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. They are a collection of ideas and actions that personally characterize who you are as an individual. Values grow and develop over time and through experience; they play an important 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 discover the story you want to tell.

When you share these values through your writing, it shows the admissions team who you are and what you will be contributing to your class and the campus as a whole. Keep in mind, I would not encourage you to say: “I am humble” but instead to tell a story that shows your humility.  It takes some practice but once you put in some time and thought, those moments will float to the top and you will find your story. 

Some examples of values are:

  • Accountability: Taking responsibility for your actions and commitments.

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

  • Authenticity: Being genuine and true to oneself.

  • Bravery: Facing challenges without shrinking.

  • Compassion: Showing empathy and care for others.

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

  • Creativity: Innovating and finding new solutions.

  • 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.

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

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

  • Gratitude: Showing thankfulness.

  • Honesty: Truthfulness and sincerity.

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

  • Integrity: Adhering to strong ethical principles.

  • Justice: Promoting fairness and equality.

  • Kindness: Being friendly, generous, and considerate.

  • Learning: Seeking new knowledge and skills.

  • Loyalty: Staying true to commitments and people.

  • Respect: Valuing others and their contributions.

  • Trust: Believing in the reliability of others. 

Your assignment is to choose 4 to 6 values in order of importance to you. There may be values you hold that are not on this list, please include those values as well.

Think about personal experiences that would show or highlight the values you chose.  If you chose “bravery”, when did you need to be brave? How did it feel and what happened? Have there been many experiences of bravery through your life, ie: standing up to a bully on a playground in early childhood and then perhaps later in life, trying something scary like singing alone on stage? Bravery is putting yourself out there in a variety of ways even if it is hard. Bravery would be paired with integrity.  If you chose “trust” have you had a moment or moments when your trust has been challenged or when perhaps you realized that you also hold the value of forgiveness?  These two values could go together and if this rings true to you, I want to hear that story.

Write a brief sentence after each chosen value that connects to a past or current experience and then group similar values together to discover if there is a theme.

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.