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Hey everyone! I'm working on my college applications, and part of it requires a personal background essay. I'm a little stuck, so if you guys could share some examples or tips, that'd be great! Please help me out, thanks!
Hello! It's understandable that writing a personal background essay can be challenging. Here are some tips to get you started and an example of how you might approach this essay:
1. Reflect on what makes your background unique. Consider your family's history, culture, traditions, values, and how these have shaped your experiences.
2. Delve into the details. Discuss specific experiences, anecdotes, or events that have had a significant impact on your life and highlight the lessons you've gained from your background.
3. Be authentic. Write from the heart and let your personality shine through. This essay is your opportunity to help the admissions officers get to know you beyond your stats and accomplishments.
4. Avoid clichés. Personal background essays are quite common, so if you're writing about a widely-covered topic (moving, learning a new language, etc.), try to find a unique angle or aspect that will set your essay apart.
Growing up in a multigenerational household, I've had the rare privilege of experiencing diverse perspectives on life from my grandparents, parents, and siblings. My grandparents, who emigrated from Vietnam, taught me the importance of staying true to our cultural heritage and maintaining strong connections with family. Daily rituals like preparing and enjoying traditional Vietnamese meals, participating in Lunar New Year celebrations, and listening to stories about my grandparents' journey to the United States helped me appreciate the strength and resilience of my ancestors.
However, this cultural pride was not always something I cherished. As a child, I was bullied for my Banh Khot and Banh Mi lunches, and I'd often ask my parents to pack more generic-looking sandwiches to avoid feeling like an outsider at school. It wasn't until my grandmother shared her own story of assimilation and how she strived to maintain her cultural identity in a new country that I realized the value of embracing my heritage. Inspired by her courage, I decided to educate my peers about Vietnamese traditions and founded a cultural exchange club at school. Together, we explored our heritages, organizing potlucks, cultural presentations, and language exchange sessions.
Through this experience, I've learned that embracing who I am and the unique background I come from has made me a stronger person. My personal background has taught me to be open to learning about other cultures, which I look forward to bringing to my future college community.
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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Personal Life — Personal Background: My Life Story as a Definition of Me
Personal Background: My Life Story as a Definition of Me
- Categories: Personal Experience Personal Life
About this sample
Words: 1728 |
Updated: 18 July, 2024
Words: 1728 | Pages: 4 | 9 min read
The essay discusses the author's life experiences and how they have shaped their identity and outlook on life. The author's background is likened to a roller coaster, marked by uncertainty and unexpected turns. They emphasize that their experiences have defined them as a person.
The narrative begins with the author's family facing financial difficulties and violence in their home country. Eventually, their uncle sponsors their immigration to the United States, providing hope for a better life. However, upon arriving in the U.S., the author encounters challenges related to their identity and experiences racism and discrimination.
The essay highlights the author's struggle to fit in and be accepted in a new culture, including efforts to suppress their accent and conform to societal expectations. Despite these challenges, the author ultimately learns the importance of embracing their own background and culture.
Furthermore, the essay delves into the author's motivation to succeed in school, driven by their desire to support their family and provide a better life for their loved ones. They express concern for their family's safety back in their home country, which serves as a powerful motivation to excel academically.
This free personal narrative essay explores a life journey akin to a roller coaster ride, reflecting on financial struggles, encounters with racism, and the pursuit of the American dream. It emphasizes the importance of embracing one’s roots and personal growth amid challenges.
Works Cited
- Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. W. W. Norton & Company.
- Kail, R. V., & Cavanaugh, J. C. (2017). Human development: A life-span view. Cengage Learning.
- Lee, M. T., & Yoo, H. C. (2004). Model minority stereotype: Influence on perceptions of Asian American undergraduate students. Journal of College Student Development, 45(2), 140-149.
- Mastro, D. E., Behm-Morawitz, E., & Ortiz, M. (2007). Latino representation on primetime television. Communication Research, 34(2), 165-188.
- Nagayama Hall, G. C., & Barongan, C. (2002). Prejudice and race relations. In Handbook of multicultural psychology (pp. 483-499). Oxford University Press.
- Rivas-Drake, D., Seaton, E. K., Markstrom, C., Quintana, S., Syed, M., Lee, R. M., … & Yip, T. (2014). Ethnic and racial identity in adolescence: Implications for psychosocial, academic, and health outcomes. Child Development, 85(1), 40-57.
- Rumbaut, R. G., & Portes, A. (2001). Ethnicities: Children of immigrants in America. University of California Press.
- Sullivan, J. P., & Mueller, R. A. (2006). Bias-related violence against individuals with disabilities. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 17(1), 31-45.
- Tatum, B. D. (2003). Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?: And other conversations about race. Basic Books.
- Wong, C. A., Eccles, J. S., & Sameroff, A. (2003). The influence of ethnic discrimination and ethnic identification on African American adolescents’ school and socioemotional adjustment. Journal of Personality, 71(6), 1197-1232.
Background Information Essay Example
Background information in an essay should provide context for your story. Include details about your upbringing, cultural background, significant life events, and any challenges you’ve faced that shaped your perspectives or character. This sets the stage for readers to understand the depth of your experiences and motivations.
Born and raised in Jamaica, I grew up in a vibrant yet challenging environment marked by the contrasts of communal harmony and socioeconomic hardships. My early life was a blend of cultural richness and personal trials, which together crafted a resilient and open-minded individual. Jamaica, often celebrated for its motto “Out of Many, One People,” instilled in me a strong sense of unity and equality, values that would later clash with the realities I faced upon moving to the United States. At the age of ten, following a sponsorship by my uncle, my family and I migrated to the U.S. in search of better opportunities and a safer environment. However, the transition was far from seamless. I encountered cultural and racial barriers that challenged my identity and self-worth. Despite these struggles, the move was driven by a profound purpose: to create a better life not only for myself but also for my family who remained back home. The dichotomy of my experiences—from the unity of Jamaica to the divisiveness I faced in America—shaped my worldview and personal goals. My mother, a constant beacon of strength and sacrifice, remained in Jamaica with my siblings, further fueling my drive to excel academically and socially in my new home. Her resilience and the memory of our shared struggles motivated me to pursue a life that would honor her sacrifices and pave the way for my siblings to join me in the U.S. This narrative of migration, adaptation, and perseverance defines my background and continues to influence my aspirations and interactions in profound ways. My journey is a testament to the strength derived from family, the pain of separation, and the relentless pursuit of a better future, themes that resonate deeply in my current life and ambitions.
This background information provides context to the essay’s narrative, detailing the cultural, familial, and personal elements that shape the author’s experiences and motivations.
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Background Information in an Essay: How to Write and Example
Background Information in an Essay
When assigned an essay, it is advisable to assume that your target audience does not know anything about your topic hence the reason why you should provide background information.
This enhances your audience’s understanding of the essay topic and subject matter. They will know what to expect in the body paragraphs of the essay.
Even though the essay has been assigned to you by your instructor and they already know the expectations, it is important to provide some background information in the introduction.
What is the Background of an Essay?
A background in an essay is the part or point within the essay where you provide contextual knowledge or introductory information to the readers to help them understand the essay’s subject matter.
The background sets the stage for the main arguments or discussion that will be presented in the essay.
What is Background Information in an Essay?
“Background information” in an essay is the content that is provided within an essay’s background to provide the readers with introductory information or contextual knowledge.
The background information helps orient your readers and equip them with the relevant foundational knowledge and context to understand the main discussions and arguments that follow within the body paragraphs.
When you provide the background information within your essay, you are establishing to your readers the relevance of your topic. This gives them the relevant information to engage with the content of your essay.
Also Read : Can a Literature Review have Pictures, Diagrams or Charts?
How to Write Background Information in an Essay
1. identify the key elements.
When writing background information in an essay, it is important to determine the key aspects of your topic that need to be addressed within the section.
Normally, the background information of an essay includes elements like a brief introduction of your topic, key definitions and concepts, historical context, relevant data or facts, and an overview of the existing research relating to your topic.
2. Conduct Research and Gather Relevant Information
Before writing the background information of your essay, ensure that you have conducted thorough research so that you can gather the relevant information and sources that are related to your topic.
It would be difficult to briefly introduce the topic and provide a brief historical context without understanding your topic through research. If possible start discussion posts on relevant platforms to gather further insights.
You should only utilize reputable sources such as scholarly articles and journals, books, and credible websites so that the information you provide in the background is accurate and reliable.
3. Organize the Information
Once you have researched and gathered the relevant information concerning your topic, organize it in such a way that it is logical and coherent.
Put into consideration the flow of the information in addition to how it will effectively support the main discussion or argument in your essay.
4. Begin with a Broad Introduction
When writing the background information section of the essay, start with a broad introduction to your topic.
Give a brief overview of the topic’s subject matter and its significance. This will set the context of the essay and grab your readers’ attention.
5. Give Historical Context if Applicable
If your essay’s topic has some historical aspects, provide relevant historical background information.
Here, you should provide key historical developments, events, or circumstances that will help your readers understand the current issue or situation presented in your topic.
6. Define Key Concepts and Terms
Introduce and define any specialized jargon, terms, or concepts that may be unfamiliar to your readers.
This ensures that the readers have a clear understanding of the terminologies and concepts used throughout the essay.
7. Present Relevant Data or Facts
Include relevant facts, data, or statistics that will help in establishing the magnitude or scope of your topic. This can give a qualitative or quantitative perspective on the issues discussed.
8. Summarize Existing Research if Applicable
When your essay is part of a greater academic discourse, briefly summarize the key arguments or findings from relevant scholarly sources .
This shows that you acknowledge the existing body of knowledge concerning your topic and highlights your essay’s contribution to the academic discourse.
In summary, when you are writing the background information in an essay, it is imperative to ensure that you present it clearly and concisely in addition to being relevant to the essay’s topic.
Avoid spending a lot of time on it and providing too much information and details.
Also Read : Time to Write a Thesis or Dissertation: Tips to Finish Fast
How to Write Background Section in Research Writing
The background section in research writing differs from that of an essay because it gives a more in-depth and comprehensive review of the existing research and literature related to your topic.
When writing the background section in research, you should:
Conduct a Literature Review
You should conduct a thorough literature review before writing the background section.
This will help you identify and father relevant scholarly sources like books, journal articles, and conference papers.
Organize the Literature
Analyze and organize the gathered literature per the relevant theories, themes, or key research findings.
Note the major concepts and gaps within the existing research that your study wishes to address.
Provide a Historical Context
Provide a brief historical context of your topic that traces the evolution of the research question or development of the field.
This helps your readers understand how your research fits within the broader scholarly discourse, in addition to how the ideas have progressed.
Present Key Concepts and Theories
Briefly introduce and explain the key concepts, models, and theories that are relevant to the research.
This shows that you understand the theoretical framework that underpins your research. It also provides your research question’s foundation.
Highlight Research Questions and Gaps
Identify the limitations or gaps within the existing literature that your study aims to fill.
State the objectives or research questions of your study and explain how they will address the identified gaps.
Justify your Research’s Significance
Explain the relevance and significance of your research within the larger practical or academic context.
Demonstrate how your study contributes to existing knowledge, addresses a practical problem, or advances the field.
Also Read : Should a Literature Review be Critical? Tips How to do it
Background Information Example
An example of background information from an essay with the topic “The Benefits of Exercise on Mental Health” is:
“Exercise has long been recognized as a fundamental component of a healthy lifestyle. Beyond its physical benefits, several studies have shown that exercise also has a positive impact on mental health.
Regular physical activity has been linked to improved mood, reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, and enhanced overall well-being. Research has shown that exercise can mitigate the risk of developing mental health disorders. It has been associated with a lower incidence of conditions such as depression and anxiety, in addition to playing a crucial role in the management and treatment of these conditions as well.
Understanding the benefits of exercise on mental health is essential for individuals seeking to improve their overall well-being. By incorporating regular physical activity into their routines, individuals can experience improved mood, reduced stress levels, and enhanced mental resilience.
This essay explores the existing literature on the relationship between exercise and mental health, highlighting the specific mechanisms through which exercise positively affects mental well-being. The aim is to further emphasize the importance of exercise as a tool for promoting mental health and well-being”.
Also Read : How to Tell If a Research Paper Is Good: Tips from A to Z
Do’s & Don’ts when Writing Background Information
As earlier discussed in this article, the Do’s when writing background information includes providing the necessary context, including relevant facts and data, citing credible sources, focusing on relevance to the topic, and being concise.
Do not include irrelevant information or overgeneralize, do not plagiarize, and do not overwhelm your readers with too much information or details since they will be provided in the body.
Josh Jasen or JJ as we fondly call him, is a senior academic editor at Grade Bees in charge of the writing department. When not managing complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In his spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.
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