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How to Write About Yourself in a College Essay | Examples

Published on September 21, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.

An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflection, authenticity, and a balance between confidence and vulnerability. Your essay shouldn’t just be a resume of your experiences; colleges are looking for a story that demonstrates your most important values and qualities.

To write about your achievements and qualities without sounding arrogant, use specific stories to illustrate them. You can also write about challenges you’ve faced or mistakes you’ve made to show vulnerability and personal growth.

Table of contents

Start with self-reflection, how to write about challenges and mistakes, how to write about your achievements and qualities, how to write about a cliché experience, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Before you start writing, spend some time reflecting to identify your values and qualities. You should do a comprehensive brainstorming session, but here are a few questions to get you started:

• What are three words your friends or family would use to describe you, and why would they choose them?
• Whom do you admire most and why?
• What are the top five things you are thankful for?
• What has inspired your hobbies or future goals?
• What are you most proud of? Ashamed of?

As you self-reflect, consider how your values and goals reflect your prospective university’s program and culture, and brainstorm stories that demonstrate the fit between the two.

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Writing about difficult experiences can be an effective way to show authenticity and create an emotional connection to the reader, but choose carefully which details to share, and aim to demonstrate how the experience helped you learn and grow.

Be vulnerable

It’s not necessary to have a tragic story or a huge confession. But you should openly share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences to evoke an emotional response from the reader. Even a cliché or mundane topic can be made interesting with honest reflection. This honesty is a preface to self-reflection and insight in the essay’s conclusion.

Don’t overshare

With difficult topics, you shouldn’t focus too much on negative aspects. Instead, use your challenging circumstances as a brief introduction to how you responded positively.

Share what you have learned

It’s okay to include your failure or mistakes in your essay if you include a lesson learned. After telling a descriptive, honest story, you should explain what you learned and how you applied it to your life.

While it’s good to sell your strengths, you also don’t want to come across as arrogant. Instead of just stating your extracurricular activities, achievements, or personal qualities, aim to discreetly incorporate them into your story.

Brag indirectly

Mention your extracurricular activities or awards in passing, not outright, to avoid sounding like you’re bragging from a resume.

Use stories to prove your qualities

Even if you don’t have any impressive academic achievements or extracurriculars, you can still demonstrate your academic or personal character. But you should use personal examples to provide proof. In other words, show evidence of your character instead of just telling.

Many high school students write about common topics such as sports, volunteer work, or their family. Your essay topic doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, but do try to include unexpected personal details and your authentic voice to make your essay stand out .

To find an original angle, try these techniques:

• Focus on a specific moment, and describe the scene using your five senses.
• Mention objects that have special significance to you.
• Instead of following a common story arc, include a surprising twist or insight.

Your unique voice can shed new perspective on a common human experience while also revealing your personality. When read out loud, the essay should sound like you are talking.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

First, spend time reflecting on your core values and character . You can start with these questions:

However, you should do a comprehensive brainstorming session to fully understand your values. Also consider how your values and goals match your prospective university’s program and culture. Then, brainstorm stories that illustrate the fit between the two.

When writing about yourself , including difficult experiences or failures can be a great way to show vulnerability and authenticity, but be careful not to overshare, and focus on showing how you matured from the experience.

Through specific stories, you can weave your achievements and qualities into your essay so that it doesn’t seem like you’re bragging from a resume.

Include specific, personal details and use your authentic voice to shed a new perspective on a common human experience.

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Personal Characteristics Essay: Top Examples and Tips for Successful Writing

Looking to write a compelling personal characteristics essay? Our article offers top examples and tips for successful writing.

Posted August 18, 2023

Table of Contents

When it comes to writing a personal characteristics essay, there are several important factors to consider to ensure that your essay stands out from the rest. This type of essay requires you to talk about your personal traits and characteristics and how they have shaped your life experiences and decisions. Writing a personal characteristics essay can be daunting, but with the right strategies and techniques, you can craft an impressive essay that leaves a lasting impression.

Understanding the Purpose of a Personal Characteristics Essay

Before diving into the writing process, it's essential to understand the purpose of a personal characteristics essay. The purpose of this type of essay is to showcase your unique qualities and characteristics, which makes you stand out from the rest. It's an opportunity for the reader to gain insight into your personality and the way you think. Your essay should not only provide a description of your traits but also demonstrate how they influence your actions and decisions.

Additionally, a personal characteristics essay can also serve as a tool for self-reflection and personal growth. Through the process of writing about your traits and how they have impacted your life, you may gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your values. This type of essay can also help you identify areas for improvement and set goals for personal development.

How to Choose a Topic for Your Personal Characteristics Essay

Choosing the right topic for your personal characteristics essay is crucial. You want to select a topic that not only reflects your personality but also allows you to showcase your writing skills. Start by brainstorming a list of traits and characteristics that define you. From there, select a topic that highlights one or two of these traits. Think about a situation that showcases these traits and how you overcame a challenge or learned a valuable lesson.

Another important factor to consider when choosing a topic for your personal characteristics essay is your audience. Think about who will be reading your essay and what they might be interested in learning about you. Consider selecting a topic that is relatable and relevant to your audience, while still highlighting your unique qualities.

It's also important to remember that your personal characteristics essay should not just be a list of traits or accomplishments. Instead, focus on telling a story that illustrates your personality and how it has shaped your experiences and perspectives. Choose a topic that allows you to delve deeper into your personal journey and share insights that will resonate with your readers.

Brainstorming Techniques for Your Personal Characteristics Essay

Brainstorming is an essential step in the writing process. It allows you to generate ideas and make connections between them. Try using mind maps or free-writing to get your ideas down on paper. You might also consider asking friends or family members what they think your most prominent traits are to get an outside perspective.

Another effective technique for brainstorming your personal characteristics essay is to reflect on your past experiences and how they have shaped you. Think about challenges you have faced and how you overcame them, or moments of success and how they have contributed to your personal growth. These experiences can provide valuable insight into your character and help you identify key traits to highlight in your essay.

The Importance of Organizing Your Thoughts and Ideas

Once you've generated your ideas, it's time to organize them. Start by creating an outline that includes the main points you want to make in your essay. Your outline should also include the introduction, body, and conclusion sections of your essay. Organizing your thoughts and ideas will help you stay on track and ensure that you cover all the necessary points in your essay.

Moreover, organizing your thoughts and ideas can also help you identify any gaps in your argument or areas where you need to do more research. By creating an outline, you can see where you need to add more information or examples to support your points. This can help you create a more well-rounded and convincing essay.

Additionally, organizing your thoughts and ideas can also help you save time in the long run. When you have a clear outline to follow, you can write your essay more efficiently and effectively. You won't waste time trying to figure out what to write next or how to structure your essay. Instead, you can focus on writing high-quality content that supports your thesis statement and engages your readers.

Tips for Writing a Strong Introduction to Your Essay

The introduction to your essay is crucial as it sets the tone for the rest of your essay. Your introduction should grab the reader's attention and entice them to keep reading. Consider starting with a hook, such as a quote, an anecdote, or a question. Your introduction should also include your thesis statement, which outlines the main point of your essay.

In addition to a hook and thesis statement, your introduction should also provide some background information on the topic you are writing about. This can help to contextualize your essay and give the reader a better understanding of the subject matter. However, be careful not to include too much information in your introduction, as it can become overwhelming and detract from the main point of your essay.

The Art of Developing a Compelling Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement should be concise and clear. It should provide a roadmap for the rest of your essay. Think about the main point you want to make and how you plan on supporting it throughout your essay. Make sure your thesis statement is arguable and specific.

Supporting Your Claims with Relevant Examples and Evidence

To make your essay more compelling, you should back up your claims and arguments with relevant examples and evidence. This will help your reader understand the extent of your personal qualities and how they have impacted your life experiences. Make sure to include specific examples from your life that illustrate the qualities you're discussing in your essay.

One effective way to provide evidence for your claims is to use statistics or data that support your argument. For example, if you're writing an essay about the benefits of exercise, you could include statistics about the number of people who have improved their health through regular exercise. This will add credibility to your argument and make it more convincing.

Another way to support your claims is to use expert opinions or quotes from reputable sources. This can help to strengthen your argument and show that you have done your research on the topic. Be sure to properly cite any sources you use in your essay.

The Power of Descriptive Writing: Painting a Vivid Picture with Words

Descriptive writing is a powerful tool that can be used to paint a vivid picture of your experiences and personality in your essay. Use sensory details to help your reader visualize your experiences. Consider incorporating metaphors or similes to make your writing more interesting and engaging.

Adding Depth and Complexity to Your Essay through Analysis and Reflection

Analysis and reflection are essential elements of an outstanding personal characteristics essay. Once you have described your traits and experiences, you should analyze how they have contributed to your personal growth and development. Reflection is also important as it allows you to consider how you might apply your characteristics to future situations.

The Benefits of Peer Review and Collaboration in Essay Writing

Collaborating with others can be immensely helpful in refining your essay. You might consider having a friend or family member review your essay and provide feedback. Peer review can help you identify areas where your essay needs improvement and provide suggestions for how to improve it.

Strategies for Effective Editing and Proofreading

Editing and proofreading are crucial steps in the writing process. Once you have completed your essay, take a break and come back to it with fresh eyes. Look for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Make sure to also check that your essay flows logically and that your arguments are well-supported.

Addressing Common Pitfalls in Personal Characteristics Essays

One common pitfall in personal characteristics essays is focusing too much on describing your traits instead of analyzing how they have impacted your life experiences. Another common pitfall is using cliches or generic language instead of making your essay unique and interesting. Be sure to avoid these pitfalls to ensure your essay stands out.

Using Keywords and Meta Tags to Optimize Your Essay for Search Engines

If you plan on publishing your essay online, you might consider optimizing it for search engines such as Google. This involves using keywords and meta tags in your essay that will help it appear higher in search results. Be sure to research the most popular keywords related to your topic and include them strategically in your essay.

Crafting an Impressive Conclusion that Leaves a Lasting Impression

Finally, your conclusion should leave a lasting impression on the reader. Summarize your main points and reiterate your thesis statement. Think about what you want your reader to take away from your essay. Consider ending with a call to action or a memorable quote.

Writing a personal characteristics essay can be a challenging task, but with the right strategies and techniques, you can craft an impressive essay that showcases your unique qualities and characteristics. By following the tips outlined above, you'll be well on your way to writing a successful personal characteristics essay that leaves a lasting impression.

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Essay on My Personality

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Personality in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Personality

Introduction to my personality.

My personality is like a colorful painting with many different features. It shows who I am and how I act with friends and family. I am kind, funny, and always ready to help others.

I believe in being nice to everyone. Sharing my toys and helping classmates with homework are ways I show kindness. This makes me feel good inside.

Being Funny

I love to make people laugh. Telling jokes and making funny faces are things I do to spread joy. Laughter is important to me.

Helpfulness

Whenever someone needs a hand, I’m there. Whether it’s cleaning up or giving a friend advice, I enjoy lending my support. It’s a big part of who I am.

250 Words Essay on My Personality

My personality is like a colorful painting, with many different features. It shows who I am and how I behave. Imagine it as a special flavor that is unique to me.

Friendliness

One big part of my personality is being friendly. I like to smile and talk to people. It’s like being a sunny day that makes others feel warm and happy. I believe in making new friends and keeping the old ones close.

I am also very curious. This means I love to learn new things. It’s like being a detective on a hunt for clues. Every day is a chance to find out something I didn’t know before.

Being Brave

Being brave is another piece of who I am. When things get tough, I try not to give up. It’s like being a superhero in my own life story. Even when I’m scared, I face my fears.

Kindness is very important to me. I try to be nice to everyone. It’s like sharing my favorite cookies with a friend. Being kind makes the world a better place.

In conclusion, my personality is made up of being friendly, curious, brave, and kind. These parts of me fit together to make who I am. Just like a puzzle, each piece is important and makes the picture complete.

500 Words Essay on My Personality

When we talk about someone’s personality, we mean the mix of qualities and traits that make them unique. Think of it like a special recipe that makes you, you. In this essay, I will share about my own personality. Just like a rainbow has many colors, my personality has many parts.

One of the first things you might notice about me is that I am friendly. I like to smile and say hello to people. Making friends is something I enjoy because I believe that life is better when shared. My friends say that I am easy to talk to and that I make them feel comfortable.

I am very curious, which means I love to learn new things. Whether it’s reading books, asking questions, or exploring new places, I always want to know more. This curiosity helps me in school because I find many subjects interesting, and I always want to learn more about them.

Bravery does not mean I am never scared. It means that even when something is hard or frightening, I try to face it. For example, I might be nervous about speaking in front of my class, but I will still do it. Being brave helps me to grow and try new things.

Being kind is very important to me. I try to be nice to everyone, even if they are not nice to me. I believe that being kind can make someone’s day better. I like to help others when they need it, like sharing my snacks or helping with homework.

Patience is like waiting without getting upset. Sometimes, I have to wait my turn or deal with a delay. I have learned that getting angry does not help, so I try to stay calm and wait.

Imagination

I love to make up stories and draw pictures. My imagination is like a playground in my mind where anything can happen. I can be a knight, an astronaut, or a deep-sea diver in my imagination. It is a place where I am free to dream up all sorts of adventures.

Responsibility

Being responsible means that I take care of my duties. I do my homework, keep my room clean, and remember to feed my pet. It’s not always fun, but I know it’s important to do these things.

In conclusion, my personality is made up of many different traits. I am friendly, curious, brave, kind, patient, imaginative, and responsible. These parts of my personality make me who I am. Just like everyone else, I am a mix of many qualities, and that’s what makes each of us special. Remember, your personality is your own unique recipe, and it’s what makes you, you!

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on My Personal Development
• Essay on My Passion For Technology
• Essay on My Passion For Sports

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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How to Write a Good Personality Essay

How to Annotate an Interview in an Annotated Bibliography

A personality essay is an essay that is written about your own personality or the personality of someone you know. It could be someone you know personally or a celebrity, politician or historical figure. You will be required to analyze the individual's personality as well as demonstrate knowledge of the theory of how personalities are formed. Demonstrating this type of knowledge will require some research. You will also need to use your own ideas to draw conclusions about how the person’s personality was formed from factors such as their experience, influences, education, and background.

Read through your instructor’s directions for the personality essay carefully. In order to write a good personality essay, you will need to follow the directions of your assignment. For example, your instructor may have certain elements that you must include in the paper, or you may be provided with a list of possible people to write about.

Make a list of possible people who could be the subject of your personality essay. You may have to write about yourself, or you may be able to choose someone you know or admire. Your list should contain people you feel would be most interesting to write about. Think about the people on your list and make your choice based on your own personal preferences and your assignment.

Research your topic. This will involve gathering information on the person you’re writing about and on the psychological theories behind how personalities are formed. Journal articles and psychology books can help you research personalities in general. If possible, interview the person you’re writing about. If it’s someone famous or a historical figure, you will need to utilize website articles, academic journals and reference books for your research. If the essay is about you, interview your friends and family members about your personality.

Write the outline for your essay. Your introduction should explain who you are writing about and why you chose to focus on that person. The introduction should also outline the main points of your essay. Each body paragraph should contain a topic sentence and discuss details about that topic. For example, one paragraph might be about how your childhood shaped your present personality. Use specific examples from your childhood to back up this point. Your conclusion summarizes your essay and might explain what you learned by completing the assignment.

Edit and revise your personality essay. Add more details to your paragraphs, including information you found during your research. Double check your introduction to be sure it accurately describes what your essay is about. Proofread the personality essay to make sure there are no misspelled words, typos or awkward sentence structures. Revising and proofreading will ensure you’ve written a good essay.

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Good Qualities in a Person: 150+ Positive Character Traits

Understanding and appreciating the qualities that make us human can be a journey of self-discovery, a tool for character development, or a compass for personal growth. 

Whether you’re a teacher nurturing these traits in your students, a mental health professional guiding your clients, a writer crafting compelling characters, or simply someone seeking to better understand yourself and others — this resource is for you.

At Good Good Good , we celebrate stories of good people making a positive difference in the world . So, it made sense for us to compile this guide of diverse vocabulary to describe the qualities of a good person.

Remember: No one person can have every good quality — but every person does have some good qualities. We each have an opportunity and an obligation to continue to grow and improve ourselves.

Like Maya Angelou said , “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

We’ve curated the most comprehensive list of positive character traits on the internet. From Adventurous to Zealous, this guide serves as a testament to the multifaceted dimensions of character that make us uniquely human.

Whether you’re utilizing this resource for yourself or others, we hope it brings value to your journey.

You might also like: List of Personality Traits | List of Positive Words To Describe Someone | List of Emotions | List of Mood Words | List of Positive Affirmations

Good Personality Traits To Describe Good People

• Accountable
• Adventurous
• Anti-discriminatory
• Anti-racist
• Anti-sexist
• Appreciative
• Civic-minded
• Collaborative
• Communicative
• Compassionate
• Conscientious
• Considerate
• Constructive
• Cooperative
• Disciplined
• Eco-conscious
• Egalitarian
• Emotionally Intelligent
• Encouraging
• Enthusiastic
• Environmentally Friendly
• Fashionable
• Humanitarian
• Imaginative
• Independent
• Individualistic
• Intelligent
• Interesting
• Leader-like
• Lighthearted
• Negotiating
• Non-discriminatory 
• Non-exploitative
• Non-violent
• Open-minded
• Persevering
• Philanthropic
• Problem-solving
• Progressive
• Resourceful
• Responsible
• Self-confident
• Self-controlled
• Self-disciplined
• Self-reliant
• Socially Conscious
• Sustainable
• Sympathetic
• Team-oriented
• Trustworthy
• Understanding
• Willing to Learn

You might also like: Positive Words from A-Z

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465+ Positive Words To Describe Someone

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Personality Types

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How Personality Impacts Our Daily Lives

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Verywell / Emily Roberts

Personality Characteristics

How personality develops, impact of personality, personality disorders.

Personality describes the unique patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that distinguish a person from others. A product of both biology and environment, it remains fairly consistent throughout life.

Examples of personality can be found in how we describe other people's traits. For instance, "She is generous, caring, and a bit of a perfectionist," or "They are loyal and protective of their friends."

The word "personality" stems from the Latin word persona , which refers to a theatrical mask worn by performers to play roles or disguise their identities.

Although there are many definitions of personality, most focus on the pattern of behaviors and characteristics that can help predict and explain a person's behavior.

Explanations for personality can focus on a variety of influences, ranging from genetic effects to the role of the environment and experience in shaping an individual's personality.

What exactly makes up a personality? Traits and patterns of thought and emotion play important roles, and so do these fundamental characteristics of personality:

• Consistency : There is generally a recognizable order and regularity to behaviors. Essentially, people act in the same way or in similar ways in a variety of situations.
• Both psychological and physiological : Personality is a psychological construct, but research suggests that it is also influenced by biological processes and needs.
• Affects behaviors and actions : Personality not only influences how we move and respond in our environment, but it also causes us to act in certain ways.
• Multiple expressions : Personality is displayed in more than just behavior. It can also be seen in our thoughts, feelings, close relationships, and other social interactions.

There are a number of theories about personality , and different schools of thought in psychology influence many of these theories. Some theories describe how personalities are expressed, and others focus more on how personality develops.

Type theories suggest that there are a limited number of personality types that are related to biological influences.

One theory suggests there are four types of personality. They are:

• Type A : Perfectionist, impatient, competitive, work-obsessed, achievement-oriented, aggressive, stressed
• Type B : Low stress, even- tempered , flexible, creative, adaptable to change, patient, tendency to procrastinate
• Type C : Highly conscientious, perfectionist, struggles to reveal emotions (positive and negative)
• Type D : Worrying, sad, irritable, pessimistic, negative self-talk, avoidance of social situations, lack of self-confidence, fear of rejection, appears gloomy, hopeless

There are other popular theories of personality types such as the Myers-Briggs theory. The Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator identifies a personality based on where someone is on four continuums: introversion-extraversion, sensing-intuition, thinking-feeling, and judging-perceiving.

After taking a Myers-Briggs personality test, you are assigned one of 16 personality types. Examples of these personality types are:

• ISTJ : Introverted, sensing, thinking, and judging. People with this personality type are logical and organized; they also tend to be judgmental.
• INFP : Introverted, intuitive, feeling, and perceiving. They tend to be idealists and sensitive to their feelings.
• ESTJ : Extroverted, sensing, thinking, and judging. They tend to be assertive and concerned with following the rules.
• ENFJ : Extroverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging. They are known as "givers" for being warm and loyal; they may also be overprotective.

Personality Tests

In addition to the MBTI, some of the most well-known personality inventories are:

• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
• HEXACO Personality Inventory
• Caddell's 16PF Personality Questionnaire
• Enneagram Typology

Personality Traits

Trait theories tend to view personality as the result of internal characteristics that are genetically based and include:

• Agreeable : Cares about others, feels empathy, enjoys helping others
• Conscientiousness : High levels of thoughtfulness, good impulse control, goal-directed behaviors
• Eager-to-please : Accommodating, passive, and  conforming
• Extraversion : Excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness, and high amounts of emotional expressiveness
• Introversion : Quiet, reserved
• Neuroticism : Experiences stress and dramatic shifts in mood, feels anxious, worries about different things, gets upset easily, struggles to bounce back after stressful events
• Openness : Very creative , open to trying new things, focuses on tackling new challenges

Try Our Free Personality Test

Our fast and free personality test can help give you an idea of your dominant personality traits and how they may influence your behaviors.

Psychodynamic Theories

Psychodynamic theories of personality are heavily influenced by the work of Sigmund Freud and emphasize the influence of the unconscious  mind on personality. Psychodynamic theories include Sigmund Freud’s psychosexual stage theory and Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development .

Behavioral Theories

Behavioral theories suggest that personality is a result of interaction between the individual and the environment. Behavioral theorists study observable and measurable behaviors, often ignoring the role of internal thoughts and feelings. Behavioral theorists include B.F. Skinner and John B. Watson .

Humanist theories emphasize the importance of free will and individual experience in developing ​a personality. Humanist theorists include Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow .

Research on personality can yield fascinating insights into how personality develops and changes over the course of a lifetime. This research can also have important practical applications in the real world.

For example, people can use a personality assessment (also called a personality test or personality quiz) to learn more about themselves and their unique strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. Some assessments might look at how people rank on specific traits, such as whether they are high in extroversion , conscientiousness, or openness.

Other assessments might measure how specific aspects of personality change over time. Some assessments give people insight into how their personality affects many areas of their lives, including career, relationships, personal growth, and more.

Understanding your personality type can help you determine what career you might enjoy, how well you might perform in certain job roles, or how effective a form of psychotherapy could be for you.

Personality type can also have an impact on your health, including how often you visit the doctor and how you cope with stress. Researchers have found that certain personality characteristics may be linked to illness and health behaviors.

While personality determines what you think and how you behave, personality disorders are marked by thoughts and behavior that are disruptive and distressing in everyday life. Someone with a personality disorder may have trouble recognizing their condition because their symptoms are ingrained in their personality.

Personality disorders include paranoid personality disorder , schizoid personality disorder , antisocial personality disorder , borderline personality disorder (BPD), and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).

While the symptoms of personality disorders vary based on the condition, some common signs include:

• Aggressive behavior
• Delusional thinking
• Distrust of others
• Flat emotions (no emotional range)
• Lack of interest in relationships
• Violating others' boundaries

Some people with BPD experience suicidal thoughts or behavior as well.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  at  988  for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. 

For more mental health resources, see our  National Helpline Database .

If you are concerned that elements of your personality are contributing to stress, anxiety, confusion, or depression, it's important to talk to a doctor or mental health professional. They can help you understand any underlying conditions you may have.

It is often challenging to live with a personality disorder, but there are treatment options such as therapy and medication that can help.

Understanding the psychology of personality is much more than simply an academic exercise. The findings from personality research can have important applications in the world of medicine, health, business, economics, technology, among others. By building a better understanding of how personality works, we can look for new ways to improve both personal and public health.

The Myers & Briggs Foundation.  MBTI basics .

Bornstein RF. Personality assessment in the diagnostic manuals: On mindfulness, multiple methods, and test score discontinuities .  J Pers Assess . 2015;97(5):446-455. doi:10.1080/00223891.2015.1027346

Srivastava K, Das RC. Personality and health: Road to well-being .  Ind Psychiatry J . 2015;24(1):1–4. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.160905

Mayo Clinic. Personality disorders .

Carducci BJ. The Psychology of Personality: Viewpoints, Research, and Applications . Wiley Blackwell. 

John OP, Robins RW, Pervin LA. Handbook of Personality: Theory and Research . Guilford Press.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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Key Tips and Examples to Start Personality Essays

Table of Contents

Personality is what sets people apart from others. It’s what makes them unique. Some personality traits are easy to see, and some are more hidden and harder to read.

A personality essay aims to help readers to understand a person better by getting to know their personality. And as with other types of essays, the introduction is a vital element. You can get more readers interested in your work with a good introduction.

We’ve gathered some excellent  personality essay introduction examples  to help you get started.

What Is a Personality Essay?

Before starting a personality essay, it’s essential to understand what personality is first.

Generally, personality is defined by various thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make someone unique. It is believed that personality comes from within individuals; it rarely changes and is consistent throughout life.

We can find examples of personality in how we describe other people’s traits. For example, “She is generous, caring, and somewhat perfectionist.” Or “They are loyal and protective toward their friends.”

A personality essay can tackle the subject of personality in general or introduce the author’s personality. It can also discuss how different people can express themselves and predict how they might act within a particular situation.

Tips on Writing a Personality Essay Introduction

Writing an essay about your personality can be challenging since it’s like showing your inner self to other people.

You will need to brainstorm and explain what personality traits you have and why you have them. And if you’re writing an essay about personalities in general, you will also need to do thorough research. Here are some tips that will help you along:

Organize Your Ideas

Try to write down your ideas on paper to organize them better. This will keep you from feeling overwhelmed. It’s also helpful to make a draft about what you want to talk about in your essay. Don’t be pressured when making your draft. You can revise it later on if you want to. 

An introduction needs an exciting hook, sufficient background information, and a strong thesis statement .

• Hook : You can start your introduction with an intriguing question or an interesting anecdote to draw readers in.
• Background Information : Research and use supporting details that can bridge your hook and your thesis statement.
• Thesis Statemen t: The thesis statement is where you state your essay’s central point. It should present a strong argument.

Keep It Genuine

Personality essays need to show your raw self. Write about your personality, whether it be positive or negative. Highlight your positive qualities and discuss what you do to improve the negative ones.

Questions to Answer When Writing About Your Personality

It’s helpful to ask yourself questions, so you can reflect on your personality or the consequences of your personality. Answering these kinds of questions will aid you in establishing your thesis. Here are some sample questions that can help you write your personality essay.

1. What personality trait are you most proud of?

Highlight those qualities that make you an asset to anyone you work with. Make sure you play up your great qualities and downplay any bad ones.

2. Why do you have these traits? Do you plan to keep them? 

Try to explain how you got your traits. Do you think you acquired these traits during your childhood? Or was it a result of a life experience or trauma? Phrase your answers in a way that readers can relate to them.

3. How will these traits help you daily and at work?

Explain why you are proud of specific qualities and how they impact your relationships. Put greater emphasis on behaviors that facilitate a better relationship with others. After all, teamwork is all about individuals with different personalities working well together.

Personality Essay Introduction Examples

Example 1: introduction to personality.

Everything about a person is what makes them unique. Every person is different; therefore, everyone has their personality. This is what defines them as individuals in every aspect and stage of development in their lives. Personalities are what makeup who we are. It differentiates us from others around us.

Example 2: My Personality

Everyone has unique traits that make them who they are. And many psychologists have generated theories about why we have these personalities. It’s normal to feel that you are different from the people around you. This is because none of us are the same. Everyone is different. And there isn’t anything wrong with that. I am an introvert who enjoys reading, exercising, and taking time. But I am also a talkative person when I’m with my closest friends. This shows how a myriad of personalities can characterize one person.

Example 3: Personality As a Unique Potential

Milton once famously said, “every person is unique in his own way.” Everyone in this world has potential and reason for living. The big question is whether or not we are aware of this unique potential that we possess. I, for one, am aware of my unique potential. I’m the kind of person who can make everybody feel comfortable. My friends characterize me as someone friendly and fun to be around. I am also a perfectionist who is looking for the best in everything.

Example 4: the Importance of Understanding Personalities

The concept of personality is one of the central topics in psychology and psychoanalysis. Several scientific theories characterize the process of personality development. Understanding this process is a crucial factor in the children’s upbringing and education of people.

There are many ways to start a personality essay . You can write one that’s about yourself. Or you can choose to look at the subject of personality from a broader perspective.

This may depend on the topic assigned to you. Starting a personality essay is hard, but it helps to look at some personality essay introduction examples. Hopefully, you got the inspiration you need from this article. Go and write that essay!

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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How to Write an Essay About My Personality

Who are you? Why are you here? What is your purpose in life? These are just a few of the existential questions that plague humans on a daily basis. As you get older, these themes will develop into much more complex questions, even prompting you to write an essay about your personality.

• What are personality essays?

Importance of Personality Essays

How to get the best essay about my personality, catchy titles for personality related essays, how to start an essay about my personality, tips on writing a personality essay introduction, writing body paragraphs, how to write a conclusion for my personality essays, finalizing essay.

• Proofreading

Making Citations

Short example of a college essay about my personality, what are personality essays.

No two people can have the same attitudes, nature, preferences, and traits. However, it is convenient to categorize people into personality types depending on the shared characteristics. When you write to describe your personality essay, you are letting the audience see you in the true light. You are explaining how you are and why you are that certain way. By giving examples from your life experience, you back up the claim you make.

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A personality essay can be quite useful. Not only for the readers to understand you better but also for your own sake. You get the opportunity to reflect upon yourself and figure out what your comfort zone is and how you tackle routine and non-routine challenges. The different types can help you understand what your personality is in the true sense. You can be an introvert or an extrovert, a rational person, or somebody who is influenced heavily by emotions. There are different categories, and you can be a combination of many.

Here is a list of options you can avail for the title of your personality essays:

• Everything there is to know about me
• A reflection of my personality
• My personality traits
• What is my personality?
• A glance at my personality highlights
• My antisocial personality
• Narcissistic personality traits
• Contributors of an avoidant personality
• Self-awareness: A major part of my personality
• Feelings vs. Thinking
• My protagonist personality

Have you set up your study desk and ready to type away? Hold on, there is another step that some people might consider optional, but you should not. Never dive straight into the writing process without proper planning. Planning here refers to making an effective outline. Here is how:

• Outline writing

A good personality essay starts with a great outline. Not sure what to include in it? Let’s find out!

• A catchy topic

If you are writing a literary piece all about yourself, you must make sure the person on the reading end is intrigued enough to go through it. Select an attention-grabbing title.

• A precise yet enlightening introduction

What does this mean? Introduce yourself. While writing the first part of your personality essay, completely avoid prolonging sentences and using redundant content. Keep this crisp, light, and it should be written so that the audience understands where this essay is headed.

• Gripping main body paragraphs

This section would include the central 3-4 ideas that you will be introducing in your essay. Write down the aspects that you will cover about yourself.

• A memorable conclusion

It again does not have to be lengthy but has to reinforce the main idea about your personality essay.

After you have written your outline, it is time to write your personality essay introduction. Remember, a fascinating introduction will leave a first good impression on the readers and will be a deciding factor for them to decide whether to move forward or skim through. How can you nail this part? Follow the tips below:

• Do not exceed more than five lines when writing the introduction
• Use a hook to grab attention
• Give a brief description of yourself and what makes you unique
• Set a light mood

What is your personality essay? A piece of writing explaining your behaviors, choices, and preferences. Body paragraphs make a major chunk of your essay. It will give the readers a deeper insight into you and your personality traits. Make sure to follow the given instructions:

• Three-body paragraphs are more than enough
• Introduce a new point in each paragraph
• Give examples of real-life experiences to support your claim
• This essay should not be very lengthy or can bore the readers
• Use transition words like firstly, furthermore, likewise, similarly, to sum it up, in conclusion

It will be the last section of your essay. If you ace this part, you are bound to leave a lasting impression on others. You should want your personality essay to be memorable, and for that, practice the tips below:

• Make this no longer than five sentences
• Do not introduce a new idea here
• Reinstate the purpose of your essay
• Do not end abruptly

Are you done with the writing part? Do you feel ready to turn it in? Hold on. Why not take your essay to perfection? Add the last finishing touches to make sure your work is flawless.

Revising Essay

Do not think for a second that you can write an error-free essay in the first attempt. Not if you are a beginner and still not if you are a professional. A valuable piece of advice is to go back to the very start and read between the lines to identify structural or organizational errors.

Proofreading Essay

It is to tackle the surface errors that you might have made while writing. These include spelling errors, typos, punctuation, or grammatical mistakes. You can also take help from editing platforms like Grammarly. Another useful tip is to ask a fresh pair of eyes to review your work before submission.

If this is required, ensure that you are citing the references that you have used. Do this at the very end of your personality essay. Depending on the formatting style, please do not skip this step, leading to score reduction. It can be a little challenging for some people. If you are one of these people, consider taking professional help from essay writing services.

Looking for an ideal personality essay example? Here is one:

An open book

My Name Is Kim Ross. I believe that terms like bubbly, outgoing, funny, friendly, and lively describe me well. Why? Come by my house anytime; chances are, you will not find me there. I might be hanging out on the beach with my buddies or at a bar, enjoying a couple of drinks and dancing like there is no one watching. What makes me unique? Let’s find out.

I have immense compassion for animals. I started horse riding back in grade five, and since then, I have known how much I love spending time with these majestic creatures. Thanks to my father, I have always had an interest in birds too. It is why you will find all sorts of them hanging out in my garden area. I have chickens, ducks, parrots, and doves. For the love of these animals, I have managed to start a foundation at school, which helps me raise funds for the nearest animal rescue organization. It also provides me with an opportunity to bond with different people.

When I say funny, I do not mean to brag, but you will always find my friends smiling and chuckling beside me. I have a couple of jokes up my sleeve which I bring out to play from time to time to lighten the mood. I think my laugh is funnier than the jokes I make, so maybe that cracks up the people listening.

When it comes to decision-making, I would say I am not very proud of my strategy. Well, there is no strategy, and that is the issue. I can be quite impulsive, especially when I am excited, which makes several of my decisions not ideal. Just an example, one time, I was chilling at a poolside with my friends. Keep in mind that I have never had swimming classes and I know nothing about it. I saw my friends climbing up the jump board and diving in. I thought it was pretty fun, and I recklessly followed their lead and tried to replicate them. The next thing I know, I was deep underwater, trying to float to the surface, but I kept failing at it. I passed out. When I woke up, I was on a hospital bed with my family surrounding me. I was informed that I got water in my lungs which had to be removed. I knew I could not swim, I was also aware that the pool was very deep, but just for fun, I went ahead with the stupid idea. Anyways, back to my point, I need to be a little more rational.

With all of this said, you now know a lot about me. I consider myself an open book, so I am sharing important details about my life with you without a worry in the world. I live by the rule that everybody should accept me for who I am. Otherwise, they are not someone worth keeping in your life. Maybe this is why I am content with where I am today.

Buy Pre-written Essay Examples on About the Topic.

One option is to purchase off-the-shelf essays as per your liking. There are several online websites that you can use for this. One such credible platform is EssayZoo. It is a great way to learn from the best in the field.

Use EduJungles To Write Your Essay from A Scratch.

When it comes to writing a personality essay, it is better to start from scratch and not purchase a pre-written paper. It would help if you had this essay very tailored to your traits. Hence, you are recommended to use same day essay writing service of Edu Jungles to write my essay today. Provide a very clear set of instructions for best results.

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How to Masterfully Describe Your Personality in an Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide 2023

Introduction

Step 1: self-reflection and introspection, step 2: identifying core values and beliefs, step 3: gathering evidence and examples.

• Step 4: Show, don't tell

Step 5: Structuring your essay effectively

Step 6: balancing self-awareness and humility, step 7: seeking feedback and editing.

Describing your personality in an essay is not simply an exercise in self-expression; it is a transformative process that allows you to artfully communicate and convey the intricate nuances of your character to the reader. By delving into the depths of your self-awareness, personal growth, and the values that serve as the compass guiding your actions and decisions, you embark on a journey of self-discovery and introspection. In this comprehensive step-by-step guide , we will navigate the intricacies of crafting a compelling personality description in your essay, providing you with the necessary tools to masterfully articulate your unique qualities, experiences, and perspectives.

At its core, the act of describing your personality in an essay is an opportunity to authentically showcase who you are. It is a platform to illuminate the multifaceted nature of your being, unveiling the layers that make you distinct and individual. Through self-reflection and introspection , you delve into the recesses of your soul, gaining a deeper understanding of your own personality traits and characteristics. This process of self-exploration allows you to unearth the strengths that define you and the weaknesses that provide opportunities for growth.

Identifying your core values and beliefs is another essential step in effectively describing your personality. By exploring your fundamental principles and ideals, you gain insight into the motivations behind your actions and the driving force behind your decisions . These values serve as the undercurrent that weaves together the fabric of your personality, giving coherence and purpose to your thoughts and behaviors. Understanding how your personality traits align with your core values enables you to articulate a more comprehensive and authentic depiction of yourself.

To breathe life into your personality description, it is crucial to gather evidence and examples that showcase your traits in action. Recall specific instances where your personality has manifested itself, and examine the behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that were present. By drawing on these concrete examples, you provide tangible proof of your personality claims, allowing the reader to envision your character in vivid detail.

However, it is not enough to simply tell the reader about your personality traits; you must show them through vivid and descriptive language. By employing sensory details and evocative storytelling, you paint a vibrant picture that engages the reader’s imagination. It is through this artful depiction that your personality comes to life on the page, leaving a lasting impression.

Crafting an effective structure for your essay is also paramount to conveying your personality in a coherent and engaging manner. A well-structured essay captivates the reader from the outset with an engaging introduction that sets the tone and grabs their attention. Organizing your essay around key personality traits or themes creates a logical progression of ideas, enabling a seamless flow from one aspect of your personality to the next. This careful structuring enhances the readability and impact of your essay, allowing the reader to follow your journey of self-expression with ease.

In describing your personality, it is essential to strike a delicate balance between self-awareness and humility. While it is important to acknowledge your strengths and accomplishments, it is equally crucial to avoid sounding arrogant. Honesty about your weaknesse s and areas for growth demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn from experiences, fostering personal growth and development.

Also, seeking feedback and diligently editing your essay play a vital role in refining your personality description. Sharing your work with trusted individuals allows for constructive criticism, providing valuable insights into how effectively your personality is being portrayed. By carefully incorporating this feedback and paying attention to grammar, punctuation, and clarity, you can ensure that your essay is polished and ready to make a lasting impression . Below are the step by step guide on how to masterfully describe your personality in an essay

Before diving into writing, take the time to deeply understand your own personality traits and characteristics. Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses , considering how they have influenced your actions and interactions with others. Additionally, contemplate significant life experiences that have shaped your personality, providing valuable insights into who you are today.

Your core values and beliefs are the guiding principles that define your character. Explore what truly matters to you and the ideals that drive your decisions . By connecting your personality traits to these fundamental values, you create a more comprehensive understanding of yourself, providing a solid foundation for your essay.

To effectively describe your personality, draw upon specific instances where your traits were on display. Recall experiences that highlight your behavior, thoughts, and emotions. By utilizing concrete examples, you lend credibility to your claims about your personality, allowing the reader to envision your character in action.

Step 4: Show, don’t tell

Avoid falling into the trap of generic and vague descriptions. Instead, use vivid language and sensory details to bring your personality to life. Engage the reader’s imagination by painting a clear picture through storytelling. Let them experience your traits firsthand, making your essay more engaging and memorable.

Crafting a well-structured essay is crucial for conveying your personality in a coherent and engaging manner. Begin with an attention-grabbing introduction that captivates the reader’s interest. Organize your essay around key personality traits or themes, ensuring a logical progression of ideas. Maintain a smooth flow between paragraphs, enhancing the overall readability of your essay.

While it’s essential to highlight your strengths, be careful not to come across as arrogant. Emphasize your accomplishments and positive attributes without boasting. Simultaneously, be honest about your weaknesses and areas for growth , demonstrating humility and a willingness to learn from experiences. This balance showcases maturity and self-awareness.

Sharing your essay with trusted individuals can provide valuable perspectives and constructive criticism. Seek feedback from mentors, teachers, or friends who can offer insights into your essay’s strengths and areas that need improvement. Revise and refine your essay based on this feedback, paying close attention to grammar, punctuation, and clarity.

Incorporating these steps and techniques will allow you to masterfully describe your personality in an essay, capturing the essence of who you are in a compelling and authentic manner. Whether you are writing personality essays, an essay about personalities, or an essay on personality, the introduction of your personality essay should create a strong impression. It serves as a gateway for the reader to delve into your unique characteristics and perspectives. By effectively integrating these steps and maintaining a balanced approach, you can create a personality essay introduction that sets the stage for a captivating exploration of your individuality. So, how would you describe yourself? Use these guidelines and examples to express your personality with confidence and authenticity in your essay.

Mastering the art of describing your personality in an essay allows you to authentically express yourself and connect with readers on a deeper level. By embracing self-reflection and emphasizing personal growth, you create a c ompelling narrative that showcases your unique qualities. So, embark on this journey of self-expression and let your personality shine through your writing. Embrace authenticity, as it is through effective self-expression that personal growth and understanding can flourish.

If you’re looking for professional essay writing and editing services, GradeSmiths is here to help. With a team of experienced writers and editors, GradeSmiths offers reliable and high-quality assistance to students in need of essay support. Whether you need help with essay writing, editing, proofreading, or refining your content, GradeSmiths can provide the expertise you require. Their dedicated team is committed to delivering well-crafted essays that meet academic standards and showcase your unique ideas and voice. With GradeSmiths, you can trust that your essay will receive the attention and care it deserves.

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• Essay on Favourite Personality

500 Words Essay On Favourite Personality

There are a lot of people all over the world who have achieved greatness and people look up to them. Many celebrities, leaders and artists serve as inspiration for a lot of people. Thus, everyone has a favourite personality whom they admire. In most cases, it is usually a well-known person. But, for me, my favourite personality is not someone famous throughout the world, but famous in our family, my father .

My Father- My Favourite Personality

I used to look up to celebrities growing up and many of them were my role models. But, as I got older, I realized that my favourite personality is right in front of me. My father with whom I live, eat and sleep.

He is the one who has helped me become a better human being. Moreover, my father is the one I thank for my healthy and protected life. My father is a kind man who is very polite. He always likes helping out others.

Moreover, he also teaches us good manners and helps us feel grateful for all we have. As he is very polite, my neighbours also love him. He knows how to make others feel comfortable.

Most importantly, my father always helps out those in need. He will go out of his way to help strangers when they need it. As he is a God-fearing person, I have learned to have faith in my father.

My father is the pillar of my family . He holds us together and makes us strong. I have always seen him sort everything out between us members if we ever get into a fight. He does not show any biases to anyone but loves everyone equally.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

What Makes My Father a Great Personality

I have realized that you don’t have to be super famous to have a great personality. You can be an ordinary person and still have the greatest personality. My father is a great personality as he considers everyone’s feelings in my family.

He makes us feel equally important and takes the advice of every one of us, no matter the age. He follows the simplest of rules and never refuses those who come seeking help at our door.

My father has a soft heart and that is something I strive to have. He does not raise his voice ever and treats everyone with kindness. In addition, my father is a unique personality who serves as a good citizen too.

He never ever breaks any laws or rules. Also, my father never spoils us by buying unnecessary things. He makes sure we learn the value of things so that we turn out to be humble people.

Conclusion of Essay on My Favourite Personality

All in all, my father is like a guide who cares about his family. His personality makes me admire and respect him the most. He acts like a friend and as a parent when he needs to. To conclude, my father is my favourite personality and my biggest support.

FAQ on Essay on Favourite Personality

Question 1: What is meant by favourite personality?

Answer 1: A favourite personality is someone whom you like in a special way for who they are and how they carry themselves.

Question 2: Why are fathers the most influential person in our lives?

Answer 2: Fathers acts as our parent as well as a friend . They push us to do better no matter what happens and always guide us on the right path to help us succeed.

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• School Education /

Essay on my Favourite Personality: Sample in 200, 250 & 300 words

• Updated on  
• Oct 27, 2023

We all have those special individuals in our lives who leave an indelible mark on our hearts. These are the people whose influence extends far beyond their physical presence. They’ve instilled the values of love, perseverance, and the pursuit of knowledge. These personalities have shaped our worldview and continue to inspire us. In this blog, we shall delve into the sample essays on my favourite personality that might be helpful for your essay writing assignments.

Table of Contents

• 1 Sample Essay on my Favourite personality in 200 words 
• 2 Sample Essay on my Favourite Personality in 250 words 
• 3 Sample Essay on my Favourite personality in 300 words 

Also Read: English Essay Topics

Also Read: How to Write an Essay in English

Also Read: Speech on Republic Day for Class 12th

Sample Essay on my Favourite personality in 200 words 

My favorite personality is a combination of my teachers and the great people I have met in my life. They have all taught me something valuable, and they have all inspired me to be a better person.

My teachers have taught me the importance of hard work. Throughout my academic journey, I’ve been blessed to have exceptional teachers who not only have imparted knowledge but also has nurtured my character. Their dedication to shaping young minds goes beyond the classroom.

In addition to my teachers, I’ve had the privilege of encountering great individuals who’ve left an indelible impact on society. Nelson Mandela, in the face of adversity showed me the power of forgiveness. His fight against apartheid was a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

Mahatma Gandhi , with his philosophy of non-violence, inspired me to seek peaceful solutions to conflicts. His dedication to social justice and civil rights movements continues to influence my perspective on activism.

The story of Malala Yousafzai , the youngest Nobel laureate, embodies courage in its purest form. Her unwavering commitment to girls’ education, even in the face of danger, teaches us the importance of standing up for what we believe in.

Sample Essay on my Favourite Personality in 250 words 

My grandmother is my favorite personality because she is the kindest, most loving person I know. She is always there for me, no matter what. She is my biggest supporter and my role model.

My grandmother, a true embodiment of love and wisdom, holds a special place in my heart. Her warmth and gentle spirit have been a constant source of comfort. Her stories have transported me to a world where imagination knew no bounds.

My grandmother was a reservoir of life lessons. She taught me the art of patience, the beauty of simplicity, and the strength of resilience. Her homemade food was the best source of nourishment. Her wrinkled hands carried a lifetime of experiences. I remember when I was little, I was scared of the dark. My grandmother would always come into my room and sit with me until I fell asleep. She would tell me stories and sing me songs until I felt safe and loved.

My grandmother is also a very wise woman. She has always been there to give me advice, even when I didn’t want to hear it. She has taught me so much about life, and I am so grateful for her guidance. I am so lucky to have my grandmother in my life. She is my favorite person in the world.

Also Read – Essay on My Aim in Life 

Sample Essay on my Favourite personality in 300 words 

APJ Abdul Kalam was my favorite personality because he was a brilliant scientist, a great leader, and a humble human being. He was the 11th President of India, and he is considered to be one of the greatest scientists in the country. Kalam was born in a poor family in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. He studied hard and earned a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. He then went on to work as a scientist at the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, India’s beloved missile man, remains a beacon of inspiration for countless individuals, including myself. His journey from humble beginnings to becoming the President of India is a testament to the power of determination and hard work.

Kalam’s dedication to science and education was awe-inspiring. His vision for a technologically advanced India ignited a fire within me. His words, “Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action,” have been my guiding light during moments of self-doubt. He was also a strong advocate for education and social justice. He believed that everyone should have the opportunity to learn and to reach their full potential.

Kalam was a humble and down-to-earth person. He was always willing to help others, and he was always willing to learn new things. He was a true inspiration to millions of people around the world. He’s legacy is one of innovation, inspiration, and hope. He was a true rags-to-riches story, and he showed the world that anything is possible if you work hard and never give up on your dreams.

 Also Read –  Essay on Subhash Chandra Bose

The meaning of my favourite personality is someone who has taught and inspired and moved a person to become a better self.

The answer would depend upon the nature and character a person beholds. One can describe as “ I am an extrovert and ambitious person”.

One word that can describe a person could be “Inspiration”, “Loved”,etc.

We hope this blog gives you an idea about how to write and present an essay on my favourite personality. For more amazing daily reads and to improve your reading and writing skills, study tuned with Leverage Edu . 

Rajshree Lahoty

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Psychology Discussion

Personality: short essay on personality.

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Short Essay on Personality!

In daily life the term personality is very freely used by people with different meanings. Some people refer to the physical appearance like height, weight, colour, body built, dress, voice, etc. Some other people refer to intellectual qualities like intelligence, activeness, way of speech, thinking and reasoning abilities, etc.

It is also referred to social characteristics like sociability, generosity, kindness, reservedness, etc. On the basis of these characteristics they judge people as strong or weak personalities, good and bad personalities, etc.

In this way we all make personality judgments about the people we know. A major part of coming to understand ourselves is developing a sense of what our personality characteristics are. We even form impressions about personalities of people we do not know, but have only read about. As we shall see, these everyday uses of the term are quite different from the meaning psychologists give to the term personality.

The term personality has been derived from a Latin word ‘persona’- means ‘mask’. In olden days, while playing dramas, in order to give good effects to the roles played by them, the Greek actors used to wear masks.

The psychologists continue to use the term personality to indicate that, the real or inner qualities of a person will be different from, that of the qualities seen apparently. Hence, defining and understanding the personality is not very easy as it appears. It is very difficult to define personality in a precise way. Different psychologists have defined personality in their own ways. Two comprehensive definitions widely accepted are quoted here under:

GW Allport defines that, ‘personality is the dynamic organisation, within the individual of those psychological systems that determine his unique adjustment to his environment’.

According to this definition the different psychological traits which determine the adjustment of the individual are organised into a dynamic (changeable or modifiable) unit. So there will be flexible adjustment with the environment.

Eysenck defines that, “personality is the more or less stable and enduring organisation of a person’s character, temperament, intellect and physique which determines his unique adjustment to the environment.”

Most of the definitions of personality have tried to Consider the totality of the person, that means, all the abilities, tendencies and other characteristics, both inherent as well as acquired, which are more or less consistent, and distinguishable from the people are included in the personality.

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Personality

I was a personality hire. We get away with doing less work, but you can't deny our value to the office.

• Daniel Bennett is a self-proclaimed "personality hire."
• When applying for his first job, he focused on making his interviewers like him rather than trying to impress them. 
• Personality hires are important for building company culture, he says. 

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Daniel Bennett, the 28-year-old founder of DX Creative, a social consulting agency, and a former advertising account manager. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I was a " personality hire ."

When I was interviewing for my first corporate job at a giant advertising agency in LA called TBWA\Chiat\Day , my goal going into it was to make the interviewers like me — that was it.

I wasn't there to impress them or show them that I could learn or whatever. I thought, "If I can make them laugh and smile and have a good time, that's going to be more memorable than someone who can recite all of their accolades."

Because it was an ad agency in LA, there was a basketball court in the office, and their first question was, "Did you see the basketball court behind you?"

My opening line in the interview was, "Yeah, I was taking warmup shots for this interview before you guys came. Am I sweaty?" They loved that; they were laughing their asses off.

I ended up beating out two people with three or four years of experience, even though I had zero experience .

Difference between a personality hire and a good personality

There's a difference between a personality hire and someone who just has a good personality.

Imagine walking into work with your coffee, and the personality hire says, "You're never going to guess who I ran into this weekend!"

A normal person might keep that information to themselves, but a personality hire will want to entertain the office with their hilarious story of running into an ex.

We can get away with doing less work

As a personality hire, you can get away with not being as competent and doing half of your job. (I'm not that kind of person, but there are personality hires like that.)

Does that mean that someone else picks up the slack? Probably. But that's up to the company's discretion to decide whether they keep you.

There are certain people who perhaps don't crush tests or can't build a marketing rollout but are very successful in their roles because they're street smart. Maybe a personality hire has a lot of connections and always "knows a guy" who can get you into a restaurant that's booked out for six months, which could result in closing a deal. But maybe that person doesn't know how to write a brief.

Those "know a guy" skills really come in handy with careers that are built around relationship management, which is more meaningful than being good at sending emails.

Still, if you're just a personality hire and do absolutely no work, you will get fired.

Related stories

Despite being a personality hire, I still worked hard; I worked 60 hours a week and was up until 1 a.m. so we could finish a commercial.

In those instances, personality hires' positive attitudes help. Cracking jokes with your coworkers at 1 a.m. on a deadline makes it much more bearable than everyone being miserable.

Being a personality hire allowed me to call in favors

In the office, I was the one who said, "Guys, we have an hour in between meetings. Let's go walk and get lunch!" Or "Let's go grab a smoothie." Or, "This place is having happy hour after work . Are you coming?" It's those little things that some companies would call team bonding.

As a low-level account assistant, I did all the grunt work, like organizing files and picking up hard drives.

But I was always good at walking around the office and talking to different people to build relationships ; instead of sending a Slack message or an email, I would go up and ask them.

I've always thought that if I need a favor from someone, they're way more likely to help me out if I've gone up to them and said hi, rather than just sent them an email and never talked to them.

The world runs on favors, and you don't do favors for people that you don't like.

If I needed a quick edit on a design or a billboard, I could call in a favor to a designer, and they'd be willing to work with me on it on a tight deadline.

Companies need personality hires to build their company culture

Companies that take pride in having "disruptive" and different work cultures need personality hires because otherwise, who's going to build that culture ?

It may be controversial to say, but employees without outgoing personalities aren't going to build your company culture — non-personality hires aren't as fun at parties and don't provide office gossip. For Gen Zs and millennials, there are other motivators for going to work than just doing the work.

Personality hires can also help companies attract good talent by providing the energy that makes other people want to come work at your company.

Relationship-building is extremely important in industries such as entertainment, sales, and consulting. Making money is often dependent on people having a mutual likeness.

In these industries, personality hires could bring more value than employees who just do the actual work.

As a boss, I try to hire people with good personalities

After two years at TBWA\Chiat\Day, I quit and went on to launch DX Creative, a social agency helping artists, celebrities, and brands with short-form content and consulting, in 2021.

When I'm considering who to bring onto my team, I'm way more likely to extend an offer to someone if I like them.

Because we work directly with talent and celebrities, we need people who can be friends with them. There's a lot of travel involved, so imagine traveling with someone that you don't like. That would piss people off, so we need people who will vibe with the artist they're working with.

We look for people with good personalities who either can be taught in a very short time or have the experience we can mold into what we need.

Ultimately, being a personality hire doesn't mean you're bad at your job; it just means your personality helped you get hired .

Watch: Nearly 50,000 tech workers have been laid off — but there's a hack to avoid layoffs

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Personality’s Influence on Academic Performance Essay

Introduction, personality, personality traits, personality traits influence on academic performance, approaches to ensure success.

The subject of personality and personality traits has always been popular not only among psychologists and academics but other individuals as well. Since people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors have an impact on many workplace characteristics, personality plays a significant role. Individuals’ personalities have an impact on their attitudes, social conduct, and decision-making processes. While many people claim that personalities should not be defined as forces responsible for either success or failure, undoubtedly, they play a vital role in every process. A person may change their behavior, play to their strengths, work on their flaws, communicate with peers more successfully, and eventually succeed in their work by having a better understanding of their personality. Hence, personality is a vital matter that influences people’s actions.

To start with, personality is a broad concept that contributed to the establishment of many theories. The term personality implies persistent characteristics and tendencies that cause people to habitually feel, think, and act in particular ways (Sanchez‐Roige et al., 2018). Human personality is the distinctive combination of how they see their surroundings, analyze what happens, and behave consistently in various circumstances (Sanchez‐Roige et al., 2018). Each individual has a different system of persistent, long-term traits, as well as a certain way of relating to other people and the environment around them. It is often believed that people’s personalities are permanent, robust, and difficult to change. A variety of approaches have been put up for experimentally investigating personality, given the range of human experiences and the variety of factors that make each exceptional. This also applies to me since, similarly to other individuals, I possess a certain personality that remains consistent throughout the years.

Personality traits can be defined as people’s distinctive thinking, feeling, and behavior patterns. An individual who scores highly on a certain personality characteristic, such as extraversion, is likely to be gregarious in various situations (Eysenck, 2017). Personal characteristics suggest stability and predictability. Therefore, the foundation of personality psychology is the concept that individuals differ from each other based on where they position on a set of fundamental trait dimensions that hold throughout time and in many contexts (Eysenck, 2017). The Five-Factor Model is the most extensively utilized framework of attributes (Eysenck, 2017). This approach contains the five broad attributes of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, which may be recalled by the abbreviation OCEAN (Eysenck, 2017). After considering such characteristics, I can state that my traits are extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness.

Moreover, aside from influencing broader aspects of the human body, such as cognitive abilities, personality traits are capable of impacting people’s success. The study showed a relationship between medical students’ personality qualities, self-efficacy, and academic success (Hayat et al., 2020). In my case, conscientiousness and openness played a crucial role in supporting my academic performance. Yet, conscientiousness emerged as the strongest indicator of academic accomplishment. In this sense, such traits are related to goal-setting and consistent effort, both of which support academic success, organizational skills in the classroom, and effort control. In other words, as a conscientious individual, I am a goal-oriented, diligent learner, and extremely accountable. These requirements drive me as a student and a learner to attain exceptional academic success. Furthermore, these traits allow me to stay competitive and maintain good relationships with my peers, which is also crucial in an educational environment.

When it comes to the approaches to ensure success, I might focus on my strong traits and make an effort to eliminate the negative characteristics. For example, higher degrees of self-assurance, positivity, passion, energy, adventure seeking, and social engagement are traits of extroversion, one of my traits. Meanwhile, people that are open to new opportunities and concepts tend to be innovative, spontaneous, creative, and inquisitive (El Othman et al., 2020). Furthermore, a greater intuitive approach is substantially connected with greater extroversion and openness to experience (El Othman et al., 2020). Lastly, a less reliant decision-making approach is dramatically correlated with greater openness to experience (El Othman et al., 2020). As a result, as a person with such traits as openness to experience and extraversion, I will need to concentrate on ways that would enhance the application of such characteristics and encourage them. In such a case, an approach to success is to analyze the output of my traits and be receptive to the viewpoints of other individuals.

Thus, personality refers to enduring traits and inclinations that influence people’s regular feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. The unique thought, emotion, and behavior patterns of individuals are mirrored in their personality traits. It was revealed that there is a link between the personality traits, self-efficacy, and academic achievement of medical students. The research’s conclusions suggested that personality traits including conscientiousness, openness, and agreeableness had a significant impact on enhancing students’ academic success. Last but not least, when it comes to approaches that lead to success, a person must assess the results of their qualities and be open to other people’s perspectives. With a reflective approach, one can analyze their strengths and eliminate weaknesses.

El Othman, R., El Othman, R., Hallit, R., Obeid, S., & Hallit, S. (2020). Personality traits, emotional intelligence and decision-making styles in Lebanese universities medical students. BMC Psychology , 8 (1), 1-14.

Eysenck, H. (2017). Dimensions of personality . Routledge.

Hayat, A. A., Kohoulat, N., Amini, M., & Faghihi, S. A. A. (2020). The predictive role of personality traits on academic performance of medical students: The mediating role of self-efficacy. Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran , 34 , 77, 1-7.

Sanchez‐Roige, S., Gray, J. C., MacKillop, J., Chen, C. H., & Palmer, A. A. (2018). The genetics of human personality. Genes, Brain and Behavior , 17 (3), 1-13.

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6 Common Leadership Styles — and How to Decide Which to Use When

• Rebecca Knight

Being a great leader means recognizing that different circumstances call for different approaches.

Research suggests that the most effective leaders adapt their style to different circumstances — be it a change in setting, a shift in organizational dynamics, or a turn in the business cycle. But what if you feel like you’re not equipped to take on a new and different leadership style — let alone more than one? In this article, the author outlines the six leadership styles Daniel Goleman first introduced in his 2000 HBR article, “Leadership That Gets Results,” and explains when to use each one. The good news is that personality is not destiny. Even if you’re naturally introverted or you tend to be driven by data and analysis rather than emotion, you can still learn how to adapt different leadership styles to organize, motivate, and direct your team.

Much has been written about common leadership styles and how to identify the right style for you, whether it’s transactional or transformational, bureaucratic or laissez-faire. But according to Daniel Goleman, a psychologist best known for his work on emotional intelligence, “Being a great leader means recognizing that different circumstances may call for different approaches.”

• RK Rebecca Knight is a journalist who writes about all things related to the changing nature of careers and the workplace. Her essays and reported stories have been featured in The Boston Globe, Business Insider, The New York Times, BBC, and The Christian Science Monitor. She was shortlisted as a Reuters Institute Fellow at Oxford University in 2023. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade as an editor and reporter at the Financial Times in New York, London, and Boston.

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April 2, 2024

Eclipse Psychology: When the Sun and Moon Align, So Do We

How a total solar eclipse creates connection, unity and caring among the people watching

By Katie Weeman

Students observing a partial solar eclipse on June 21, 2020, in Lhokseumawe, Aceh Province, Indonesia.

NurPhoto/Getty Images

This article is part of a special report on the total solar eclipse that will be visible from parts of the U.S., Mexico and Canada on April 8, 2024.

It was 11:45 A.M. on August 21, 2017. I was in a grassy field in Glendo, Wyo., where I was surrounded by strangers turned friends, more than I could count—and far more people than had ever flocked to this town, population 210 or so. Golden sunlight blanketed thousands of cars parked in haphazard rows all over the rolling hills. The shadows were quickly growing longer, the air was still, and all of our faces pointed to the sky. As the moon progressively covered the sun, the light melted away, the sky blackened, and the temperature dropped. At the moment of totality, when the moon completely covered the sun , some people around me suddenly gasped. Some cheered; some cried; others laughed in disbelief.

Exactly 53 minutes later, in a downtown park in Greenville, S.C., the person who edited this story and the many individuals around him reacted in exactly the same ways.

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When a total solar eclipse descends—as one will across Mexico, the U.S. and Canada on April 8—everyone and everything in the path of totality are engulfed by deep shadow. Unlike the New Year’s Eve countdown that lurches across the globe one blocky time zone after another, the shadow of totality is a dark spot on Earth that measures about 100 miles wide and cruises steadily along a path, covering several thousand miles in four to five hours. The human experiences along that path are not isolated events any more than individual dominoes are isolated pillars in a formation. Once that first domino is tipped, we are all linked into something bigger—and unstoppable. We all experience the momentum and the awe together.

When this phenomenon progresses from Mexico through Texas, the Great Lakes and Canada on April 8, many observers will describe the event as life-changing, well beyond expectations. “You feel a sense of wrongness in those moments before totality , when your surroundings change so rapidly,” says Kate Russo, an author, psychologist and eclipse chaser. “Our initial response is to ask ourselves, ‘Is this an opportunity or a threat?’ When the light changes and the temperature drops, that triggers primal fear. When we have that threat response, our whole body is tuned in to taking in as much information as possible.”

Russo, who has witnessed 13 total eclipses and counting, has interviewed eclipse viewers from around the world. She continues to notice the same emotions felt by all. They begin with that sense of wrongness and primal fear as totality approaches. When totality starts, we feel powerful awe and connection to the world around us. A sense of euphoria develops as we continue watching, and when it’s over, we have a strong desire to seek out the next eclipse.

“The awe we feel during a total eclipse makes us think outside our sense of self. It makes you more attuned to things outside of you,” says Sean Goldy, a postdoctoral fellow at the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University.

Goldy and his team analyzed Twitter data from nearly 2.9 million people during the 2017 total solar eclipse. They found that people within the path of totality were more likely to use not only language that expressed awe but also language that conveyed being unified and affiliated with others. That meant using more “we” words (“us” instead of “me”) and more humble words (“maybe” instead of “always”).

“During an eclipse, people have a broader, more collective focus,” Goldy says. “We also found that the more people expressed awe, the more likely they were to use those ‘we’ words, indicating that people who experience this emotion feel more connected with others.”

This connectivity ties into a sociological concept known as “collective effervescence,” Russo and Goldy say. When groups of humans come together over a shared experience, the energy is greater than the sum of its parts. If you’ve ever been to a large concert or sporting event, you’ve felt the electricity generated by a hive of humans. It magnifies our emotions.

I felt exactly that unified feeling in the open field in Glendo, as if thousands of us were breathing as one. But that’s not the only way people can experience a total eclipse.

During the 2008 total eclipse in Mongolia “I was up on a peak,” Russo recounts. “I was with only my husband and a close friend. We had left the rest of our 25-person tour group at the bottom of the hill. From that vantage point, when the shadow came sweeping in, there was not one man-made thing I could see: no power lines, no buildings or structures. Nothing tethered me to time: It could have been thousands of years ago or long into the future. In that moment, it was as if time didn’t exist.”

Giving us the ability to unhitch ourselves from time—to stop dwelling on time is a unique superpower of a total eclipse. In Russo’s work as a clinical psychologist, she notices patterns in our modern-day mentality. “People with anxiety tend to spend a lot of time in the future. And people with depression spend a lot of time in the past,” she says. An eclipse, time and time again, has the ability to snap us back into the present, at least for a few minutes. “And when you’re less anxious and worried, it opens you up to be more attuned to other people, feel more connected, care for others and be more compassionate,” Goldy says.

Russo, who founded Being in the Shadow , an organization that provides information about total solar eclipses and organizes eclipse events around the world, has experienced this firsthand. Venue managers regularly tell her that eclipse crowds are among the most polite and humble: they follow the rules; they pick up their garbage—they care.

Eclipses remind us that we are part of something bigger, that we are connected with something vast. In the hours before and after totality you have to wear protective glasses to look at the sun, to prevent damage to your eyes. But during the brief time when the moon blocks the last of the sun’s rays, you can finally lower your glasses and look directly at the eclipse. It’s like making eye contact with the universe.

“In my practice, usually if someone says, ‘I feel insignificant,’ that’s a negative thing. But the meaning shifts during an eclipse,” Russo says. To feel insignificant in the moon’s shadow instead means that your sense of self shrinks, that your ego shrinks, she says.

The scale of our “big picture” often changes after witnessing the awe of totality, too. “When you zoom out—really zoom out—it blows away our differences,” Goldy says. When you sit in the shadow of a celestial rock blocking the light of a star 400 times its size that burns at 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit on its surface, suddenly that argument with your partner, that bill sitting on your counter or even the differences among people’s beliefs, origins or politics feel insignificant. When we shift our perspective, connection becomes boundless.

You don’t need to wait for the next eclipse to feel this way. As we travel through life, we lose our relationship with everyday awe. Remember what that feels like? It’s the way a dog looks at a treat or the way my toddler points to the “blue sky!” outside his car window in the middle of rush hour traffic. To find awe, we have to surrender our full attention to the beauty around us. During an eclipse, that comes easily. In everyday life, we may need to be more intentional.

“Totality kick-starts our ability to experience wonder,” Russo says. And with that kick start, maybe we can all use our wonderment faculties more—whether that means pausing for a moment during a morning walk, a hug or a random sunset on a Tuesday. In the continental U.S., we won’t experience another total eclipse until 2044. Let’s not wait until then to seek awe and connection.

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The Case Against ‘Good’ Coffee

Instant coffee tastes … just OK. And that’s fine by me.

By Peter C. Baker

Not long ago , I went through a long period during which I awoke every morning with absolutely no desire to make coffee. Don’t misunderstand: I still wanted to drink the stuff. With a 3-year-old and 1-year-old waking me up around — if I was lucky — 6 in the morning, I relied on coffee’s sharpening effect more than ever. I was just tired of working for it.

Picking which beans to use that day (I was always buying beans), grinding them, placing the grounds in the filter, wiping up the grounds that spilled on the counter, measuring out the water, waiting. Not long ago I loved the ritual of it all; together the steps were part of the machinery I employed to coax myself into consciousness and face the day. But now I didn’t want to be coaxed. I wanted to be woken up as fast as possible so I could tend to my kids. The routine had, at some point, devolved into yet another chore — especially once I started forgetting to empty the filter when I was done, leaving as a gift for my future self an unpleasant deposit of sodden grounds.

One day in the grocery store, I found a solution staring me in the face in the form of a surprisingly large array of instant-coffee options. Experience had taught me that it tasted horrible. In my 20s, I worked abroad at a newspaper staffed largely by expat British journalists who drank Nescafé as if it were water. I wondered what — historically, culturally — could explain this; maybe the Blitz? Nescafé tasted to me like something formulated in a malicious lab experiment involving dust and cinders and few, if any, coffee beans. It didn’t help that the dehydrated crystals resembled the droppings of a small, disease-carrying rodent.

The instant coffees I encountered more recently on the grocery store shelf looked exactly the same, albeit in some instances in slicker packaging, adorned with stylish labels. Maybe, I told myself, instant had improved. The next morning, up again with the kids, I spooned a heaping tablespoon of instant-coffee crystals into a mug, poured in the hot water and … that was it. Process done.

The coffee was fine. Not as good as a cup of freshly roasted, single-origin, shade-grown made at my favorite shop, but it was recognizably coffee. There was no process worth speaking of to enjoy, but there were no grounds on the counter, either, and I soon felt the caffeine caressing my synapses. If I had to pick one word to describe the process, that word would be: “instant.” And if I had to pick one word to describe how this simplified process made me feel, that word would be: “good.”

There was no process worth speaking of to enjoy, but there were no grounds on the counter, either.

Instant coffee reminded me why I started on coffee as a college student. I didn’t bring coffee into my life because I especially liked the taste of it, or appreciated the distinction between different roasting methods or bean types. I was aware — mostly from the examples of classmates and the movies — that it could magically reconfigure my energies, creating pockets of alertness where they otherwise might not have existed. Life, then, felt like an adventure I could arrange as I saw fit, and coffee was a tool that helped me do that. Once, coffee kept me awake so I could pick up a love interest at the airport at midnight. In my car, I felt like the hero of a fantasy story, slipping beneath the surface of the sleeping world to find another realm underneath, one where people were still in motion, still working and playing and chasing after what they wanted long after polite society had gone to sleep. Afterward, we went to a diner we liked; it was the same as always but felt completely new. All the familiar details — the grilled cheese, the mustard — were little notes stitched into a broader symphony of wonder and surprise.

Over time, coffee became less of a novel superpower and more of a familiar default, something I counted on and rarely took the time to be amazed or even especially delighted by. You would be forgiven for thinking otherwise, looking at my receipts for beans over the years, or assessing the arsenal of coffee tools I had acquired: all the grinders and filters and special little scoops; the multiple French presses; the moka pot I bought in grad school and can’t find anymore; the workhorse drip machine that remains the best way to make coffee for a group. Yes, these tools sometimes produced coffee that tasted good. Yes, they became familiar, comforting parts of my morning. But my experiments and purchases were motivated less by an innate lust for superior coffee and more by a vague sense, absorbed osmotically from my cultural milieu, that better coffee was something adults strive for.

Instant coffee renewed my appreciation for the alchemical powers that drew me to coffee in the first place. The previous night’s dishes were still piled in the sink and on the counter. My son was using maple syrup to trace an indecipherable design on the kitchen table. My daughter’s Cheerios were on the floor, and she had a look on her face that made clear she would soon need a new diaper. The scene wasn’t anyone’s idea of a soothing wake-up ritual. But coffee helped me hear that beautiful music of wonder and surprise. Old habits, coffee-related and otherwise, are gathering dust in the cabinets of my life. But in the space created by their absence, new life comes streaming in — more of it every instant.

Peter C. Baker is the author of the novel “Planes” (Knopf, 2022).

A Guide to Coffee

From machine-brewed pods to small-batch pour-overs, coffee is steeped into our culture. here’s a closer look at this popular beverage..

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