of what kind of work you did and what your duties involved, where it was based, when you began working, and the amount of time you spent working. 

Be sure to quantify your work and accomplishments when possible; it’s better to say your fundraiser yielded 125 books than “a large number” of books. It’s important to also elaborate on why the work you did matters. Why was it important? Did the books you collected or purchased after the fundraiser expand the library of the local orphanage that they already had, or did it offer the children easy access to books that wasn’t available previously? Be specific and detailed.  

4. Highlight what you learned and how you’ll use those lessons moving forward. 

Towards the end of your essay, you’ll want to share how you benefited from the community service work you did. This is an important part of the essay, because it shows how you are able to distill your experiences to applicable lessons in your own life. 

Think of this section in two potential parts: skills you learned, and personal development. Did you gain any hard skills, such as public speaking, poster design, or funds management? Then think about how you developed as an individual. Are you more empathetic or patient now? 

Things to Avoid in Your Community Service Essay 

1. don’t list out everything that happened..

You want to keep your essay well-structured and concise. This isn’t a résumé, or a play-by-play of the entire experience. Stick to the most telling details and anecdotes from your experience. 

2. Avoid using a pretentious or privileged tone.

Humility goes a long way, and entitlement can be smelled from afar. The purpose of this essay is not to paint yourself as a savior of any kind, but rather to show what’s important to you in your non-academic life, and how you approach solving real-world and interpersonal problems. 

3. Avoid clichés.

It may be tempting to quote famous people, but doing so can easily seem like a shortcut, plus it shows little of who you are. Try also to steer clear of trite and vague life lesson lines such as “I learned that people can be happy with so little,” or “I learned the importance of giving back.” Not only do they carry a tone of privilege, they are also sweeping general conclusions and don’t convey anything specific of what you learned. 

Community service is only a part of the college application process, which can be daunting and confusing. CollegeVine will help you navigate each step of the process, from building a college list, to calculating your chances at each school using our chancing engine. Create your free account and get started now !

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essay on how to make your school a better place

How To Answer UC Personal Insight Prompt 7: Community

Understanding the uc admissions essay prompt.

The UC admissions essay prompt, "What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?" requires a thorough understanding in order to craft a successful essay. In this section, we will explore how to interpret the prompt, discuss why it is important, and highlight what admissions officers are looking for in your response.

Interpreting the Prompt

To effectively answer the essay prompt, it is crucial to interpret it correctly. Take the time to analyze the wording and understand the key components of the question. Consider the following points:

1- Scope: The prompt asks about your contributions to either your school or your community. You may choose to focus on one or discuss both, depending on the depth of your involvement and impact.

2- Action: The prompt specifically asks about what you have done. This means admissions officers are interested in your tangible efforts and initiatives rather than just ideas or intentions.

3- Better Place: The prompt requires you to demonstrate how your actions have made a positive difference. Consider the various ways in which you have brought about positive change, whether it is through leadership, collaboration, advocacy, or other means.

Why This Prompt is Important

The UC system places great importance on community engagement and social responsibility. By asking this prompt, the admissions committee aims to understand your commitment to making a positive impact beyond your academic achievements. They want to evaluate your character, leadership skills, and ability to contribute to the greater good.

What Admissions Officers are Looking For

When reviewing your response to this prompt, admissions officers will be looking for several key qualities and attributes:

1- Initiative: They want to see that you have taken the initiative to identify issues or needs in your school or community and have actively worked towards addressing them.

2- Impact: Admissions officers are interested in the actual impact of your actions. They want to know how your efforts have made a tangible difference and improved the lives of others.

3- Leadership and Collaboration: Demonstrating your ability to lead and collaborate with others is essential. Admissions officers want to see that you can work effectively as part of a team, inspire others, and create meaningful change together.

4- Passion and Commitment: Your essay should reflect your genuine passion and commitment to making a difference. Admissions officers want to see that you are dedicated to your cause and have a long-term vision for creating positive change.

By understanding the prompt's interpretation, recognizing its importance, and aligning your response with what admissions officers are looking for, you will be better equipped to craft a compelling and impactful essay.

How to Begin Your Essay

Crafting a strong and engaging introduction is crucial to capturing the attention of the admissions officers. In this section, we will guide you through the process of starting your essay effectively by choosing a relevant topic, creating an outline, and writing a powerful introduction.

Choosing a Relevant Topic

When selecting a topic for your essay, consider experiences or initiatives that align closely with the prompt. Reflect on your involvement in activities that have made a significant impact on your school or community. Choose a topic that allows you to showcase your passion, leadership skills, and dedication to creating positive change.

Consider the following questions to help you narrow down your topic:

  • 1. What specific projects or initiatives have you been involved in that have made a difference in your school or community?
  • 2. Have you taken on leadership roles in clubs, organizations, or community groups?
  • 3. Are there any challenges or obstacles you have faced while trying to make a positive impact? How did you overcome them?
  • 4. Have you collaborated with others to address specific issues or bring about change?

By selecting a relevant topic that highlights your unique experiences and contributions, you will be able to craft a more compelling and authentic essay.

Creating an Outline

Before diving into writing the introduction, it is essential to create a clear and structured outline. An outline will serve as a roadmap for your essay, ensuring that your thoughts and ideas flow logically and cohesively.

Consider the following components when creating your outline:

1- Introduction: Include a captivating opening sentence or hook to grab the reader's attention and provide a brief overview of your topic and its significance.

2- Background: Provide context for your involvement in making your school or community a better place. Discuss the specific issue or need you identified and explain why it is important to you.

3- Actions and Initiatives: Detail the actions you took to address the issue or contribute to positive change. Be specific and provide examples of your involvement, such as organizing events, implementing programs, or advocating for a cause.

4- Impact and Results: Discuss the tangible impact of your actions and initiatives. Highlight the positive changes that occurred as a result of your efforts and provide evidence or testimonials if available.

5- Personal Growth: Reflect on how your experiences have influenced your personal growth and development. Discuss the skills, values, or lessons you have gained from your involvement and how they have shaped your character.

6- Future Goals: Connect your contributions to your future goals and aspirations. Explain how your experiences have inspired you to continue making a difference in college and beyond.

By creating a comprehensive outline, you will have a solid foundation for your essay, making it easier to write a strong and coherent introduction.

Writing a Strong Introduction

The introduction sets the tone for your essay and should captivate the reader's attention from the very beginning. Consider the following strategies to write a powerful introduction:

1- Start with a compelling hook: Begin your essay with an attention-grabbing statement, anecdote, or question that immediately engages the reader.

2- Provide context: Briefly explain the background and significance of your topic. Help the reader understand why your involvement in making your school or community a better place is important.

3- State your thesis statement: Clearly and concisely state the main point or purpose of your essay. This will guide your reader and provide a clear focus for your essay.

4- Preview the main points: Give a brief overview of the main points you will discuss in your essay. This will provide a roadmap for the reader and set their expectations for what is to come.

Remember to revise and refine your introduction as you progress with your essay. A strong and compelling introduction will hook the reader and make them eager to continue reading your essay.

How to Elaborate on Your Contributions

Once you have established a strong introduction, it's time to delve deeper into your contributions and showcase the impact you have made in your school or community. In this section, we will guide you on how to provide specific examples, discuss the impact of your actions, and connect your contributions to your personal growth.

Providing Specific Examples

To make your essay more compelling and authentic, it is essential to provide specific examples of your contributions. Avoid general statements and instead focus on highlighting tangible actions and initiatives you have undertaken. Consider the following tips:

1- Be specific: Provide details about the projects, events, or programs you have been involved in. Describe your role, responsibilities, and the specific tasks you undertook.

2- Include numbers and data: Quantify your impact whenever possible. For example, mention the number of people you reached, the funds you raised, or the measurable improvements you achieved.

3- Share personal anecdotes: Incorporate personal stories or experiences that illustrate the significance of your contributions. This will add depth and authenticity to your essay.

4- Highlight leadership roles: If you held leadership positions, emphasize the leadership skills you utilized and the impact you had on your team or community.

By providing specific examples, you will paint a vivid picture of your involvement and demonstrate the concrete steps you have taken to make a positive difference.

Discussing the Impact of Your Actions

In addition to describing your contributions, it is crucial to discuss the impact your actions have had on your school or community. Admissions officers want to understand the tangible results of your efforts. Potential look at the following points:

1- Describe the positive changes: Explain how your actions have improved the lives of individuals or the overall well-being of your school or community. Discuss any measurable outcomes or changes you have witnessed.

2- Include testimonials or feedback: If available, incorporate testimonials from individuals who have benefited from your contributions. This will lend credibility to your achievements and showcase the real impact you have made.

3- Address challenges or obstacles: Discuss any challenges you encountered during your initiatives and how you overcame them. Admissions officers appreciate resilience and problem-solving skills, so highlighting these aspects will strengthen your essay.

Connecting Your Actions to Your Personal Growth

Beyond the impact you have had on your school or community, it is important to reflect on how your experiences have contributed to your personal growth and development. Admissions officers want to see how your involvement has shaped your character and values. Consider the following suggestions:

1- Discuss skills and qualities developed: Reflect on the skills, qualities, or values you have cultivated through your contributions. Did you develop leadership, communication, or teamwork skills? How have these experiences influenced your perspective on community engagement?

2- Highlight lessons learned: Share any valuable lessons or insights you have gained from your involvement. Discuss how these experiences have expanded your knowledge, empathy, or understanding of social issues.

3- Showcase personal growth: Explain how your contributions have transformed you as an individual. Discuss how you have become more socially aware, responsible, or committed to creating positive change.

By connecting your actions to your personal growth, you demonstrate to the admissions officers that your contributions have not only impacted the community but have also shaped you into a more compassionate and socially conscious individual.

How to Conclude Your Essay

As you approach the conclusion of your essay, it's important to leave a lasting impression on the admissions officers. In this section, we will guide you on how to effectively conclude your essay by reiterating your impact, connecting your contributions to future goals, and leaving the readers with a memorable final thought.

Reiterating Your Impact

In the conclusion, you should summarize and reiterate the impact of your contributions. Remind the readers of the positive changes you have made in your school or community. Emphasize the significance of your actions and the lasting effects they have had.

Highlight key accomplishments. Recap the most significant achievements or milestones you have reached through your initiatives. Remind the readers of the magnitude of your impact.

Revisit the numbers. If you have quantifiable data or statistics, remind the readers of the numbers to reinforce the scale of your contributions.

Reinforce the impact by sharing a personal anecdote or testimonial that illustrates the positive changes you have witnessed. This will add a human element to your conclusion.

Connecting Your Contributions to Future Goals

In addition to highlighting your past accomplishments, it is important to connect your contributions to your future goals and aspirations. Admissions officers want to see that your commitment to making a positive impact will continue in college and beyond.

Establish continuity and explain how your experiences and the lessons learned will shape your future endeavors in college. Discuss how you plan to continue making a difference and contributing to the community. For extra points, if applicable, demonstrate how your contributions align with your intended field of study. Show how your involvement has influenced your academic and career goals.

Share your vision for creating positive change in the future. Discuss how you hope to address larger societal issues or make a lasting impact in your chosen field.

Leaving a Lasting Impression

Leave a memorable final thought- end with a powerful statement. Craft a closing sentence or paragraph that leaves a lasting impact on the readers. It could be a thought-provoking question, a memorable quote, or a call to action.

Maintain a positive tone and conclude your essay on an optimistic and hopeful note. Leave the readers with a sense of inspiration and motivation to make their own contributions.

Circle back to the themes or ideas introduced in your introduction. This will create a sense of cohesion and completeness in your essay. By reiterating your impact, connecting your contributions to future goals, and leaving a memorable final thought, you will conclude your essay on a strong note, leaving a lasting impression on the admissions officers.

Revise and Edit Your Essay

Once you have completed your initial draft, it's essential to take the time to revise and edit your essay. This section will guide you through the process of reviewing for clarity and consistency, seeking feedback, and finalizing your essay to ensure it is polished and ready to make a strong impression on the admissions committee.

Reviewing for Clarity and Consistency

During the revision process, focus on enhancing the clarity and coherence of your essay. Consider the following steps:

1- Check for logical flow: Ensure that your ideas and arguments flow smoothly from one paragraph to the next. Use transitional words and phrases to create a cohesive narrative.

2- Eliminate repetition: Remove any redundant information or repetitive statements. Streamline your essay to ensure that every sentence contributes to the overall message.

3- Clarify your language: Ensure that your ideas are expressed clearly and concisely. Avoid jargon or overly complex language that may confuse the reader.

4- Check for coherence: Ensure that each paragraph and section of your essay aligns with the overall theme and purpose. Remove any tangents or unrelated information.

Getting Feedback

Seeking feedback from others can provide valuable insights and perspectives on your essay:

1- Ask for input from teachers or mentors: Share your essay with trusted teachers or mentors who can provide constructive feedback on the content, structure, and overall effectiveness.

2- Seek peer review: Share your essay with peers who can provide fresh perspectives and identify areas for improvement. Consider joining a writing group or seeking feedback from classmates.

3- Utilize online resources: Take advantage of online writing communities or platforms where you can share your essay and receive feedback from a wider audience.

Finalizing Your Essay

After receiving feedback and making necessary revisions, it's time to finalize your essay:

1- Proofread for grammar and spelling: Carefully review your essay for any grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, or spelling errors. Use grammar-checking tools or enlist a proofreader to ensure accuracy.

2- Check formatting and word count: Ensure that your essay adheres to the required formatting guidelines and word count limits. Make any necessary adjustments to meet the requirements.

3- Read aloud: Read your essay aloud to identify any awkward phrasing, unclear sentences, or areas that need further revision. This will help you catch any lingering issues and improve the overall flow of your writing.

4- Take a break: Before submitting your essay, take a short break to gain some distance. Return to your essay with fresh eyes to make final adjustments or improvements.

By carefully revising, seeking feedback, and finalizing your essay, you will ensure that it is polished and ready to make a strong impact on the admissions committee. Remember to allocate ample time for this process to ensure that your essay is the best representation of your abilities and contributions.

Final Thoughts

The UC admissions essay is your canvas to paint a narrative of commitment, impact, and personal growth. This specific prompt seeks a genuine reflection of your contributions to the community. As we've discussed, understanding the prompt and delivering a heartfelt account of your actions is key. It's not just about the deeds but the drive and passion behind them. Authenticity remains paramount. As you finalize your essay, let your genuine voice shine through. This essay is a snapshot of your journey—make it resonate. Best of luck!

I hope you found this guide useful. Navigating campus life can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. Once you're accepted into college, hop onto MeetYourClass – your go-to platform to find roommates, friends, and your community. Connect with like-minded students, find your perfect roommate, and immerse yourself in campus culture. As you embark on your application journey, remember: your next chapter of friendships and experiences is just a click away. Best of luck, and we hope to see you soon on MeetYourClass!

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Keep reading, how to answer uc piq essay prompt 1: positive leadership.

Before College

14 min read  •  Sep 21, 2023

Blake Mischley

Blake Mischley

How To Answer UC PIQ Essay Prompt 5: Significant Challenge

9 min read  •  Sep 24, 2023

How To Answer UC PIQ Essay Prompt 6: Academic Inspiration

14 min read  •  Sep 24, 2023

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Making Your School a Better Place for Everyone

Your school is an important part of the community, and many people will spend a significant part of their lives there. Students, parents and faculty have a vested interest in their school, which is why it’s important that it’s made the best it can be.

Schools can face a number of challenges, from poor academic results to an unhealthy school environment that can leave students and teachers unhappy. Finding a way to overcome these challenges and create a more positive school environment is important for everyone involved, and can help boost the success of your school.

Ready to make some improvements and help you school become the best it can be? Here are some ideas as to how you can make your school a better place for everyone.

Start an Improvement Plan

To stand any chance of making some significant improvements to your school, you’re going to need to put a plan in place. This will require addressing where the problems lie and thinking about the different approaches you can take to help make those improvements a reality.  From finding ways of improving education to starting a new activity program to establish a more inclusive school environment, start thinking of ideas that you can implement to take your school forward.

Make Sure Your Staff Feel Confident and Competent

Having good teaching staff is vital for your school. When your faculty feel confident, respected and competent in their jobs, they’ll be able to deliver excellent education to students. Providing regular training can help teachers to sharpen their skills, while making sure that there are safety procedures in place that stop teachers feeling afraid or threatened in the classroom is also important in ensuring their happiness. Empower your staff by asking for their ideas and feedback and you’ll all be able to work together to bring improvements to your school.

Tackle Problems Among Your Students

Are bullying and inclusion problems an issue at your school? It’s time to tackle these problems so that you can make your students feel safe and happy when they go to school. Bullying comes in many forms, including cyberbullying, and it’s important that schools recognize where the problems are to help do something about it. There are different ways that schools can prevent bullying , so make sure you put a program in place to eradicate it for good.

With the mental health of children becoming an increasingly concerning topic in the news, it’s important that schools begin to recognize the signs of troubled students and help them get the help they need. Training staff to handle mental health topics is important, and having an open-door policy at your school could help students feel like they have a safe place to go to discuss any issues they might be facing.

It’s also important to realize when you don’t have the in-house expertise to manage an issue. This is true of mental health itself, which, while teachers need training in recognizing the signs, is a matter that should ultimately be passed on to affiliated therapy services that can offer proper treatment. Equally, many schools are finding it beneficial to partner with businesses that are backing charity initiatives and can provide the funding for additional equipment or services that schools struggle to manage on their own. 

As David Shulick explains, Whirlpool’s work in tackling disadvantaged absenteeism alongside Teach for America is a great example of this and has provided the financial backing necessary for many schools to provide much-needed clothes-washing facilities to underprivileged students. Similar initiatives can also help to tackle increasingly pressing issues that include food poverty, obesity, and mental health as mentioned. Schools simply need to do their research, consider the problems that are most impacting their children, and seek the partnerships that are most likely to lead to notable change.

Help Parents Feel More Involved

Parents are an important part of the school environment. It’s important that schools involve parents and families where possible to make everyone feel more clued up, as well as ensure that students’ best interests are at the heart of the school. You can bring systems into place that can boost communication between parents and teachers, with parent engagement tools making it easier to discuss development and any issues that might need addressing. Regular meetings between faculty and parents can help ease concerns and ensure development and education continues at home, while also making schools feel like a greater part of the community. Invest time in working with parents to help you implement a successful improvement program.

Learn to Be a Great Leader

Driving change requires a strong leader to see the transition through. Improving your leadership skills can take time, but if you’re willing to work at it, then you could cement your position within your school and become a leader that parents, teachers and students can trust and feel inspired by. A program of change can come with its challenges, but by being a motivational force and being open and honest throughout the process, you’ll stand a better chance of implementing these changes successfully.

Create a More Positive Workplace

All workplaces can go through a stage where employees feel negative or unmotivated by their work environment. Schools are no exception. By developing a team of staff who are happy in their roles, you can improve the education that’s offered, and stand a better chance of retaining your staff. Increasing job satisfaction of your team can help make sure that everyone’s on board when it comes to improving the school, and that staff work closer together to deliver results. Creating a more positive workplace can make your school a more desirable place to work, helping you attract the best talent to your team.

Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle

The health of teachers and your students is important. When people are more active and eat a better diet, they are more focused, and less likely to suffer from common health problems. By encouraging healthy eating at your school , you could help set students up with habits and knowledge that will be useful in later life. Overhauling your lunch program is one way you can begin this change.

Meanwhile, a focus on physical activity can also help make sure that students and teachers stay fit and healthy. Make physical activity an important part of the school day, and offer a variety of activities that students can get involved in – and not just in a competitive way.

Celebrate Your Achievements

Schools can face a lot of challenges and negativity, which is why it’s important to celebrate your achievements. From sporting successes to the individual achievements of your students, recognizing these positive achievements will help to motivate and make everyone take pride in their school. Different ways you can celebrate include recognizing them during an assembly, writing about them in a school newsletter, blog or website, etc. Celebrate your achievements and help everyone remember the amazing things your school is capable of.

Making improvements to your school is important for ensuring its future success. With a focus on making positive changes across multiple areas, you really can help to make your school a better place for everyone.

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[This article is part of a new series where we will be dissecting each of the UC essay prompts in depth, providing examples and tips on how you can make your application stand out.]

Click here to read yesterday’s post about UC Prompt #6.

Prompt #7: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

Struggling with writing your college application essay?

Read our Ultimate Guide to Stand Out College Essays to learn the tips and techniques on writing a winning essay and maximize your college admission chances!  

This prompt gives you an opportunity to show UCs the type of role you have in your current communities, and how you plan on carrying that to their campus communities.

But what exactly defines a community? This prompt is actually a lot broader than many might think, because the word “community” encompasses so many different groups. Every single student belongs in some sort of community, including but not limited to your:

Neighborhood

The list goes on! This would be the essay to talk about all those hours you spent volunteering at the library or that time you motivated your school to donate to a cause you care deeply about. An important thing to remember is that the experience or community doesn’t necessarily have to be a super unique and impressive opportunity. What matters is the individual contribution and impact you were able to make on this group. 

For example, UC admissions officers would rather see that you helped implement a summer reading program for kids at your local library than read about how you just filed papers at your senator’s office. In the same vein, focus on specificity rather than being broad about your contributions.

Moreover, I think it’s important to also explain how your impact on this community affected you . What did you learn from the experience, and how will you apply that to the future? Admissions officers are trying to figure out how your past experiences will translate into future contributions to their campus community.

Here’s how you might structure this essay:

Describe your community and how it was like before you stepped into it

Explain your thought process in determining the necessary impact that you wanted to make

Detail the steps you took to implement the specific impact you made

Reflect on how the experience affected or changed you

Think about how you might bring the lessons you learned from this experience to college or the future

7EDU has helped hundreds of students connect their experiences to a compelling story. Get started early with a free consultation with our experts.

If you found this article helpful, check out the rest of our deconstructed UC Prompts below:

UC Essay Prompts Explained Writing UC Prompt 1 Tips: Leadership Experience Writing UC Prompt 2 Tips: Your Creative Side Writing UC Prompt 3 Tips:  Greatest Talent Writing UC Prompt 4 Tips:  Educational Experiences Writing UC Prompt 5 Tips:  Significant Challenge Writing UC Prompt 6 Tips:  Favorite Subject Writing UC Prompt 7 Tips:  Improving your Community Writing UC Prompt 8 Tips:  How do you Stand Out?

essay on how to make your school a better place

The UC essay prompt 7 requires the applicant to write about their positive contributions to their community or school. If you’re attending a high school, you probably already met this requirement though through your community service requirements.

If you attend a school that does not require community service to graduate, you’ll have to pick another topic then. If you’re not sure about what topic to choose, feel free to ask us for help by signing up for a consultation below!

If not, let’s get right to it.

Table of Contents

  • Writing About Community Service.
  • Avoid Common Writing.
  • Show Don’t Tell.
  • How Did You Help Your Community?
  • What Does This Say About Your Character?

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“What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place — like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community? Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community?” University of California Website

Before we get to a list of advice on how to approach the UC essay prompt 7, we thought it would be useful for you to know this: Personal Insight Question Freshman Guide . This is an official guide by the University of California themselves, so be sure to give that a good read!

Alright, here’s how to write the UC essay prompt 7!

How To Write The UC Essay Prompt 7

1. writing your college essay about community service.

essay on how to make your school a better place

This is probably one of the only times in the admissions process when talking about community service hours is NOT cliché. The only reason we say this is because most people tend to have such special experiences about their community service hours that they become unique anyway.

So remember: it’s about how your story was interesting and fulfilling.

2. Avoid “Common” Writing

essay on how to make your school a better place

Alright. Try this exercise right now. Imagine a college applicant getting back from a depressive nap and a few rounds of scrolling through Twitter and Instagram. They’ve just avoided writing their college essay until the last minute. When they start writing, what do you see?

“I volunteered at a pet shelter.” “It feels good to give back.” “The greatest reward is helping others.”

You’re probably going to be able to hear that in your head. Don’t do that. Don’t write the words above. You can do this easily just by imagining what everyone else will probably sound like and avoiding that.

3. Show Don’t Tell

essay on how to make your school a better place

Yeah yeah, show don’t tell is common knowledge. But, do you know how to actually do it?

Show and tell is a bit like cooking a steak perfectly: the directions are simple but mastering it is quite the headache. We’ll show you how it works.

  • Write the idea you want to convey in literal terms first .
  • Underline said literal terms .
  • Change the terms to suggestive explanations that hint toward the desired conclusion.

So, why both with 1 and 2? It’s mostly just for organizational purposes. We’ve found that students who “told” before “showing” achieved better results.

Now, here’s a secret recipe. It’s called imagination. No, not your imagination, but the reader’s imagination. You must rely on the reader being smart enough to deduce what you mean through your hints and their imagination –and come on, they’re college admissions officers. Of course, they are!

Here’s an example:

  • I’m considerate and compassionate of the things that matter and will do what it takes to achieve my desires  
  • I’m considerate and compassionate of the things that matter and will do what it takes to achieve my desires
  • It bugged me that despite the many renovations in pointless new architecture and gentrified city constructs, our city never bothered to replace the already dying verdure. It left the city lacking in beauty; we yearned for the old town we used to have. So, we set out to bringing back the old traditions.

4. “How” Did You Help Your School Or Community

essay on how to make your school a better place

This one is simple, but it’s important. Don’t forget!

You have to make sure you actually answered the question. Remember, the UC essay prompt 7 specifically asked how you made your school or community a better place, so you’ll have to have a focus on the “how”.

Contributed to the community animal shelter? Helped serve food for the homeless in the greater Los Angeles Area? Helped struggling students get back on track? These are all actions and events, but they don’t HOW you’ve made your school or community better. We know that a reader should be able to deduce the “how” regardless, but college admissions officers still expect you to describe the “how” in full detail.

We find that this one and the next one, “what does this say about your character” tend to be the most difficult aspects of the UC essay prompt 7. If you think that’s the case for you too, you may want to consider UC admissions essay help and reviewing through our free consultation.

5. What Does This Say About Your Character?

essay on how to make your school a better place

This tends to be the most difficult concept to implement. Fortunately for you, this is also the most effective way to resonate with the UC admissions committee.

When proofreading your UC admissions essay, think to yourself, “what does this reveal about me?” If the words that come to mind are something that you’d see on a stereotypical tinder profile about “being a nice guy” and “being chill”, your essay probably hasn’t fully developed a good character trait yet.

You want the admissions officer’s overall impression of you to resonate with an implied character trait you exhibit in your essay.

For example, the UC schools know that there are a lot of students who help the needy or help repaint the local church. Your experience is unique to YOU though and your personality comes forth from taking on these tasks. One applicant may be a leader and a coordinator in terms of helping the community because their collaborative skills make them a great person to follow. Another applicant may realize they have a strong sense of empathy and compassion for other people and is, therefore, a reliable and forthright person.

6. UC Essay Prompt 7 Sample Outline

The best way to structure the essay for the UC essay prompt 7 is to look at things from a bird’s eye view.

That means you’re going to have to zone in on specifics if you want to write something that gets you accepted. It’ll also help you meet those points we mentioned earlier such as “show don’t tell” and “showing your character”

Below we’ve provided an outline for how you would want to format your essay.

Note: it doesn’t have to adhere strictly to our format. This is only one of many examples of how to structure your essay properly.

  • Hooks: You need one. Don’t know how to make one? In short, the formula we recommend is something like, “take the climax of your string of events and make it vague enough for readers to be curious.” You can find out more in our introductions guide . (1 very short paragraph)
  • Imagery and descriptions: Talk about the project you undertook that made the school or community a better place. You can leave out extraneous information but remember to stick to the main meat of the story. There’s something unique about your story that you want to tell the admissions officers. Make sure that this section is dedicated to stronger imagery and description. (About 1-2 paragraphs)
  • Cool Down + Reflect: This is the last part of your essay and the part where you need to ease down on the imagery and descriptive writing. This is more reflective and meditative of the events in #2 and should focus on answering the prompt. How did you make the school or community a better place and what does it say about how you’re unique compared to the rest who also contributed to society? Oh, and don’t forget the unspoken rule of storytelling in college admissions: you have to show that you changed over time or will change and apply new knowledge to the future. (1 paragraph)

Are you still struggling to come up with what to write? Already finished with the UC essay prompt 7 but just need feedback? We’re here to help! When you schedule a free consultation with us, we’ll look at your essays and give some constructive criticism on how to improve them!

2 thoughts on “The Ultimate Guide to the UC Essay Prompt 7”

Hi! I’ve been told that PIQs are supposed to “get to the point” without all the fluf and extra stuff that comes along with a hook. Thoughts?

Hi Lark! That’s a good question.

The PIQs are brutally short. Most applicants struggle fitting any sort of color into their essays and intros because of the severe limitations. The problem with this is that it’s not unusual for students to write curtly in response. This can give the essay much less impact. What I would suggest is to “get to the point” just enough that the readers know what you’re going on about without knowing the full story.

Remember: the hook should be interesting and compelling enough to reel readers in. You’re right that you shouldn’t have any “fluff”, but don’t make it dull either!

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Five Steps for Building a Better School

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I am convinced that the foundation of a good education is about the concept of building—building a school, building a community, building relationships, and building a sense of self. School works for many students to provide a pathway into the future. It offers a foundation of rich experiences that inspire and form the basis of students’ life stories. Education and schools, however, can never be fully responsible for the outcomes that our students achieve. We cannot blame schools and teachers for the very complex mix of factors that result in any one person’s success in life.

I’ve been thinking recently about how we can alter the school experience for students and staff to better meet the needs of our learning communities. Some of the very structures and experiences that harken back to an earlier era in education may in fact be part of the future of teaching and learning. While it may be counterintuitive in our sophisticated high-tech world, building, manipulating, and creating inside the physical spaces of our school environment are essential in future learning.

Some of the very structures and experiences that harken back to an earlier era in education may in fact be part of the future of teaching and learning."

So what is in store for students, teachers, administrators, policymakers, and the taxpaying public that supports public education in the decades ahead? I suggest five steps for how school learning communities must move forward to build a better school.

1) Create a culture and environment that attends to the authentic learning experiences of the students.

There are many ways to engage students and teachers in authentic learning experiences. Tending a garden offers students a chance to shape their environment and participate in the natural transformation of seed to plant. Putting on a theater production shapes their experience of others, turning the audience into an integral part of learning. Students might create a gallery or museum display in a real process of honoring history and art. They might build a robot, which encompasses a wide range of design and scientific principles. The list of possibilities for school communities to come together and build something is as universal as it is unlimited.

2) Focus on building community; it matters more than raising test scores.

Our students face a growing list of pressures both real and imagined. School boards and superintendents, in particular, should take note of mental-health and substance-abuse issues and concerns. These are reaching crisis levels across the country. Students of all ages need a compelling experience that engages them in their respective learning communities. Sorting students by test scores will never answer the call for safer and healthier learning communities. Establishing deep and abiding personal relationships and building a sense of community will, and it’s urgently needed.

3) Reshape schools; don’t seek to reform them.

I believe that we can honor the place where we work—be it rural or urban, on the shoreline or in a desert—each with its own unique characteristics and endless possibilities. The beauty of creating an authentic and purposeful education for all students is a universal goal that crosses district lines and income divisions. We can enhance our school environments, and in doing so, enhance each other, our community, and ultimately, ourselves. We can build and be committed to the process of continuously rebuilding our mission and our school.

4) Engage stakeholders in re-envisioning the schoolhouse.

If the future is ever more unpredictable, then is keeping things basically the same still an option? Whether it is the students, teachers, policymakers, or families in any learning community, we must look at which tools we keep and which tools we should discard to help us build our schools. Ultimately, whenever we are faced with the challenge of engaging our students in the process of learning, we are building their skills, building a sense of community, and helping each student to build a sense of self.

Schools of the future may require a new vision for how they are structured, built, and financed. Let us not forget that no matter how schools are set up, it is the relationship between child and adult that stands at its center. From that center, we can work together to impart lessons, build understanding, and build capacity.

5) Don’t see school improvement as a technological fix.

We can have Smart Boards in every room but fail to update the pedagogy used 30 years ago. This is not a criticism of how we engaged our students in the past. In fact, I would argue that a way to engage students that is more than 2,400 years old still applies—even more so today. I am referring, of course, to the Socratic method.

Too often, we ask students to learn something as a way to develop a skill or possess knowledge that can be applied later on in life without explaining when they will need that skill.

Let’s make the process of learning and what takes place in school so compelling that it cannot be replaced by an algorithm. Let us ensure that our students continue to be great problem-solvers, fearless learners, courageous citizens, and creative thinkers who contribute greatly to the world around them.

If students become engaged in solving real-world problems, then wouldn’t they be better prepared to build their future? If they had permission to alter the physical space in their school, wouldn’t they alter their view of school in the process? I believe that with each passing generation, we inherit a space, with a covenant to uphold the values and principles of those who have come before us. We have an opportunity to build on their contributions while we forge our own. Is it not true that at all times we stand on the shoulders of others? Let us work together to build on the opportunity that has been given to us.

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18 UC Berkeley Essay Examples that Worked (2023)

UC Berkeley Essay Examples

If you want to get into the University of California, Berkeley in 2022, you need to write strong Personal Insight Question essays.

In this article I've gathered 18 of the best University of California essays that worked in recent years for you to learn from and get inspired.

What is UC Berkeley's Acceptance Rate?

UC Berkeley is one of the top public universities and therefore highly competitive to get admitted into.

This past year 112,854 students applied to Berkeley and only 16,412 got accepted. Which gives UC Berkeley an overall admit rate of 14.5%.

And as of 2022, the University of California no longer uses your SAT and ACT when deciding which students to admit.

UC Berkeley Acceptance Scattergram

This means that your Personal Insight Questions are even more important to stand out in the admissions process. That is, your essays are more heavily weighed.

If you're trying to get accepted to UC Berkeley, here are 18 of the best examples of Personal Insight Questions that got into Berkeley.

What are the UC Personal Insight Question Prompts for 2022-23?

The Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) are a set of eight questions asked by the UC application, of which students must answer four of those questions in 350 words or less.

Here are the Personal Insight Question prompts for this year:

  • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
  • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

18 UC Berkeley Personal Insight Question Examples

Here are the 18 best Berkeley essays that worked for each Personal Insight Question prompt #1-8.

If you're also applying to UCLA, check out more unique UCLA essays from admitted students.

UC Berkeley Example Essay #1

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UC PIQ #1: Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. (350 words max)

From an early age I became a translator for my mother anytime we went out in public. This experience forced me to have conversations with adults from a young age. It made me become a great communicator, while helping my parents overcome their language barrier.

Being a communicator has allowed me to lead. When I joined my school’s National Honor Society I was given the opportunity to lead. Applying the skills I used from being my mother’s translator I was able to do what no one else could, make the calls and start the club’s most successful event to date an annual Food Drive at a local Albertson’s, which collects over one ton of food every November. Also developing events like an egg hunt at the local elementary school, a goods drive for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and stabilizing a volunteer partnership with a local park. I have been able to grow as a leader, who actively communicates and brings parties together, planning events and having them run smoothly with minor issues. For instance, last year there was an issue with the homeless shelter not picking up the food for the food drive. In a spur of the moment solution I managed for club member’s parents to collectively deliver the food. My ability to communicate benefited me allowing me to find a solution to an unanticipated problem.

Throughout the four years I have been in journalism I have led; mentoring younger writers and improving the way the paper operates. Staying after hours, skyping with writers about their articles all helped establish my role as a leader, who is always supporting his team. I have done this while writing over 100 articles, editing tons of pages, and managing deadlines. I learned that while being a leader requires effort, it is the passion like I have for journalism that motivates me to lead in my community.

Being a leader so far in my life has taught me that I need to communicate, be passionate, and pass on my knowledge helping cultivate future leaders, who can expand and supersede my work.

UC PIQ #2: Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. (350 words max)

Video games have cultivated my creative thought process. When I was a toddler I invented a game I would play with my brothers. It was nothing along the lines of Hide-and-Seek or Tag, but rather, it was meant to mimic a role-playing video game. It was called "Guy" and came with its own story, leveling system, and narrative story. While seemingly impossible to translate the mechanics of a video game into real life, the "Guy" trilogy provided hundreds of hours of fun to pass hot summer days and escape the harsh reality of our parents arguing and eventual divorce.

This thought process translated into my educational career. have always thought of a tough class or test as a video game. This mostly due to my excessive amounts of video games I played as a child through middle school (especially 7th grade). Each year comes bigger and "stronger" challenges, bigger and stronger bosses to defeat. My senior year will have me face the most powerful boss yet; full AP course load on top of heavy club involvement and community college classes.

Many thought of this "secret boss" as an impossible challenge; something that could never be beaten. No one from my school has ever attempted to take on such a challenge, let alone defeat it. That is probably what excites me about it. In a game, messing around with lower level enemies is fun for a while, but gets boring when it is too easy. The thought of a challenge so great and difficult makes the victory even more rewarding. Stormy skies, heavy rain, and epic boss battle music; I'll take that over a peaceful village any day. In the future, I seek to use this thinking to drive research. I think of abstract physics concepts like secret door and levels that need to be proven true or just a myth in the game. One day, I can make my own discovery of a secret "cheat code' that can help everyone who plays a little game called life.

UC PIQ #3: What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? (350 words max)

I’ve always hated the feeling of clammy hands, the needless overflow of adrenaline rushing through my veins, and the piercing eyes that can see through my façade—the eyes that judge me. I felt like this debilitating anxiety that I suffered through was something I could not avoid when doing the thing I was most afraid of—public speaking. I still felt every sweat droplet run down my skin before each speech, and this anguish never completely dissipated. Fortunately, I learned to moderate my fear in high school when I decided to join the speech and debate program. My anxiety has slowly faded in intensity as I’ve gained certitude and poise with every tournament, and every chance I’m given to speak on behalf of others; this talent has allowed me to be a voice for the voiceless.

Out of all the national tournaments that I’ve competed in, the MLK invitational holds a distinct place in my heart. It was my first invitational tournament in which I competed exclusively in Lincoln Douglas debate. I only had two weeks to prepare myself since it was finals week, while my competitors had upwards of two months to prepare. I was fortunate to break into the final round, as my years of experience helped me to articulate and explain my few arguments more effectively, while also refuting my opponent’s.

I realized that the extent of one’s knowledge is useless if it cannot be made known in a way that is clear to others. I learned that preparation is necessary, but one can be so focused on what they are going to say that they don’t hear the arguments presented. I kept an open and ready mind for various claims and strategies which left me free to adapt to the opponent’s argumentative style each round. This ability to think on my feet has served me well in countless debates, speeches, and presentations. I continuously use these skills to become a better and more active listener in my daily interactions as well.

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My greatest skill is my ability to remember things really well, whether they be minute details or important information that should not be forgotten. Over time, I’ve had a knack for remembering details most people would not even bother to remember, such as old test scores, atomic masses, and other details involving numbers. My friends have always marveled at my ability to remember all these numbers. When I was in chemistry class, we used the periodic table so much that I soon began to remember the atomic mass of the more common elements, and even the molecular mass of common compounds like glucose or water. One of my best friends, who is undoubtedly the smartest person in our class, even finds it crazy that I can remember all these numbers and always tells me that my memory of numbers is amazing. I also used my memory to learn and remember how to solve the Rubik's cube, which amazes my friends, as they find it to be complex with many different, possible combinations.

This skill that I have developed, however, isn’t completely under my control, as sometimes I just remember random and irrelevant facts without really trying to do so. I recall one weekend when my eight-year-old cousin was attempting to memorize the digits of pi: I remembered them along with him, learning up to forty digits in just one day. The skill is seemingly natural and not something I have worked hard to develop, as I may be able to use my memory to my advantage, or it can be a disadvantage. It helps when I have multiple tests in one day, or a test with many questions where I have to remember a lot of information, such as finals. Sometimes, however, it is a disadvantage when I remember information during a test that is not relevant to the topic, such as random dates, names, or song lyrics, to name a few. This skill is very important to nonetheless, as it has assisted me all throughout my life in many tests and challenges involving memory.

UC PIQ #4: Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. (350 words max)

At 10:30 pm on a hot, summer, Wednesday night, you would expect my friends and me to be having the time of our lives and going out on crazy high school adventures— but instead, we were actually stuck in a chemistry laboratory trying to map out the Lewis structure of sulfuric acid.

Over the summer of my sophomore year, my friends and I enrolled into ‘Introduction to Chemistry’, an evening course at our local community college. As a six-week summer course, I spent two hours in lecture, two hours in the laboratory, and another two hours studying on my own for four days a week for six weeks. It was evident that I struggled with adjusting to the pace of college when I received 19% on a quiz. I felt left behind, exhausted, and overall pathetic. No matter how many hours I spent studying, I couldn’t keep up. But instead of giving up, I picked up certain strategies like reading the material the night before, rewriting my notes, and joining a study group; eventually working my way up to a B.

At the end of that summer, I learned so much more than just chemistry. On top of having the raw experience of what college is like, my chemistry experience taught me that it is okay to fail. I discovered that failure is an essential part of learning. Coming to this realization inspired me to take more college courses and rigorous courses in high school. I transformed into a hungry learner, eager to fail, learn, and improve. By seizing the opportunity to take this course, I pushed myself beyond my limits. This experience and realization changed how I wanted to pursue the rest of high school, college, and life in general.

I walked into my first day of the chemistry class expecting to walk out with an A; but thankfully, I didn’t. Instead, I walked out of that class with a taste of the college experience and a principle that I now live by-- that it is okay to fail, as long as you get back up.

The relationship I cultivated with my school's college center, by simply being inquisitive, has been most significant. Over my years in high school the college center became my 2nd home, where I learned about extra opportunities and triumphed with help from counselors.

For instance, with help from my school’s college center I applied and was accepted as an LAUSD Superintendent Summer Scholar this past summer. The program selected 15 juniors out of over 450 applicants to work in one of 15 departments, and I was chosen to work for the communications department, which received over 70 applications – making me 1 of 70. Interning for LAUSD at their 29 floor high rise was very eye-opening and exposed me to working in communications alongside seasoned professionals. The opportunity gave me the chance to meet the Superintendent and school board members, who are politically in charge of my education. As part of the communications department I learned how the district operates a network of over 1,300 schools and saw how the 2nd largest school district shares info with stakeholders through universal press releases, phone calls, and the district homepage.

I wrote several articles for the district publication and worked with public information officers who taught me the principles of professionalism and how to communicate to over 1 million people. Recently, I was called from the district to become a part of their Media Advisory Council working alongside district heads, representing the students of LAUSD.

Working for LAUSD furthered my passion to pursue careers in both communication and education. I have always had a desire to be a journalist and the internship assured me of that. I want to write stories bringing student issues from areas like mine to light. Being exposed to the movers and shakers that control education in Los Angeles has heavily motivated me to become an educator and at some point become a school board member influencing the education students like me receive.

Support from the college center has spawned opportunities like a life-changing internship and set me on course for a future full of opportunity.

“Give me liberty, or give me death!”, I proudly exclaimed, finishing up a speech during my first Individual Event competition for Speech and Debate, also known as Forensics Workshop. Public speaking was always one of my shortcomings. During countless in-class presentations, I suffered from stage-fright and anxiety, and my voice always turned nervous and silent. I saw Speech and Debate as a solution to this barrier that hindered my ability to teach and learn. With excessive practice, I passed the tryout and found myself in the zero-period class. All of my teammates, however, joined because they loved chattering and arguing. I had the opposite reason: I despised public speaking.

I was definitely one of the least competitive members of the team, probably because I didn’t take the tournaments very seriously and mainly worried about being a better speaker for the future. Throughout the daily class, I engaged in impromptu competitions, speech interpretations, spontaneous arguments, etc... Throughout my two years on the team, my communication, reciting, writing, and arguing skills overall improved through participation in events such as Impromptu, Original Oratory, Oratorical Interpretation, Lincoln Douglas Debate, and Congress. I even achieved a Certificate of Excellence in my first competition for Oratorical Interpretation -- where we had to recite a historical or current speech -- for Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death.”

I decided to quit Speech and Debate because I felt as if it has completed its purpose. After this educational experience, my communications skilled soared, so I could perform better in school, especially on essays and presentations. Leaving this activity after two years gave me more time to focus on other activities, and apply communications skills to them. In fact, I even did better in interviews (which is how I got into the Torrance Youth Development Program) and even obtained leadership positions in clubs such as Math Club and Science Olympiad Through my two years in Speech and Debate, I believe I became a much better thinker, speaker, and leader. Taking advantage of this opportunity boosted my self-esteem and overall made high school a better experience.

UC PIQ #5: Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? (350 words max)

Although many would say that hardships are the greatest hindrance on a person, my hardships are my greatest assets. The hardships I have overcome are what push and drive me forward. If I had not gone through the failures of my 7th grade year I may have been satisfied as a B or C student. It is easy for us to use our hardships as excuses for not doing work, however, this is a mistake that many people make.

Through my struggles and failure, I have realized an important truth: I am not special. The world will continue to go on and expect me to contribute no matter what I have gone through. Everyone endures some type of obstacle in their life; what makes people different is how they handle them. Some sit around and cry "boo-hoo" waiting for people to feel sorry for them. Others actually take action to improve their situation.

Through hard work, I have been able to outperform my peers, yet I know there is still room for improvement. The thought of actual geniuses in top universities excited me; I long to learn from them and eventually surpass them, or perhaps enter a never ending race for knowledge with them. I used to live an hour away from school. I would have to wake up and be dropped off at a donut shop at 4 in the morning and then walk to school at 6:30 am. After school, I would have to walk to the public library and stay for as long as it was open then wait outside and get picked up around 9:30 pm. I am reluctant to retell this story; not because I am ashamed, but because it is not important. It doesn't matter what hardships I have endured, they do not determine who I am. What matters is what I have done.

At the start of high school, I saw nothing but success. From grades to extracurricular activities, everything seemed to be going smoothly. However, as my sophomore year progressed, this wave of success was soon swamped by a wave of disillusionment. I struggled to perform in Calculus and as a Vice-President, but instead of looking for a solution, I looked for excuses. Ultimately, when I was forced to face my two F’s and my lost elections, the world came crashing down. The vision I had meticulously planned out for the future seemed to shatter before my eyes. My self-confidence plummeted to an all-time low. I thought my life was over.

However, my response to this failure was what would ultimately determine the direction my life would take. In the end, I made the right choice: instead of continuing to blind myself with a false narrative that cast all the blame off my own shoulders, I admitted to my own shortcomings and used this experience as a lesson to grow from.

In doing so, I learned to focus on the aspects of my life that I was truly passionate about instead of spreading myself too thin. I learned to face challenges head-on instead cowering at the first sign of difficulty, even if it meant asking others for help. I learned to accept and utilize my own differences to create my own unique leadership style. Most importantly, rather than letting this mistake define me, I ignited a sense of determination that would guide me back on the right path no matter how many obstacles I encounter.

Looking back, this tragic mistake was a double-edged sword. While it definitely leaves a stain on my record, it is also likely that I wouldn’t have been able to find the same success a year later without the lessons I gained from this experience. At the end of the day, while I still grimace every time I contemplate my sophomore year, I understand now that this mistake is what has allowed me to develop into the person I am today.

Throughout my childhood, I grew up in a nine-person household where the channels of our TV never left the Filipino drama station and the air always smelled of Filipino food. But the moment I left home, I would go to a typical suburban elementary school as an average American kid at the playground. I grew up in a unique position which I both love and hate: being a second-generation Filipino American.

I love being a second-generation immigrant. I have the best of both worlds. But I also hate it. It chains me to this ongoing struggle of living under the high expectations of immigrant parents. How could I hate the part of me that I loved the most?

Growing up, I lived under the constant academic stress that my parents placed on me. Their expectations were through the roof, demanding that I only bring home A’s on my report card. My entire academic career was based on my parent’s expectations. Their eyes beat down on every test score I received. I loved them so much, but I could only handle so much. The stress ate me alive, but I silently continued to work hard.

Living under this stress is the biggest ongoing challenge of my life thus far. Until last year, I never understood why my parents expected so much from me. Finally being old enough to understand my parent’s point of view, I realize that they set these high expectations in the hopes that one day, all of the pain and struggles it took to get to America will pay off. Since then, I’ve overcome the high expectations of my parents by converting their pressure into a fireball of ambition and motivation, deeply ingrained in my mentality.

This intense desire to succeed in America as a second-generation immigrant is something that has and always will fuel my academic drive. As the first person in my family to go to college in America, I’ve made it my life aspiration to succeed in academics in the honor of my family-- a decision made by me.

UC PIQ #6: Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. (350 words max)

Understanding the past helps us make better choices in today’s society. History provides us with the views of people and politics, the ethnic origin of people, and much more. At the base of all history, there is an intensive culmination of research which hopes to address or bring light to a story.

My passion for history began while digging deep into own family’s story, researching the history of Latin America, and the origins of the city I was raised in.

For example, when I first saw my favorite show Avatar The Last Airbender, I spent hours researching the mythology of the show which in the process made me learn about the philosophy of China: daoism, Confucius, and the mandate of heaven. Anything can be put within a historical framework to understand the context; every decision, tv show, and law has a history and that is exactly what I love. History forces us to take into account the voices of the past before we can attempt to plan for the future.

History has helped me become a more effective writer for the school paper. It has made me think like a attorney, revisiting old cases, and writing up a winning argument in a mock trial. Thinking like a historian has helped me make sense of the current political climate and motivated me to help start Students For Liberty, at my school’s campus where political ideologies are shared respectfully.

Learning, about history drives my inquisitive nature — I demonstrated this desire by volunteering at a local museum to learn more about the origins of my community in Carson. Ultimately, learning about the Dominguez family who established the Harbor Area of LA.

In terms of academics and performance, I have passed both of my history AP exams in World and U.S. history — being the 2nd person in my school’s history to do so. Studying history in highschool has nurtured my love for social science, which I hope to continue in college and throughout my life.

Ever since I was little, I have possessed a unique fascination for nature and the way it interacts with itself. As I sat in the prickly seats of old tour buses and the bilingual tour guide has silenced himself for the dozens of passengers that have closed their curtains and fallen into deep slumber, I would keep my eyes glued to the window, waiting to catch a glimpse of wild animals and admiring the beautiful scenery that mother nature had pieced together. At Outdoor Science Camp, while most of my friends were fixated on socializing and games, I was obsessed with finding every organism in the book. Nothing else caught my attention quite like ecology.

As high school dragged on and the relentless responsibilities, assignments, and tests washed away the thrill of learning, ecology was one interest that withstood the turmoil. At the end of a draining day, I would always enjoy relaxing to articles detailing newly discovered species or relationships between species.

This past summer, I was able to further this interest when a unique opportunity to volunteer abroad caught my eye. Flying over to the beautiful tropical shorelines of the Dominican Republic, I was able to dive into the frontlines of the battle against climate change, dwindling populations, and habitat destruction brought about by mankind, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

While everyone was obviously ecstatic about snorkeling in the crystal blue waters, only I was able to retain that same excitement about trekking through knee thick mud and mosquito infested forests to replant mangrove trees. While tracking animal populations, my heart leaped at the sight of every new species that swam right in front of my eyes. Even when it came to the dirty work of building structures to rebuild coral and picking up trash along the beach, I always found myself leading the pack, eager to start and do the most.

From this experience, I realized that pursuing the field of ecology was what I could picture myself doing far into the future, and this was how I was going to impact the world.

UC PIQ #7: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? (350 words max)

Originally I saw volunteer work as a nuisance. I felt that it was an unnecessary "requirement" for college. I felt that someone decided to do volunteer work while in high school and now it has become the norm and is essentially required for college. Once I began to get involved, however, I found a true appreciation for the work I was doing.

I loved helping people and, as always, wanted to challenge myself. I worked at the Bellflower Volunteer center and tutored kids every day available, as well as helping out with large special events put on by the city. I then joined Key Club and made it my mission to attend every single event no matter what; even going to the lengths to walk for 4 hours starting at 5 in the morning (it was still dark outside) for a 2-hour beach clean up. I then became Service Event Coordinator and also made it my mission to have an event every week, while attending all of them, while still working at the Volunteer Center. I also started a tutoring program in math at my school as I really enjoy helping my peers academically.

It always warmed my heart to see fellow ninjas( our division mascot) at events I had planned, friends and neighbors at Bellflower events, and CSF members at tutoring.I am always willing to help people with anything. If someone needs my help I will stop whatever I am doing to help in any way that I can. Lending a helping hand is an important part of our society; however, a helping hand cannot do anything if the other hand does not reach for it as well. We need to be able to help ourselves first before others can help us. I tried to create a community where I could help people, but also people could help themselves so that there is no reason for anyone to not be able to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Throughout my childhood, the phrases “get good grades” and “make money” constantly harassed my every waking moment. Life seemed pointless, a never-ending cycle of trying to make more money to create artificial happiness. However, through partaking in my middle school’s ASB, I discovered my love for helping others, and I realized that I wanted to make my life about changing the world and leaving behind a better future for the generations to come.

In an attempt to live up to this philosophy, I have performed hundreds of hours of community service. From volunteering at a senior home to distributing food to the homeless, there is no doubt that I have made a substantial impact on those around me.

Despite all this, my most significant contributions are the ones that take place every day and are often undocumented. Picking up trash, staying long after my job is complete to help other groups, or even saying, “Thank you. Have a nice day,” to anyone who has provided a service for me are just a few examples. While they seem insignificant, these small actions add up.

However, above all, my biggest contribution is building meaningful connections with the people around me and making sure they realize how special and important they are to me and everyone else. In nurturing those who are less experienced, assisting those who are struggling with their emotions or their studies, and inspiring those who have untapped potential, I am not merely applying a band-aid on a wound, but elevating a whole community around me to tackle and prevent ailments the next decades will bring.

Years from now, I will likely have forgotten about my modest academic achievements. However, the memories of seeing someone I had mentored blossom into a strong leader and the smiles and laughter of someone I’ve helped battle through depression will forever be ingrained in my mind.

Serving food at school carnivals, embellishing the local marsh, tutoring students after school, and discharging patients at my local hospital were some of the ways I actively supported my city. However, a distinct way of being engaged in my community involved being selected for the Youth Development Program last summer. This organization works with the Torrance Refinery and selects thirty out of hundreds of applicants. The first week of this program involved activities that trained students for college and eventually their careers by making them adept in communication, leadership, and teamwork skills. For the next four weeks, students were assigned a specific job around the City of Torrance and Torrance Unified School District (TUSD).

I was placed in the TUSD Information Technology Department, along with six other students, and we essentially helped deal with technology-based issues around the district. Even though my professional desire incorporates biology and chemistry, I had a compelling interest and math and technology. I gave back to my community by utilizing the technological skills I gained at work. My colleagues and I traveled daily to several schools around the district and assisted in technological advancements: testing network ports and preparing schools for newer phones, imaging and updating new laptops and desktops, and arranging and setting up new computer labs and Chrome book carts.

Today, many people globally use technological and visual aids to assist their education. My summer job also allowed me to make a difference in the education of others. With the faster internet, newer telephones and computers, teachers could instruct more efficiently and students can be educated more effectively, thus improving their academic performance in the future. This program helped me a lot by boosting my teamwork and leadership skills, which will be extremely valuable as I will be pursuing many president/vice-president positions in my senior year. However, this program has allowed me to make a stronger impact on other people rather than myself; I feel delighted that my work in summer will be beneficial to twenty-thousand students across Torrance.

UC PIQ #8: Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? (350 words max)

In 2011, I started at a newly built school spanning sixth to twelfth grade. The school’s inception was not the greatest with gang culture and issues plaguing the school and nearby community. From this moment I knew wanted to make a change, improving the school and local community.

For example, two years ago a bicyclist was crushed by a container truck across the street from my school, several peers of mine and I advocated for a bike lane to get installed on the street to protect cyclists from the busy traffic. I worked day and night for three weeks using my connection with the city’s public works director to meet with city officials and make a change. I looked for solutions and ways to improve my community and lead the charge to better our street. When we met with city officials they agreed and ultimately approved our bike lane proposal. This civic action started with a group of three concerned high school students, in which I helped facilitate the conversations resulting into a bike lane project, that will be built the summer of 2018 after I graduate high school. Ultimately helping solve an issue in my community.

Using my influence as part of the Associated Student Body I advocated for a new medical academy on my school’s campus to address the growing interest in medicine and health careers of many students at my school. While I am not personally interested in a health related field, I recognized that many students at my school did and teachers agreed. I came in as an intermediary, who because of my position in ASB was also a member of my School’s Shared Leadership Council (SLC), through these means I motivated other ASB officers to support the academy’s inception and after a grueling amount of meetings in which we went through logistics the academy was approved for the benefit of students.

I am a student who will attend a UC pursuing my passions in journalism, education, and history; while being an involved student making the campus a better place than when I first arrived.

Rather than relying on pure intellect, I choose to excel through continual self-improvement, my ability to overpower obstacles, and an unrelenting force of determination. There are thousands of students smarter than me, students with better test scores, students with more volunteer hours, and quite possibly, a more socially acceptable sense of humor. I can assert, however, that my determination and ambition is hard to match.

I am willing to look in the face of the impossible without fear; in fact, the only emotion flowing through my body would be excitement. There are thousands of intelligent students, however many are unable or are unwilling to utilize their full potential. Although not a genius, I have shown my ability to improve drastically in capability over time.

At some point in my middle school career I was not technically supposed to still be enrolled because my grades were too low; now I'm on track to be valedictorian of my class. I am willing to do whatever it takes to meet my goal; if there were a service event across the country I would be willing to walk the entire way; if I could take a million AP's I would. I understand that it is a big jump to go from Bellflower High School to a UC in terms of academic difficulty; however, that is part of the excitement. I am not afraid of failure, it does nothing but make me stronger. Am I capable of making a jump of such a magnitude? It is not my judgment to make; I am only here to try.

The spin-the-wheel slows down and eventually stops at ‘try again next time’. That is, until I secretly push it one slot over to ‘princess tiara’. As the child hurries away to the next carnival game with the tiara in her hair, her mom turns back at me with a warm smile and mouths the words “thank you”. Seeing genuine happiness in the people of my community while volunteering at events such as my school carnival always remind me why I love my community so much.

I hold a lot of pride in how I’ve become a prominent figure in my community. From volunteering at festivals for my local elementary school to becoming employed by the City of American Canyon Parks and Recreation Department, I relish being in the hub of the community. I love our annual Fourth of July parades and Easter egg hunts, where I am stopped every 15 minutes to catch up with the crazy kids I worked with at summer camp or even just with the staff I’ve met from school. Growing up and connecting with such a diverse community is and will always be a large part of who I am. From kindergarten up until my senior year of high school, both my small community and I as an individual have grown immensely. By volunteering at local events, connecting with the people of my community, and finally getting employed by my city, I know that I have contributed to the successful growth of my community.

Although I really love my community here in the small town of American Canyon, I cannot help but think of the other great communities that I can potentially be a part of as well. I believe that by going to the University of California, I will be able to thrive in the liveliness of the communities that the campuses are well-known for. A major contribution I believe that I can bring to the University of California is integrating, being involved in, and building the school’s community so that both I and the school can grow together for each other.

What can you learn from these UC Berkeley essays?

If you want to get into UC Berkeley in 2022, you need to write great essays that help make you stand out. From these 18 Berkeley essays that worked, here are some takeaways:

  • Use specific examples of places and events (name them) ( #8 , #17 )
  • Tell a story ( #6 , #18 , #7 )
  • Demonstrate your background, identity, or culture ( #3 , #15 , #4 )

If you enjoyed these UC Berkeley essays, you'll also like reading our top UCLA essays that worked. They answer the same PIQ prompts, but quite differently.

Applying to other public universities? Check out these awesome University of Michigan essays.

Let me know, which UC Berkeley essay was your favorite and why?

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A cow gave birth and I watched. Staring from the window of our stopped car, I experienced two beginnings that day: the small bovine life and my future. Both emerged when I was only 10 years old and cruising along the twisting roads of rural Maryland...

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14 Tips To Improve Schools and Overall Student Performance

July 27th, 2022

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Amy Rodgers, MA

Customer Success Manager

Finding a way to improve schools and enhance student engagement and growth can be difficult, especially because there are so many elements involved in a school district’s decision-making process when trying to make changes. Not to mention, once a school district implements changes, it takes time, data collection, and research to determine whether those changes have proven successful or not. Regardless of the gains, modifying and adjusting to acquire additional improvements is an on-going, never-ending process. Nonetheless, over a five-year period, 62% of teachers and 81% of principals feel school improvement initiatives enhance schools.

To assist in finding ways to improve the educational experience, here are 14 areas that are worth considering when schools are looking to take education to the next level:

essay on how to make your school a better place

1. Technology Usage  

Despite some naysayers who believe technology is a hindrance to education and a distraction from student focus and performance, research indicates that educational technology can be a helpful tool to increase student engagement and allow unprecedented interaction with curricular content. Nowadays, most schools use SMART boards, Chromebooks, video conferencing, and more to help students process information. While there is a gold mine of untapped potential through technology, some of the benefits include improved communication, advanced research opportunities, lecture enhancement, effective assessments, and the option for a more open-ended, student-guided learning experience.

2. Teacher Training

While the magnifying glass is often on technology, material resources, and assessment, these are just tools that are a means to an end - one which hopefully finds successful outcomes. However, no matter how promising these tools may be, it is crucial to spend time ensuring that the teachers themselves are creative, engaging, and efficient deliverers of their content. After all, the teacher is the classroom facilitator who makes the plans, designs the lessons, and makes use of all resources at their disposal (or doesn’t, as the case may be).

Therefore, it is imperative to ensure teachers receive adequate professional learning covering ground-breaking technology and educational techniques. Far too often, teachers attend training sessions, but the time is limited and they are not allowed to actually engage with the new technology or material themselves. Instead, they engage as an observer and they are forced to learn new content through a means that research has proven ineffective. As a result, many teachers take in the information, are overwhelmed or unsure about its usage, and never make an attempt to implement the new resources or learning into their lessons.

3. Cultural Activities

Sometimes school improvement comes in a simple form: cultural awareness. Creating opportunities for cultural awareness takes time and preparation on the part of teachers and administrators. When schools find ways to connect content material to students’ cultural backgrounds, students become more engaged on a personal level and content is brought to life in a way that has meaning to them. As a result, students are more willing to put forth effort and are able to better understand how their learning relates to their lives.

Schools can hold additional events to encourage cultural awareness as well, such as social festivities, dance and music workshops, and heritage clubs. Creating these cultural connections for students can make learning fun while transferring knowledge to real-world situations.

4. Motivational Guests

Sometimes a teacher can motivate students without having to do all the work themselves. Inviting guest speakers from various professions that can effectively engage and interact offers students an endless set of topic possibilities. This can happen in a variety of ways, including in-person appearances or online connections through Skype or other video conferencing tools. Guest speakers have the potential to relate to students and inspire them by describing problems, likes, dislikes, and challenges throughout their own lives that connect to the classroom content. For example, a science teacher could ask a scientist to speak about the biggest success and the biggest learning experience they’ve ever encountered in a laboratory setting. Students can then ask questions of the scientist and learn first-hand from someone who is in the field.

essay on how to make your school a better place

5. Student Counseling

Not all students share the same qualities, not do they manage school pressure in the same way. A school should understand that students spend a significant amount of time away from their families during the school year. As a result, regular check-ins with school counselors are paramount to help reduce student stress and assist with students’ problem-solving skills - both academic and personal.

6. School Maintenance

Ongoing school building and its technological platform maintenance is important, as this helps reduce lost educational time. Electrical and technological maintenance are important to reduce lost educational time. In order to provide the best possible care for students, school administrators should ensure that all campus maintenance issues are resolved as soon as possible. Schools should also have backup generators and ensure that all safety measures are working properly, not only to ensure students remain safe, but also to allow teachers to continue their lessons uninterrupted. A technological mishap can undo weeks of planning, especially since teachers often have to schedule access to computer labs and other resources weeks or even months in advance.

There should always be a backup plan to combat outages and ensure that lights, fans, and air conditioners are always operational.

Additionally, schools should ensure that hazardous chemicals, such as lead paint, lead pipes or asbestos are not present on their campus. Though eliminating these toxins is costly and time consuming, doing so is crucial to ensure student safety.

7. Parent-teacher Communication

It is imperative that school administration, teachers and personnel maintain an open line of communication with parents and the school community. Doing so keeps all parties up to date on a school's successes, challenges and general information. Administration should conduct regular meetings to encourage teacher-family involvement and give the school community an opportunity to be heard. The knowledge gleaned from these meetings can potentially be used to modify campus procedures to ensure that the learning process continues smoothly. These meetings also impact the growth and development of a school in a way that satisfies all participants in the educational process.

8. Activities Outside Classrooms

A great way to provide students with a rich learning experience that connects content to real-world concepts is to provide them with activities that take place outside of the classroom. An example of this might be to make a garden at school and ask students to be involved in all aspects of the gardening projects. Students could then conduct classes about their learning and invite community members to attend for a small fee in an effort to raise money for the school.

Improving a school's "curb appeal" is another quick and cost-effective way to provide activities outside the classroom and improve schools and school performance. Clearing weeds, pruning hedges, planting flowers, and picking up garbage in fields and parking lots are all student-friendly methods to improve the appearance of a school’s campus.

These activities can be connected to school curriculum and the real-world through teaching lessons about plant growth when working in the garden or environmental issues, such as littering, when cleaning up the schoolyard.

9. Local Campaigns

Another great way to engage students is to organize campaigns. Whether to acquire funding or support for school initiatives or simply to give students a chance to have a voice about important real-world matters, allowing students to direct a campaign not only builds their leadership skills but also gives them the opportunity to demonstrate important skills they learn in the classrooms. One of the main goals for education is to transfer classroom learning into the real world, and campaigning provides a perfect opportunity to show students that what they do can make a difference.

10. Sports Activities and Clubs

Research shows that the more involved students are at school, the better they perform academically and socially. If a school lacks extracurricular activities or ways for students to build a sense of community, they should consider providing opportunities that encourage student-school connection.

With extracurricular options that appeal to the spectrum of student interests, students will enjoy school more and be willing to try harder to complete their learning objectives. Some possibilities to consider are:

Sports (baseball, soccer, basketball, etc.)

Arts (drama, drawing, dance, etc.)

Academics (quizbowl, chess, board games, etc.)

11. An Engaging Environment

Teachers are encouraged to experiment with an innovative classroom to provide new experiences within the classroom itself. This includes a willingness to re-arrange furniture or even take the classroom to new locations to provide deeper engagement and interaction with the content matter and stimulate student minds. New experiences generate student interest and when the atmosphere is a combination of rigor and fun, students will learn far more - especially if they have the opportunity to actively interact with the material.

12. Communication of Needs

Sometimes improving a school is like turning a ship around — it’s a slow process that takes time. However, if nobody turns the wheel, that ship is going to continue on its course, even if it plows into a sandbar.

Teachers, parents, administrators, and community members need to be vocal and vigilant about improving the educational experience. This can include openly sharing and expressing ideas and speaking to the appropriate officials who can make change happen. Sometimes, this involves parents or teachers approaching school administration, or administration approaching district or community members with ideas to consider.

Holding meetings and communication forums with interested parties is another great way to present research on new technology, techniques, and other ideas for school improvement. This is also an effective way to generate interest and involvement in the school community, and it helps stakeholders learn about the process and costs required to make school improvements happen.

13. Compliments for Students

Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that can make the most difference in a student’s life. Complimenting students makes them feel as if they are valued as individuals and can provide a spark that encourages them to try harder and perform beyond expectations. All school personnel should make a concerted effort to find the strengths in students and compliment them on their behavior and performance.

Encourage staff members and teachers to give specific and genuine praises to each student that highlight what they have done well and what makes them special.

14. A Positive Atmosphere

Efforts to create school improvements will only have a long-term benefit if they can be sustained. Therefore, it is imperative to build a culture of success within the district that includes continuously seeking new improvement options and campaigning for them. It is also important to document change and place reminders throughout the campus to keep school improvement while placing reminders throughout the school to keep reform and creativity as a focus in everyone’s minds.

Positivity and reinforcement are important to ensure that initiatives do not lose momentum and interest and eventually disappear into the box of good ideas that were never realized. Be the cheerleader for educational revival and enlist students and other faculty to join you on this neverending mission for improvement.

Keeping a visible record of the positive changes that have already taken place and recording goals that the school wishes to achieve are tangible ways to keep school improvement on the forefront.

Here are some possible ideas to consider:

Choose a historian for the school’s progress. They can keep track of any improvements made to your institution and pass that information on to the next historian so there is a solid and detailed record of changes.

Check with your school to see if a special location can be set aside to memorialize this effort. This could be a space in the library or office displaying successful school initiatives and a memorial wall with photos, plaques, and other mementos of these successes.

The Bottom Line

Without individuals pursuing new opportunities to improve student growth, schools will remain stagnant or even lose educational value. With new research showing the many benefits of innovative and creative educational methods, it is important for all stakeholders involved in education to find new and interesting ways to capture the attention of students and improve engagement while working to ensure that content learning can be transferred to real-world situations.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to write a great community service essay.

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College Admissions , Extracurriculars

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Are you applying to a college or a scholarship that requires a community service essay? Do you know how to write an essay that will impress readers and clearly show the impact your work had on yourself and others?

Read on to learn step-by-step instructions for writing a great community service essay that will help you stand out and be memorable.

What Is a Community Service Essay? Why Do You Need One?

A community service essay is an essay that describes the volunteer work you did and the impact it had on you and your community. Community service essays can vary widely depending on specific requirements listed in the application, but, in general, they describe the work you did, why you found the work important, and how it benefited people around you.

Community service essays are typically needed for two reasons:

#1: To Apply to College

  • Some colleges require students to write community service essays as part of their application or to be eligible for certain scholarships.
  • You may also choose to highlight your community service work in your personal statement.

#2: To Apply for Scholarships

  • Some scholarships are specifically awarded to students with exceptional community service experiences, and many use community service essays to help choose scholarship recipients.
  • Green Mountain College offers one of the most famous of these scholarships. Their "Make a Difference Scholarship" offers full tuition, room, and board to students who have demonstrated a significant, positive impact through their community service

Getting Started With Your Essay

In the following sections, I'll go over each step of how to plan and write your essay. I'll also include sample excerpts for you to look through so you can get a better idea of what readers are looking for when they review your essay.

Step 1: Know the Essay Requirements

Before your start writing a single word, you should be familiar with the essay prompt. Each college or scholarship will have different requirements for their essay, so make sure you read these carefully and understand them.

Specific things to pay attention to include:

  • Length requirement
  • Application deadline
  • The main purpose or focus of the essay
  • If the essay should follow a specific structure

Below are three real community service essay prompts. Read through them and notice how much they vary in terms of length, detail, and what information the writer should include.

From the Equitable Excellence Scholarship:

"Describe your outstanding achievement in depth and provide the specific planning, training, goals, and steps taken to make the accomplishment successful. Include details about your role and highlight leadership you provided. Your essay must be a minimum of 350 words but not more than 600 words."

From the Laura W. Bush Traveling Scholarship:

"Essay (up to 500 words, double spaced) explaining your interest in being considered for the award and how your proposed project reflects or is related to both UNESCO's mandate and U.S. interests in promoting peace by sharing advances in education, science, culture, and communications."

From the LULAC National Scholarship Fund:

"Please type or print an essay of 300 words (maximum) on how your academic studies will contribute to your personal & professional goals. In addition, please discuss any community service or extracurricular activities you have been involved in that relate to your goals."

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Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas

Even after you understand what the essay should be about, it can still be difficult to begin writing. Answer the following questions to help brainstorm essay ideas. You may be able to incorporate your answers into your essay.

  • What community service activity that you've participated in has meant the most to you?
  • What is your favorite memory from performing community service?
  • Why did you decide to begin community service?
  • What made you decide to volunteer where you did?
  • How has your community service changed you?
  • How has your community service helped others?
  • How has your community service affected your plans for the future?

You don't need to answer all the questions, but if you find you have a lot of ideas for one of two of them, those may be things you want to include in your essay.

Writing Your Essay

How you structure your essay will depend on the requirements of the scholarship or school you are applying to. You may give an overview of all the work you did as a volunteer, or highlight a particularly memorable experience. You may focus on your personal growth or how your community benefited.

Regardless of the specific structure requested, follow the guidelines below to make sure your community service essay is memorable and clearly shows the impact of your work.

Samples of mediocre and excellent essays are included below to give you a better idea of how you should draft your own essay.

Step 1: Hook Your Reader In

You want the person reading your essay to be interested, so your first sentence should hook them in and entice them to read more. A good way to do this is to start in the middle of the action. Your first sentence could describe you helping build a house, releasing a rescued animal back to the wild, watching a student you tutored read a book on their own, or something else that quickly gets the reader interested. This will help set your essay apart and make it more memorable.

Compare these two opening sentences:

"I have volunteered at the Wishbone Pet Shelter for three years."

"The moment I saw the starving, mud-splattered puppy brought into the shelter with its tail between its legs, I knew I'd do whatever I could to save it."

The first sentence is a very general, bland statement. The majority of community service essays probably begin a lot like it, but it gives the reader little information and does nothing to draw them in. On the other hand, the second sentence begins immediately with action and helps persuade the reader to keep reading so they can learn what happened to the dog.

Step 2: Discuss the Work You Did

Once you've hooked your reader in with your first sentence, tell them about your community service experiences. State where you work, when you began working, how much time you've spent there, and what your main duties include. This will help the reader quickly put the rest of the essay in context and understand the basics of your community service work.

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Not including basic details about your community service could leave your reader confused.

Step 3: Include Specific Details

It's the details of your community service that make your experience unique and memorable, so go into the specifics of what you did.

For example, don't just say you volunteered at a nursing home; talk about reading Mrs. Johnson her favorite book, watching Mr. Scott win at bingo, and seeing the residents play games with their grandchildren at the family day you organized. Try to include specific activities, moments, and people in your essay. Having details like these let the readers really understand what work you did and how it differs from other volunteer experiences.

Compare these two passages:

"For my volunteer work, I tutored children at a local elementary school. I helped them improve their math skills and become more confident students."

"As a volunteer at York Elementary School, I worked one-on-one with second and third graders who struggled with their math skills, particularly addition, subtraction, and fractions. As part of my work, I would create practice problems and quizzes and try to connect math to the students' interests. One of my favorite memories was when Sara, a student I had been working with for several weeks, told me that she enjoyed the math problems I had created about a girl buying and selling horses so much that she asked to help me create math problems for other students."

The first passage only gives basic information about the work done by the volunteer; there is very little detail included, and no evidence is given to support her claims. How did she help students improve their math skills? How did she know they were becoming more confident?

The second passage is much more detailed. It recounts a specific story and explains more fully what kind of work the volunteer did, as well as a specific instance of a student becoming more confident with her math skills. Providing more detail in your essay helps support your claims as well as make your essay more memorable and unique.

Step 4: Show Your Personality

It would be very hard to get a scholarship or place at a school if none of your readers felt like they knew much about you after finishing your essay, so make sure that your essay shows your personality. The way to do this is to state your personal strengths, then provide examples to support your claims. Take some time to think about which parts of your personality you would like your essay to highlight, then write about specific examples to show this.

  • If you want to show that you're a motivated leader, describe a time when you organized an event or supervised other volunteers.
  • If you want to show your teamwork skills, write about a time you helped a group of people work together better.
  • If you want to show that you're a compassionate animal lover, write about taking care of neglected shelter animals and helping each of them find homes.

Step 5: State What You Accomplished

After you have described your community service and given specific examples of your work, you want to begin to wrap your essay up by stating your accomplishments. What was the impact of your community service? Did you build a house for a family to move into? Help students improve their reading skills? Clean up a local park? Make sure the impact of your work is clear; don't be worried about bragging here.

If you can include specific numbers, that will also strengthen your essay. Saying "I delivered meals to 24 home-bound senior citizens" is a stronger example than just saying "I delivered meals to lots of senior citizens."

Also be sure to explain why your work matters. Why is what you did important? Did it provide more parks for kids to play in? Help students get better grades? Give people medical care who would otherwise not have gotten it? This is an important part of your essay, so make sure to go into enough detail that your readers will know exactly what you accomplished and how it helped your community.

"My biggest accomplishment during my community service was helping to organize a family event at the retirement home. The children and grandchildren of many residents attended, and they all enjoyed playing games and watching movies together."

"The community service accomplishment that I'm most proud of is the work I did to help organize the First Annual Family Fun Day at the retirement home. My job was to design and organize fun activities that senior citizens and their younger relatives could enjoy. The event lasted eight hours and included ten different games, two performances, and a movie screening with popcorn. Almost 200 residents and family members attended throughout the day. This event was important because it provided an opportunity for senior citizens to connect with their family members in a way they aren't often able to. It also made the retirement home seem more fun and enjoyable to children, and we have seen an increase in the number of kids coming to visit their grandparents since the event."

The second passage is stronger for a variety of reasons. First, it goes into much more detail about the work the volunteer did. The first passage only states that she helped "organize a family event." That really doesn't tell readers much about her work or what her responsibilities were. The second passage is much clearer; her job was to "design and organize fun activities."

The second passage also explains the event in more depth. A family day can be many things; remember that your readers are likely not familiar with what you're talking about, so details help them get a clearer picture.

Lastly, the second passage makes the importance of the event clear: it helped residents connect with younger family members, and it helped retirement homes seem less intimidating to children, so now some residents see their grand kids more often.

Step 6: Discuss What You Learned

One of the final things to include in your essay should be the impact that your community service had on you. You can discuss skills you learned, such as carpentry, public speaking, animal care, or another skill.

You can also talk about how you changed personally. Are you more patient now? More understanding of others? Do you have a better idea of the type of career you want? Go into depth about this, but be honest. Don't say your community service changed your life if it didn't because trite statements won't impress readers.

In order to support your statements, provide more examples. If you say you're more patient now, how do you know this? Do you get less frustrated while playing with your younger siblings? Are you more willing to help group partners who are struggling with their part of the work? You've probably noticed by now that including specific examples and details is one of the best ways to create a strong and believable essay .

"As a result of my community service, I learned a lot about building houses and became a more mature person."

"As a result of my community service, I gained hands-on experience in construction. I learned how to read blueprints, use a hammer and nails, and begin constructing the foundation of a two-bedroom house. Working on the house could be challenging at times, but it taught me to appreciate the value of hard work and be more willing to pitch in when I see someone needs help. My dad has just started building a shed in our backyard, and I offered to help him with it because I know from my community service how much work it is. I also appreciate my own house more, and I know how lucky I am to have a roof over my head."

The second passage is more impressive and memorable because it describes the skills the writer learned in more detail and recounts a specific story that supports her claim that her community service changed her and made her more helpful.

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Step 7: Finish Strong

Just as you started your essay in a way that would grab readers' attention, you want to finish your essay on a strong note as well. A good way to end your essay is to state again the impact your work had on you, your community, or both. Reiterate how you changed as a result of your community service, why you found the work important, or how it helped others.

Compare these two concluding statements:

"In conclusion, I learned a lot from my community service at my local museum, and I hope to keep volunteering and learning more about history."

"To conclude, volunteering at my city's American History Museum has been a great experience. By leading tours and participating in special events, I became better at public speaking and am now more comfortable starting conversations with people. In return, I was able to get more community members interested in history and our local museum. My interest in history has deepened, and I look forward to studying the subject in college and hopefully continuing my volunteer work at my university's own museum."

The second passage takes each point made in the first passage and expands upon it. In a few sentences, the second passage is able to clearly convey what work the volunteer did, how she changed, and how her volunteer work benefited her community.

The author of the second passage also ends her essay discussing her future and how she'd like to continue her community service, which is a good way to wrap things up because it shows your readers that you are committed to community service for the long-term.

What's Next?

Are you applying to a community service scholarship or thinking about it? We have a complete list of all the community service scholarships available to help get your search started!

Do you need a community service letter as well? We have a step-by-step guide that will tell you how to get a great reference letter from your community service supervisor.

Thinking about doing community service abroad? Before you sign up, read our guide on some of the hazards of international volunteer trips and how to know if it's the right choice for you.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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What Have You Done to Make Your School or Community a Better Place? Essay

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Disclaimer: This paper has been submitted by a student. This is not a sample of the work written by professional academic writers.

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For the wellbeing of all the members of our community, it is important that it the surroundings and the environment is kept clean and tidy. It is also necessary to satisfy all sections of the society. In order to ensure that everyone in my community lives happy, I have participated in several clean up drives that were held by my school and have also taken part in other community service activities such as serving at a labor camp.

During the month of Ramadan in Dubai, I along with my friends organized a group aimed at serving the labor at one of the labor camps by serving lunch and dinner to the entire camp which constituted of about 200 workers. We were a group of 11 members. We were supported by Dr. Sangeeth Ibrahim who provided us with transportation and we are really thankful to him for his support. When I reached the labor camp which was located in an industrial area, I was amazed that there were so many other people who were eager to help the society.

We had around about 2 hours setting everything up. We couldn’t waste our time talking and I being the senior-most, and therefore, the team leader distributed the different tasks such as setting the floor, preparing food, keeping water and tissues at regular intervals on the carpet by dividing the task among ourselves. Since we were accompanied by other people also, it was not that the tasks were very difficult. I started setting the carpet and water from the cartons. Once everything was prepared, we made long chains and started plating with some rice and watermelon. I was the person sitting next to karahi and running that big serving spoon into it and then passing it to the person who was next to me who would pass it on.

After the plates were set and prayers were completed, the labor came in and took their places.

After the end, I realized how satisfied I was by helping and taking a step at improving my community and make a smile on those faces that sweat day in and day out to build the foundation of any community.

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Celebrate Women's History Month with 37 inspiring activities!

9 Ways to Make School Better for our Most Vulnerable Students

Small things make a big difference. Like installing a washer and dryer in your school.

essay on how to make your school a better place

A student is considered vulnerable if one part of their development is not growing at an average rate. What happens if all parts of a child’s development are not growing? These are our most vulnerable students. Many of them are growing up in poverty , facing additional challenges that can make learning extra challenging. Here are some important ways we can  support our vulnerable students and improve their school experience.

1. Start a free clothing closet

Kids don’t want to come to school wearing the same clothes every day, but sometimes they have no choice. “Plainwell High School teacher Nancy Heath noticed a need in her school a few months ago. “I just looked around the school and there are kids that just don’t have adequate clothing. They’re wearing the same thing day in and day out, they’re dirty, you know they probably don’t have access to a washer/dryer and they don’t ask, they don’t complain they just come to school and do their best. So I thought why not help?”

2. Give out weekend food backpacks

Some children living in poverty don’t have access to adequate nutrition unless they are at school. That can make going home for weekends and vacations stressful. Many schools have programs like Feed More  where kids get the food they need.

3. Provide free access to sanitary supplies

Studies suggest that the more stressful a child’s life is early on, the earlier the onset of puberty. Many nonprofits and other services neglect to give young girls free access to menstruation products. There are some places out there making sure girls and women from low-income communities have free access, like Helping Women Period .

4. Have a bank of school supplies available for anyone

Some kids who show up to school without supplies aren’t being irresponsible, they simply can’t bring a pencil to school. Have a place everyone can go to for supplies without being ostracized or made to feel uncomfortable.

5. Help them find safe transportation

Many students rely on free bus programs to get to school during regular hours. After hours programs—such as school plays, extracurricularr activities, and even dances—enhance students’ school experiences but also require transportation. Not every child has access to a vehicle or the money to ride public transportation. See if you can use donorschoose.org  or ask your local PTO to fund vans for events, gas cards, and bus passes. Make sure everyone knows they are available without having to prove that they need them.

6. Keep your school libraries

Reading not only increases academic intelligence, reading fiction helps build emotional intelligence skills such as empathy. But not every child has access to literature at home. Combine smart, well-read librarians with vast quantities of (free access) books, you create the best learning experience for children. Teachers cannot possibly be expected to manage all of their teaching and be librarians. They lose more books out of their classrooms when there is no true library check out system. Don’t let your community be a book desert .

7. Build and maintain a long-term mentoring  program

Studies show that students with social support are more likely to remain engaged in school even when faced with adversity. Long-term mentorship programs can help provide that support. If your school doesn’t have the infrastructure to create a mentorship program on your own, look for one that can help, like Fr1ends of Ch1ldren .

8. Install a washer and dryer

Sullivan Middle School in Worcester, Massachusetts, purchased a washer and dryer with a grant to help kids who may not have easy access to cleaning clothes at home. “It’s a practical solution to a practical problem,”  Principal Josephine Robertson told the Worcester Telegram , “We talk about school as having two prongs—there’s the academic side, and the social side. And one cannot be more important than the other.”  When disadvantaged students don’t have fresh clothes to wear, they may feel less comfortable going to school and be more prone to chronic absenteeism. After the success of this pilot program, the Worcester School District now plans to install washers and dryers in all the district’s schools.

9.  Brainstorm as a staff

It takes a community to support any child, and this is particularly true for vulnerable students. Make sure your school nurse, guidance counselor, physical therapist, and school psychologist are working together to look at every aspect of supporting vulnerable students. This can help bring services to the child while we have him right there in school.

Join our Facebook group  Principal Life  for more ideas on how to transform your school.

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Student Bill/Essay: How to make your school a better place

Student Bill/Essay: How to make your school a better place

Subject: Contemporary history (1901 – Present Day)

Age range: 12 - 18

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Social Studies 4 Life!

Last updated

15 July 2016

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The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples

An academic essay is a focused piece of writing that develops an idea or argument using evidence, analysis, and interpretation.

There are many types of essays you might write as a student. The content and length of an essay depends on your level, subject of study, and course requirements. However, most essays at university level are argumentative — they aim to persuade the reader of a particular position or perspective on a topic.

The essay writing process consists of three main stages:

  • Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.
  • Writing : Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
  • Revision:  Check your essay on the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.

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Table of contents

Essay writing process, preparation for writing an essay, writing the introduction, writing the main body, writing the conclusion, essay checklist, lecture slides, frequently asked questions about writing an essay.

The writing process of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the type of essay .

For example, if you’ve been assigned a five-paragraph expository essay for a high school class, you’ll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level argumentative essay , on the other hand, you’ll need to spend more time researching your topic and developing an original argument before you start writing.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Before you start writing, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you’re going to say it. There are a few key steps you can follow to make sure you’re prepared:

  • Understand your assignment: What is the goal of this essay? What is the length and deadline of the assignment? Is there anything you need to clarify with your teacher or professor?
  • Define a topic: If you’re allowed to choose your own topic , try to pick something that you already know a bit about and that will hold your interest.
  • Do your research: Read  primary and secondary sources and take notes to help you work out your position and angle on the topic. You’ll use these as evidence for your points.
  • Come up with a thesis:  The thesis is the central point or argument that you want to make. A clear thesis is essential for a focused essay—you should keep referring back to it as you write.
  • Create an outline: Map out the rough structure of your essay in an outline . This makes it easier to start writing and keeps you on track as you go.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you want to discuss, in what order, and what evidence you’ll use, you’re ready to start writing.

The introduction sets the tone for your essay. It should grab the reader’s interest and inform them of what to expect. The introduction generally comprises 10–20% of the text.

1. Hook your reader

The first sentence of the introduction should pique your reader’s interest and curiosity. This sentence is sometimes called the hook. It might be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement emphasizing the relevance of the topic.

Let’s say we’re writing an essay about the development of Braille (the raised-dot reading and writing system used by visually impaired people). Our hook can make a strong statement about the topic:

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

2. Provide background on your topic

Next, it’s important to give context that will help your reader understand your argument. This might involve providing background information, giving an overview of important academic work or debates on the topic, and explaining difficult terms. Don’t provide too much detail in the introduction—you can elaborate in the body of your essay.

3. Present the thesis statement

Next, you should formulate your thesis statement— the central argument you’re going to make. The thesis statement provides focus and signals your position on the topic. It is usually one or two sentences long. The thesis statement for our essay on Braille could look like this:

As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness.

4. Map the structure

In longer essays, you can end the introduction by briefly describing what will be covered in each part of the essay. This guides the reader through your structure and gives a preview of how your argument will develop.

The invention of Braille marked a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

Write your essay introduction

The body of your essay is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. Its purpose is to present, interpret, and analyze the information and sources you have gathered to support your argument.

Length of the body text

The length of the body depends on the type of essay. On average, the body comprises 60–80% of your essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of 6,000 words, the body could take up 8–10 pages.

Paragraph structure

To give your essay a clear structure , it is important to organize it into paragraphs . Each paragraph should be centered around one main point or idea.

That idea is introduced in a  topic sentence . The topic sentence should generally lead on from the previous paragraph and introduce the point to be made in this paragraph. Transition words can be used to create clear connections between sentences.

After the topic sentence, present evidence such as data, examples, or quotes from relevant sources. Be sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how it helps develop your overall argument.

Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture, communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent on sighted people for information and education.

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essay on how to make your school a better place

The conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It should generally take up no more than 10–15% of the text . A strong essay conclusion :

  • Returns to your thesis
  • Ties together your main points
  • Shows why your argument matters

A great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence that leaves the reader with a strong final impression.

What not to include in a conclusion

To make your essay’s conclusion as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid. The most common mistakes are:

  • Including new arguments or evidence
  • Undermining your arguments (e.g. “This is just one approach of many”)
  • Using concluding phrases like “To sum up…” or “In conclusion…”

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

Write your essay conclusion

Checklist: Essay

My essay follows the requirements of the assignment (topic and length ).

My introduction sparks the reader’s interest and provides any necessary background information on the topic.

My introduction contains a thesis statement that states the focus and position of the essay.

I use paragraphs to structure the essay.

I use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.

Each paragraph has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement.

I make clear transitions between paragraphs and ideas.

My conclusion doesn’t just repeat my points, but draws connections between arguments.

I don’t introduce new arguments or evidence in the conclusion.

I have given an in-text citation for every quote or piece of information I got from another source.

I have included a reference page at the end of my essay, listing full details of all my sources.

My citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required citation style .

My essay has an interesting and informative title.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (e.g. font, page numbers, line spacing).

Your essay meets all the most important requirements. Our editors can give it a final check to help you submit with confidence.

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An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

  • An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
  • Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
  • A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

  • It gives your writing direction and focus.
  • It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

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How to Make Your Essay Better: 7 Tips for Stronger Essays

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Krystal N. Craiker

How to make your essay better

Essay writing doesn’t have to be intimidating. With a few tips, you can improve your writing skills for any type of academic essay.

How to Write Better Essays

7 tips on how to make your essay better, how to become a better essay writer.

The best way to sum up how to write better essays is, “Make sure you’re answering the question.”

This sounds obvious, but you would be surprised how many students struggle with this.

From not understanding the prompt to poor research skills to off-topic body paragraphs, it’s easy for an essay to derail.

We’ve got seven tips for writing better essays that will help you avoid common mistakes and craft the best essays possible.

7 tips for imrpoving your essay

Here are our top tips for improving your essay writing skills.

Understand the Prompt or Research Question

The first step in your writing process is to fully understand the essay topic. If your professor gave you a prompt for your academic essay, spend some time analyzing it.

First, take note of whether you’re writing an expository or persuasive essay. The tone, structure, and word choice will differ between essay types.

Pay close attention to the wording of the prompt.

If your teacher wants you to “analyze” the effects of new technology in World War I, but you turn in a descriptive overview of the technology, you are not answering the question.

If they have given you a topic but no prompt, you’ll need to create a guiding question for your research.

Be specific in what you are trying to research, or you’ll end up overwhelmed with a topic that is too big in scope.

“Symbolism in modern literature” is too broad for a term paper, but “How does F. Scott Fitzgerald use symbolism in The Great Gatsby ?” is an achievable topic.

Improve your essay tip

Take Excellent Notes

Once you understand exactly what your essay is about, you can begin the research phase. Create a strong note-taking system.

Write down any idea or quote you might want to use. Cite every note properly to save time on your citations and to avoid accidental plagiarism.

Once you have gathered your research, organize your notes into categories. This will help you plan the structure of your essay.

You’ll likely find that some of your research doesn’t fit into your essay once you start writing. That’s okay—it’s better to have too much information to support your argument than too little.

Write a Strong Thesis Statement

Possibly the most important step in essay writing is to craft a strong thesis statement. A thesis statement is a brief—usually single-sentence—explanation of what your essay is about.

The thesis statement guides the entire essay: every point you make should support your thesis.

A strong thesis is specific and long enough to address the major points of your essay.

In a persuasive or argumentative essay, your thesis should clearly establish the argument you are making.

Make an Outline

Once you have all your research, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. How do you turn the information into a cohesive essay?

Rather than writing an essay with no roadmap, an outline will keep you on track. An outline helps you organize your thoughts, plan your arguments, and sort your research.

A good outline saves you time, too! You can compile the relevant evidence in your notes before writing, so you don’t have to find that specific quote in the middle of essay writing.

An outline will also stop you from reading your finished essay and realizing you went completely off track.

With an outline, you can avoid finding paragraphs that don’t support your thesis right before you submit the essay.

Improve your essay tip

Craft a Great Introduction

An academic essay needs a strong introductory paragraph.

The introduction is the first impression of your essay. It prepares the reader for what’s coming and gets them excited to read your paper.

A good introduction has three things:

  • A hook (e.g. insightful statement, quote, interesting fact)
  • Brief background information about the topic
  • A thesis statement

Using this formula will help you write a strong introduction for your essay.

Have Original Ideas and Interpretations

The best academic writing advice a professor ever gave me was, “You’ve shown me what other people have said about the topic. I want to know what you think about the topic.”

Even a fact-heavy or data-heavy essay needs original ideas and interpretations. For every piece of information you cite, whether you quote or paraphrase it , offer original commentary.

Focus on insights, new interpretations, or even questions that you have. These are all ways to provide original ideas in your essay.

Proofread for Readability

A good essay is a proofread essay.

Readability, or how easy something is to read, has many factors. Spelling and grammar are important, but so is sentence structure, word choice , and other stylistic features.

Academic essays should be readable without being too simple. In general, aim for a readability score that is close to your grade level in school.

There are several ways to check readability scores, including using ProWritingAid’s Readability Report.

ProWritingAid's readability report

The quickest way to increase readability is to fix grammar and spelling mistakes . You can also raise the readability score by using more complex and compound-complex sentences.

ProWritingAid can offer suggestions on how to improve your essay and take it to the next level.

Our free essay checker will check for spelling and grammar errors, plus several other types of writing mistakes.

The essay checker will offer you suggestions on sentence length and passive voice.

It will help you trim the excess words that bog down your writing by analyzing your sticky sentences and overused words.

The essay checker is here to help you turn in an error-free essay.

Want to improve your essay writing skills?

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Krystal N. Craiker is the Writing Pirate, an indie romance author and blog manager at ProWritingAid. She sails the seven internet seas, breaking tropes and bending genres. She has a background in anthropology and education, which brings fresh perspectives to her romance novels. When she’s not daydreaming about her next book or article, you can find her cooking gourmet gluten-free cuisine, laughing at memes, and playing board games. Krystal lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, child, and basset hound.

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We will write any of your paper, how to make school a better place essay, may 27, 2022 admin.

How to Make Your School a Better Place

  • Method 1 of 3: Helping Other Students. Stand up to bullies. Do not stay silent when you see another student getting harassed by a bully.
  • Method 2 of 3: Participating at School. Run for student government.
  • Method 3 of 3: Making the School Better as Faculty or Staff. Encourage a collaborative atmosphere.

Other Question and Answers that can be helpful for you

1. What would make your school a better place?

We spend a great part of our lives in school and we all have our views on what would make our school a better place. There are many ways ranging from knowledgeable and highly motivated teachers who understand their subjects to state of the art equipment in laboratories.

2. How to make a school environment a better place for learners?

There are many ways ranging from knowledgeable and highly motivated teachers who understand their subjects to state of the art equipment in laboratories. But, it is no doubt that making a school environment a better place for learners is a shared responsibility between different players such as teachers, parents and learners.

3. How does education help us make better choices?

Every individual’s life is influenced by the choices they make. When we’re concerned about matters like food, survival, shelter and other resources we’re making the most basic choices ever. Education helps us to make better choices. Education is a constructive way to provide answers to the questions we look for.

4. How can I make a difference at school?

Run for student government: If you can win a position as a student representative you can really make a difference. It will allow you to create strategies and plans to improve different aspects of the school. You can engage in fundraising activities to improve school facilities or start new clubs to promote a positive environment in the school.

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  5. 5 Tips to Make School a Better Place

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  6. 3 Ways to Make Your School a Better Place

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COMMENTS

  1. UC Essay Example: Personal Insight Question #7

    This UC Prompt is one that students seem to gravitate towards. So, we have tons of UC Personal Insight Essay examples for this one.. So, what have you done to make your school or community a better place?. A lot, I'm sure. But how do you put all this passion and hard-work into 350 words?

  2. 3 Ways to Make Your School a Better Place

    4. Participate in the arts. Another way to promote school spirit is by supporting the arts in your school. Attend plays, go to art shows, and promote artists and groups in your school. This will give students an outlet for their creativity and will make your school a better place to be.

  3. How to Write the "Make Community a Better Place" UC Essay

    Defining "Community". Demonstrating Your Values. The University of California system requires you to answer four out of eight essay prompts. The seventh University of California prompt asks, "What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?". For a lot of people, a key to unlocking this essay is to think about ...

  4. 8 Ways We Can Improve Schools Today For A Better Future Tomorrow

    Planning for the Future in Education: How We Can Improve Academic and Better Career Outcomes Now. Create Work and Business Relationships— Create high school and local business partnerships ...

  5. Tips for Writing a Standout Community Service Essay

    What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? (350 words). From the Equitable Excellence Scholarship: Describe your outstanding achievement in depth and provide the specific planning, training, goals, and steps taken to make the accomplishment successful. Include details about your role and highlight leadership you ...

  6. How To Answer UC Personal Insight Prompt 7: Community

    The UC admissions essay prompt, "What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?" requires a thorough understanding in order to craft a successful essay. In this section, we will explore how to interpret the prompt, discuss why it is important, and highlight what admissions officers are looking for in your response.

  7. Making Your School a Better Place for Everyone

    Here are some ideas as to how you can make your school a better place for everyone. Start an Improvement Plan. To stand any chance of making some significant improvements to your school, you're going to need to put a plan in place. This will require addressing where the problems lie and thinking about the different approaches you can take to ...

  8. Writing UC Prompt 7 Tips: Improving Your Community Essay

    Describe your community and how it was like before you stepped into it. Explain your thought process in determining the necessary impact that you wanted to make. Detail the steps you took to implement the specific impact you made. Reflect on how the experience affected or changed you.

  9. The Ultimate Guide to the UC Essay Prompt 7

    The best way to structure the essay for the UC essay prompt 7 is to look at things from a bird's eye view. That means you're going to have to zone in on specifics if you want to write something that gets you accepted. It'll also help you meet those points we mentioned earlier such as "show don't tell" and "showing your character".

  10. Five Steps for Building a Better School

    2) Focus on building community; it matters more than raising test scores. Our students face a growing list of pressures both real and imagined. School boards and superintendents, in particular ...

  11. What changes could I propose to improve my high school?

    A change for the better in any community - a school is an ideal place - is to use the simple philosophy of 'treat others as you wish to be treated'. If this premise was utilised by staff, students ...

  12. 18 UC Berkeley Essay Examples that Worked (2023)

    UC Berkeley Example Essay #1. Prompt #2: Creative Side. UC Berkeley Example Essay #2. Prompt #3: Greatest Talent or Skill. UC Berkeley Example Essay #3: Clammy Hands. UC Berkeley Example Essay #4: Memory. Prompt #4: Educational Opportunity or Barrier. UC Berkeley Example Essay #5: Chemistry Class.

  13. 14 Tips To Improve Schools and Overall Student Performance

    Some possibilities to consider are: Sports (baseball, soccer, basketball, etc.) Arts (drama, drawing, dance, etc.) Academics (quizbowl, chess, board games, etc.) 11. An Engaging Environment. Teachers are encouraged to experiment with an innovative classroom to provide new experiences within the classroom itself.

  14. UC PIQ: What have you done to make your school or your ...

    Some of my duties consist of teaching second grade "Read Aloud, Read Proud," which allows students to practice reading orally, leading third grade's "Solve It Saturday," a 30 minute math and critical thinking workshop, and bonding with the kids during "My Earth, My Worth," a gardening workshop that promotes healthy eating.

  15. How to Write a Great Community Service Essay

    Step 6: Discuss What You Learned. One of the final things to include in your essay should be the impact that your community service had on you. You can discuss skills you learned, such as carpentry, public speaking, animal care, or another skill. You can also talk about how you changed personally.

  16. What Have You Done to Make Your School or Community a Better Place? Essay

    For the wellbeing of all the members of our community, it is important that it the surroundings and the environment is kept clean and tidy. It is also necessary to satisfy all sections of the society. In order to ensure that everyone in my community lives happy, I have participated in several clean up drives that were held by my school and have ...

  17. Explain Why I Want To Make School A Better Place

    This could help more advanced kids move up more efficiently as well as making the teachers happier, which will make the students happier. It would also help with the dreaded brain drain or summer slide. Year-round schooling has many benefits for our school which is why I feel that we should make the. 1053 Words.

  18. 9 Ways to Make School Better for our Most Vulnerable Students

    4. Have a bank of school supplies available for anyone. Some kids who show up to school without supplies aren't being irresponsible, they simply can't bring a pencil to school. Have a place everyone can go to for supplies without being ostracized or made to feel uncomfortable. 5.

  19. Student Bill/Essay: How to make your school a better place

    docx, 28.59 KB. Students will be brainstorming ideas and creating a Bill to make their school a better place. Students will put their knowledge of the process of how laws are created and ultimately submit their ideas to the Principle if their Bill is chosen. A very fun 3 day assignment. Great essay assignment on how to change your school.

  20. How to Make School Better? Free Essay Example

    Harvard. Chicago. Get your custom essay. Helping students since 2015. Essay Sample: Hello, my name is Angeli Cardona my class is 111 and I'm running for Vice President of this very school. Now, it might be bold for a 12 year old girl who.

  21. The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay

    The essay writing process consists of three main stages: Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline. Writing: Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion. Revision: Check your essay on the content, organization, grammar, spelling ...

  22. How to Make Your Essay Better: 7 Tips for Stronger Essays

    Take Excellent Notes. Once you understand exactly what your essay is about, you can begin the research phase. Create a strong note-taking system. Write down any idea or quote you might want to use. Cite every note properly to save time on your citations and to avoid accidental plagiarism.

  23. How To Make School A Better Place Essay?

    How to Make Your School a Better Place. Method 1 of 3: Helping Other Students. Stand up to bullies. Do not stay silent when you see another student getting harassed by a bully. Method 2 of 3: Participating at School. Run for student government. Method 3 of 3: Making the School Better as Faculty or Staff. Encourage a collaborative atmosphere. 1.

  24. Angelica Thompson on Instagram: "The Quest for Excellence scholarship

    4 likes, 0 comments - realtor_angelica on February 3, 2023: "The Quest for Excellence scholarship program is a cash scholarship that recognizes students for t..."