Did I stutter? - Harvard - Successful business school entrance essay
Successful business school entrance essay
One of my greatest struggles has been with my speech. I had a stuttering problem from age four that was a constant source of self-doubt until recently. In fourth grade, my parents took me to a speech pathologist in Houston who, through a yearlong program, “cured” my stuttering. After Exxon hired me, I experienced a demoralizing failure of speech that made me realize my stuttering was definitely not cured.
The cost engineering section had gathered to update our new worldwide manager on current projects and initiatives. We were supposed to introduce ourselves and summarize our activities. When it came time for my introduction, I turned toward him, reached out my hand in greeting, and said, “I’m J . . .” As I tried to say my name, my vocal cords locked. For what seemed like an eternity, I tried to force my way past the block, but the embarrassed stares from my peers and supervisors just increased my paralysis.
Eventually, I made it through the introduction and work summary but not before having that experience burned in my memory. Immediately after that incident, I started searching for a “miracle” drug to cure stuttering. After a few frustrating months, I realized that no cure existed so I purchased a self-help book. I practiced the exercises for several months and noticed some improvement in my speech, but when disfluencies still occurred, I felt helpless. After two more years of avoiding difficult speaking situations, I consulted the Stuttering Foundation of America, which made me understand that stuttering is something that can never be completely cured but can be managed through self-awareness. To gain awareness of my stuttering, I have been keeping a daily journal of my speech habits. I document how my speech muscles react in stuttering situations and practice modifying or relaxing those muscles in similar situations. My newfound control over my speech has led me to actively seek out speaking situations that I avoided before. For instance, I was elected president of my homeowners’ association, and I have shared several safety learnings in front of the sixty employees in my department. As my success grows, so, too, does my confidence to where I rarely experience speech blocks like I did at Exxon. I’ve realized that I must practice, practice, practice, however, and that I will be doing this the rest of my life.
While the concept of practice makes perfect isn’t new, it has taken on new meaning for how I lead my life. I know that every aspect of my life where I’d like to see improvement must involve a substantial amount of practice, from negotiating skills to surfing, from networking with colleagues to training my dog.
Analysis
John is brave to share a great personal challenge and his journey to conquer it. After a brief exposition of his stuttering problem, John dives right into the excruciating moment when he was confronted with an obstacle he thought he had overcome years ago. As a reader you empathize with him and want him to succeed. This essay, though, is not a tearjerker, and when writing your own essay you should be careful not to tell a sad story just to earn cheap points (because you will not). We feel his burning embarrassment, but we do not pity him.
John demonstrates his resolve by trying a self-help plan and seeking outside counsel. He then goes on to give real examples of how he applied these lessons and came to the realization that nothing will be solved without practice and hard work. Although this lesson may seem superficial at first, it captures the essence of a good failure essay—namely, finding the inner strength to surmount an obstacle, no matter how daunting.
From 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays edited by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson. Copyright (c) 2009 by the authors and reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Publishing Group