Many colleges ask applicants to briefly elaborate on their extra-curricular activities or any pertinent experiences. This is a chance for applicants to showcase how meaningful, productive, and interesting their activity was. The best way to respond to a question like this is to write a descriptive answer instead of simply listing down what you did, what you learned, when you did it, and all those straightforward details. A sample response is given below.

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (250 words)

Three games to love. Game of three sets. I was on top of the game and my mind told me I would continue to do so. I was excited about earning my first national match win. I would be one for one. Proudly, I signaled to my family in the stands that I was three games up. Forty-five minutes later, I lost 4-6, 5-7.

Looking back at this match in hindsight, I now know what went wrong. It was my mentality that was at fault. I had forgotten what my coach had taught me and what I had learned from my idol, Rafa Nadal. That one should never underestimate their opponents. That overconfidence is inexcusable and unacceptable. That it’s not over until it’s over. 

Like this one, I continued to get several humbling experiences over and over again. However, the lessons I have learned from them is not only useful for tennis but also my day to day life, my character, and how I react to certain circumstances in my day to day life.

I relate life with tennis except tennis is a logarithmically scaled-down version of life. They share similarities in a handful of ways: the self-reflection, the perseverance, the constant adjustments, the failures, and the rule of never resting on our laurels. Tennis for me is more than just a game, it’s my advisor. Every training session or match I play; I unravel a lesson I connect deeply with life.