The First Draft Sit yourself down and write two pages on your topic. Set this effort aside for a day or two, but continue to think about your choice and your idea. Talk to some people about what you have written. Parents, teachers, and counselors are good choices. Then read your essay again to see if a sense of YOU comes through.
Students usually write their best essays in their second effort.
The first seems to be about getting started. The second has the passion and conviction that are memorable. Leave enough time to create a good product. The essay is meant to reflect something about your thinking process and your personality, but it also shows that you are a careful and clear writer. Put in the extra effort.