THE VALUE OF VALUES

HOW TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU AND HOW TO USE THAT INSIGHT TO SHOW COLLEGES WHO YOU ARE.

Core values are a set of beliefs that influence how you live your life and could be long-held or those you newly recognise. They are a collection of ideas and actions that personally characterize who you are as an individual. Values develop over time and through experience, playing an instrumental role in goal setting while shaping how you respond to life situations.  We all have values but we rarely name them. Taking the time to identify the values that shape who you are and how you think will allow you to identify and create the story you want to tell.

Please review the following list of values and circle up to 15. Be thoughtful about which values represent who you are and how you have lived your life. Pay attention to choosing a variety of values and know that it is okay if some come in conflict with others. Some examples of competing values are humility and pride or perhaps risk and security.  It’s not uncommon to hold values that are in opposition.

Next, try to prioritize and narrow the list down to your top four or five and then write a few sentences after each that show how these values are represented in your lived experiences. Take note if any of them are directly connected to something in your treasure chest. This is an important exercise because your values should come through in your writing without naming them directly, showing the admissions team who you are and what you will be contributing to your class and the campus as a whole.

Some examples of values are:

  • Accountability: Taking responsibility for your actions and commitments.

  • Adventure/Travel: Exploration and discovery.

  • Ambition: Following inner drive to reach your goals and dreams.

  • Authenticity: Being genuine and true to oneself.

  • Balance: Finding purpose and inner peace/connection.

  • Bravery: Facing challenges without shrinking.

  • Change: Alter or modify to make something or someone different.

  • Collaboration: Working with others toward a common goal. 

  • Community Service: Working with others to support neighbors and nature to foster positive growth and change.

  • Compassion: Showing empathy and care for others.

  • Courage: Doing what's right or hard even when difficult.

  • Creativity/Art/Music: Applying skill and imagination.

  • Dependability: Being reliable and following through.

  • Determination: Persisting to finish tasks.

  • Empathy: Feeling “with someone” as opposed to feeling “for someone”. Connecting with and understanding others' feelings.

  • Fairness: Upholding honesty, justice and equity.

  • Family: Love and trust between close relatives and/or friends.

  • Forgiveness: Choosing intentional release of anger and resentment and replacing it with understanding and empathy. 

  • Friendship: Experiencing mutual trust and support.

  • Generosity: Giving freely of time, resources, or support.

  • Gratitude: Showing thankfulness.

  • Grit: Perseverance and seeing obstacles as opportunities.

  • Health/Fitness: Desire to maintain your body’s ability to function fully.

  • Honesty: Truthfulness and sincerity.

  • Humility: Similar to Modesty. Recognizing your own strengths and weaknesses without an ego. 

  • Humor: Recognition and expression of irony and satire.

  • Inspiration: To be mentally moved to do something.

  • Integrity: Adhering to strong ethical principles.

  • Intellectual Curiosity:  Seeking knowledge by asking “why” and “how” to learn, explore and grow. 

  • Justice: Promoting fairness and equality.

  • Kindness: Being friendly, generous and considerate.

  • Learning: Seeking new knowledge and skills.

  • Loyalty: Staying true to commitments and people.

  • Mindfulness: Focussed awareness on the present moment/feelings and sensations.

  • Privacy: Free from intrusion.

  • Religion: Organized practice of beliefs and rituals. 

  • Respect: Valuing others and their contributions.

  • Risk: Involves exposure to danger or threat.

  • Security: Protection from danger or threat.

  • Self-Reliance: Reliance on self as opposed to others. 

  • Travel: Movement from one place to another.

  • Trust: Believing in the reliability of others. 

  • Wonder: A combination of curiosity, surprise and awe.

In the interest of space, this is a small representation of values so feel free to search a more comprehensive list on line and/or add your own.

Your growth comes from understanding yourself better and this happens when you are able to reflect on your values, experiences and how those values connect and drive you forward.  

This may seem daunting or uncomfortable. If so, good. That means that it is working to help you get to the point where you are willing to be reflective and vulnerable. This is what you need to create an impactful personal essay.  Remember, this is a personal “perspective” piece, not necessarily a statement. The difference in the nuance is important. 

One more thought before you begin:

Your personal statement reveals who you are to the reader but when you work through this process with reflection and humility, it helps you understand yourself better as well. All of my students have shared that they discovered something new about themselves and it was something they were able to take forward to college and beyond. The writing of college essays can be more than simply a requirement for admission to college, they can be an opportunity for you to develop a stronger sense of self and direction for the future.