Walking into class, I had no idea what to expect, having studied my entire life in another country and knowing next to nothing of the English language. From the first day of my fifth grade year, I knew, much too soon, that it would be a tough school year. Most of my classmates did not speak Spanish, and my teacher would set me apart and give me separate, easier assignments, making me feel inferior to the rest of the class....

Be yourself! I know this is cliche, and no one would (or should!) tell you to "not be yourself" in your essays. However, from what I've heard from different admissions officers and college websites, the essays are the most important part about the college application. Try to get your personality across, show you're passionate about what you're talking about,...