appreciation essay

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Short Essay on “Appreciation” (480 Words)

Praising anybody for his or her task can increase the confidence of receiver. The word “ Appreciation ” looks smaller from outside but it can help achieve anything if used properly. This word is the most powerful word for motivating someone. If someone gets appreciated for a certain task then that person always gives best in all further tasks.

This word is motivational, carrying a huge power inside and can turn negative thoughts into positive. This is the magic of appreciation. Many people know how to make use of this word while others recognize its depth and meaning. If this word if used for a person, he/she can carry out any difficult task with low input energy. Many organizations and multinational companies are known for the culture of appreciation. This is the main reason behind the happiness of their employees.

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If there is a difficult task ahead and a team is unfamiliar with the ways to carry out that task, the team leader or manager tries to appreciate member or members for their previous task. This can increase the inner power of that member.

Everyone in this world loves to receive appreciation for their tasks. If someone has done something for you then saying thank you is a formality. But if you provides a motivational words like “good work”, “keep it up” or “excellent” along with the thank you then next time that person works with twice energy.

Appreciating someone’s work is an art. Very few people know how to appreciate truly. They appropriately use appreciating words for other people to carry out effective and fruitful results. Therefore it is necessary to learn to appreciate others task and neglect their faults. If a person working for you feels uncomfortable with you then for sure there is a lack of appreciation. You need to appreciate his task along with the payments.

“Appreciation” is not only limited to workplaces but it can be used anywhere. If your wife has prepared good dinner for you then it is your responsibility to praise her work the same night or next morning. This is a good quality of polite husband. Also if your husband has brought flowers for you then being a good wife it is your responsibility to appreciate your husband’s efforts to make you smile. This is how “Appreciation” can be done everywhere. Irrespective of relation, the timeliness of appreciation is really important.

Appreciating someone’s efforts is not an act that makes you feels shy but it’s an act that proves your character. This act shows that you are living down to earth. Therefore it is necessary to appreciate a person whenever possible. It is a good way to make things easier and simpler.

If appreciation is used properly, benefits are assured. Thus try to appreciate it instead of finding faults in anyone and you will see the changes for yourself.

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Essay About Being Grateful: 5 Examples Plus Prompts

Looking at life in a more appreciative way is key to success and happiness. Read this guide if you want to write an essay about being grateful.

Keeping a positive outlook on life can be challenging in a world where we constantly hear bad news. However, it is important to stop focusing on the negative and become more grateful for what we have.

Being grateful is a principal practice to follow to live a healthy, productive life. Even when you feel like nothing good has happened, think of the simpler aspects of life, things as commonplace as having a meal, a bed to sleep on, and even waking up to another day. Being grateful can help you focus your energy on something more positive, lightening your load when life gets too heavy. 

If you want to write an essay about being grateful, here are some essay examples for inspiration. 

For help with your essay, check our round-up of best essay writing apps .

1. 7 Things That I Am Grateful For. What About You? by Steve Spring

2. how gratitude can help you through hard times by robert emmons, 3. feel and express gratitude by dr. hyder zahed, 4. the importance of being grateful by deborah jepsen, 5. choose to be grateful. it will make you happier. by arthur c. brooks, 1. what is gratitude to you, 2. what are you grateful for, 3. why should you be more grateful, 4. is gratitude still “good” even if you don’t mean it, 5. why has gratitude become such a hot topic.

“I have a lot to be grateful for. If I had been born in another time or place my life might have been very different. I might not have had been blessed with the life I have now. I have an amazing life. It is great to be focused on my goals and trying to improve my life…But, I need to make sure that I am taking some time to be grateful for everything and everyone that I have in my life. If you want to be happy you need to learn to be grateful. What are you grateful for today?”

Spring lists seven things he is grateful for and explains why he is thankful for each. These include his home, food, and, most significantly, the mistakes he has made in the past. He provides excellent insight into why he is grateful for these seemingly basic items and does an excellent job of justifying his points. Ultimately, the takeaway from this article is that while life is not perfect, we always have a lot to be grateful for. Gratitude is a choice.

“Being grateful is a choice, a prevailing attitude that endures and is relatively immune to the gains and losses that flow in and out of our lives. When disaster strikes, gratitude provides a perspective from which we can view life in its entirety and not be overwhelmed by temporary circumstances. Yes, this perspective is hard to achieve—but my research says it is worth the effort.”

This essay reflects on being grateful even when experiencing tough times. It is easy to be grateful when all is well in our lives.

Robert Emmons suggests performing a comparison between good times and bad times. You may then realize that your situation is better than you thought. He also says that rather than thinking about a difficult time or a particular challenge in a negative light, we can think about it in the sense that it has helped us grow, making it something to be grateful for. 

Embracing gratitude can be a challenge in itself, but it is ultimately self-serving. Being grateful makes you count your blessings and makes you feel good.

“For, whatever you genuinely feel grateful for, you will have multiply in your life. Think about it, if you gave a gift to another and that person told you, ‘I am so grateful for the gift. I can’t believe how kind you were to give it to me. You have made me so very happy,’ you’d want to give that person another gift. So you could be feeling genuinely appreciated while at the same time bring a little happiness to another.”

Zahed, in his essay, reminds us to be grateful for everything that contributes to our happiness and wellbeing, no matter how small. Similar to Emmons, he also discusses turning sorrow and disaster into something to be grateful for, in a sense. Being grateful is a commitment that we must choose to enhance our lives. It’s all about how you measure your success.

“Gratitude promotes optimism and helps us to develop a more positive outlook. It lets us pause for a moment to reflect on something we have in our life right now instead of always striving for more … the next goal, the new dress, the new toy, the new car, or the house renovation …Gratitude is simply cultivating a genuine appreciation for what we already have.”

From a more scientific perspective, Jepsen discusses the health benefits of gratitude, both psychological and physical. Gratitude makes us more optimistic and helps us reflect on what we have rather than constantly wanting more. She also encourages readers to share their appreciation with others, even through something as simple as a smile. 

“Be honest: When was the last time you were grateful for the spots on a trout? More seriously, think of the small, useless things you experience — the smell of fall in the air, the fragment of a song that reminds you of when you were a kid. Give thanks.”

This opinion piece by Arthur C is similar to the other works on this list. Brooks encourages readers to choose gratitude. He says that acting grateful can help you feel grateful and that being grateful can uplift the mood of those around us. Gratitude offers benefits for the individual and the collective. Finally, he says to find gratitude in everything, no matter how small it is. 

Essay Prompts About Being Grateful

Consider how you were introduced to the concept of gratitude as a child. Was it discussed with you, and were you encouraged to express gratitude, or is it something you have come to understand and appreciate in adulthood? How do you personally feel about being grateful? Are there any experiences in which you wish you acted more gratefully? Explore gratitude through your own experience.

As illustrated by Steve Spring, it can be beneficial to list the things you are grateful for and maybe discover a few more you had not considered along the way. Categorize aspects of your life and the parts for which you are grateful. You could then perform a comparison with someone from a different background or country and speculate on how your lists may differ. Finally, consider how quickly a person’s life can change. Should tragedy befall you, would you still be able to find things to be grateful for?

This angle allows you to showcase inspirational examples of the benefits of gratitude. Why is it important to be grateful and maintain a positive outlook on life? And what do people get out of it? The essay examples above offer excellent sources for this prompt. There are measurable benefits.

Some would say it is important to show gratitude even if you don’t mean it sincerely. Others argue that it would be worse to be insincere. What do you think? Does insincerity qualify as gratitude, even if you try to be polite or act kindly to spare someone’s feelings? Or is genuine gratitude something else altogether? If we cannot offer sincere thanks, are we actually being grateful?

In recent times people are talking more about the benefits of gratitude and researching to prove its merits. The popularity of gratitude journaling is vast; you can purchase bespoke gratitude journals to record your thoughts on the topic daily and even take a course to learn how to do it. Investigate where this trend originated and examine how it has been embraced throughout society.  

If you’d like to learn more, in this guide our writer explains how to write an argumentative essay .

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5 Strong UPenn “Thank You” Essay Examples

What’s covered, essay example 1 – the power of the arts, essay example 2 – turning a flaw into a talent, essay example 3 – girl dad, essay example 4 – thank you for the music, essay example 5 – middle school english.

• Where to Get Feedback on your UPenn Essays

Founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin, the University of Pennsylvania is one of the eight Ivy League institutions. Its beautiful campus features unique red-and-green-brick buildings, gorgeous tree-lined paths, and lots of tributes to Ben Franklin. In addition to its elite academics, UPenn is also known for its thriving student life–it’s even nicknamed “the social Ivy.” UPenn also enjoys the benefits of being situated in the heart of Philadelphia, just a stone’s throw from myriad museums, gardens, cathedrals, and historic sites, including Independence Hall.

Between its superb academics, vibrant social scene, and prime location, UPenn is one of the most competitive schools in the country. As a result, your essays need to shine, to set you apart from other smart, talented applicants. In this post, we’ll break down five responses to UPenn’s “Thank You” supplemental prompt, which was added during the 2022-2023 applications cycle. We’ll lay out what each essay did well, and any areas for improvement.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized.

Read our UPenn essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

UPenn “Thank You” Prompt

The following essays respond to this prompt:

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150 – 200 words)

Since this prompt is a relatively recent addition to UPenn’s list of supplements, and doesn’t fit neatly into one of the classic supplemental essay boxes (like “Why School?” or “Why Major?” ), you may not be quite sure where to start. To help you out, we’ve compiled five responses real students wrote to this prompt. You can read the essays below, and get our breakdowns of each one’s strengths and weaknesses.

Dear Mrs. Peterson,

After finishing my drawing of Timothée Chalamet this semester, I was stunned by its beauty—it was one of the first pieces that I was proud of. Because of the debacle with the charcoal drawing of my sister last year, I avoided drawing another human. Yet, you persisted in encouraging me to tackle this challenge; from achieving Timothée’s chiseled cheekbones to highlighting his curls, you always stood by my side—even when I wanted to quit.

Honing my artistic abilities was only a portion of what you taught me. You always encouraged me to be vulnerable, and I am gratified by our insightful conversations. From consoling me through the stress of finals to supporting my aspirations of becoming a lawyer, you never wavered in listening to my stories. You weren’t just my art teacher, but my shoulder.

I am inspired by how you lead your life with compassion and authenticity. Watching you build a community through dialogue furthered my own love of interaction as an instrument to foster connection. Thank you for being my guidepost. You made a home for me in your class, and it saddens me that I will be leaving it soon.

Gratefully,

Future Empathetic Lawyer

What the Essay Did Well

A strong hook is an essential part of any essay, to really draw a reader into the story. This writer does an excellent job immediately grabbing our attention by describing a tangible object that represents why they are thankful to their art teacher, which is a far more powerful technique than just saying something general like “You have made me a much better artist.”

The drawing of Timothée Chalamet also serves as an anchor for the traits the writer wants to highlight about themselves, such as risk-taking (taking on the challenge of drawing “his chiseled cheekbones…[and] curls” ) and perseverance ( “you always stood by my side” ). Remember that showing your reader something about yourself, through a tangible example like an art project, makes your points far more convincing than just telling them you are a certain way, as then you’re just leaving them to take your word for it.

The writer also seamlessly transitions from talking about their drawing to talking about how their art teacher has helped them in general, with the line “Honing my artistic abilities was only a portion of what you taught me.” This line provides the perfect jumping-off point for the writer to show us how their teacher has supported them in non-art contexts as well.

Finally, in a big-picture sense, the writer strikes a great balance between highlighting their art teacher’s virtues, and how those virtues have helped them grow and develop their own personality. With this prompt, there’s a risk that you end up talking too much about the person you’re thanking, and not enough about yourself–remember, you’re the one admissions officers are trying to make a decision about! But this writer avoids that pitfall by always connecting the things they admire in their art teacher to qualities they have developed themselves.

What Could Be Improved

There is not much room for improvement in this essay. The author directly connects the values they have learned from their art teacher to tangible experiences, which ensures their essay will stand out even from other essays written about teachers.

The only point in the essay that reads a little strangely is the inclusion of the word “empathetic” in the student’s signature. Although we can read between the lines that they learned empathy from their teacher, that actually isn’t a value they name outright. They do highlight vulnerability, compassion, authenticity, and connection, so to make the end of the essay feel more cohesive, they could either replace “empathetic” with something like “compassionate,” or just make sure they do explicitly include empathy in the body of the essay.

Dear Mr. Gonzalez,

I want to take a moment to thank you for the encouragement and support you have given me throughout my high school career. You have been a great teacher and mentor, and I am lucky to have you in my life.

However, I would especially like to thank you for helping me discover my gifts and turning them into abilities. All my life, I have been told that my love of talking with anyone and everyone was an annoyance at best and a flaw at worst. You decided to turn this “flaw” into one of my greatest joys. You taught me how to meticulously craft words and introduced me to rhetoric. Before, I never noticed how perfectly my skill for speaking and writing played into my other skills and talents.

You helped me learn that I grow best when thrust into high-pressure situations. The speeches and the competitions you signed me up for made me incredibly nervous but also incredibly proud.

You taught me that anything you love can be used to bring you happiness, and, more importantly, to help others.

Much appreciative,

This student uses this letter to say a touching, genuine thank you to a teacher who has helped them “turn [a] ‘flaw’ into one of [their] greatest joys.” Rather than highlighting a more generic trait like work ethic, the writer chooses a core value that shows they are able to deeply reflect on how they became the person they are, and how this teacher helped them with that development.

The writer’s impressive ability for introspection is also shown by their description of how their loquaciousness has always been a part of them (which we understand from the line “All my life” ), but their teacher was the first person to help that quality blossom. Rather than framing the essay around a quality that someone else taught them directly, they show that they understand growth can happen in a variety of ways, which in turn shows that they are a mature, emotionally intelligent person.

The author begins their essay very generically, by thanking their teacher for “encouragement and support” and saying that he is a “great teacher and mentor.” Remember, the point of any college essay is to help distinguish yourself from other applicants, and these lines could have been plucked from just about anybody’s “Thank You” essay.

Especially given the low word count, the student should use each sentence purposefully, rather than wasting space on general pleasantries. They would be better off starting the letter with the line “I would like to thank you for helping me discover my gifts and turning them into abilities.” As noted above, this personal, specific reason they are grateful to their teacher is really the heart of the essay, and thus should be given as much attention as possible.

Along the same lines, cutting the general introductions at the beginning would also give the writer more space to explain how their teacher helped them become more confident in their gifts. Rather than just saying that he “taught [them] how to meticulously craft words and introduced [them] to rhetoric,” the writer should provide us with an anecdote that shows what their teacher did specifically to improve their speaking and writing skills. This might look something like:

“I will never forget breaking down some of history’s most famous speeches with you, from the Gettysburg Address to ‘I Have a Dream,’ and slowly starting to understand how I could use these great orators’ techniques myself.”

Likewise, in the third paragraph, the student should provide context for how they reacted to high-pressure situations before their teacher started signing them up for speeches and competitions. They could include something along the lines of “In the past, I always shied away from the spotlight and never felt confident enough to pursue my passion for public speaking, but your faith in my talents pushed me to break past my mental boundaries.” By telling us what the student was like before meeting Mr. Gonzalez, this line emphasizes the importance of the lesson they learned from him.

Finally, in the last sentence of the letter, the student says that their teacher has taught them “to help others.” However, the essay never discussed helping others, so this lesson comes out of nowhere. Especially in the conclusion, you want to be sure that the points you make are supported by the rest of the essay. In the case of this student, that means they would be better off just sticking with the line “You taught me that anything you love can be used to bring you happiness,” as that is a quality they have discussed in detail.

I’ll always remember the times you corrected our Arabic-speaking friends when they greeted you with Abu Jack [Jack’s father] instead of Abu Julia [Julia’s father], proudly breaking the patriarchal tradition of referring to parents by the name of their eldest son, even when their first child is a daughter. Despite our disagreements on everything from economics to foreign policy, your simultaneous open-mindedness and commitment to your values remind me to appreciate intellectual plurality grounded in respect.

Thank you for motivating me to constantly learn more with your encyclopedia-like knowledge of the world. For inspiring me to see beauty in language, history, literature, and science. For strengthening my empathy through every late-night dinner debate. For spending hours discussing each book we share, from Sapiens to Sophie’s World.

Please never stop asking me for advice on your poetry to gauge whether your metaphors translate to English. Never lose the softness in your heart that makes you cry while we watch Coco for the third time because it reminds you of your family. Keep reminding me to “demand evidence and think critically,” even though I tease you for buying a sweatshirt plastered with the phrase.

Your mini-you

Although many other applicants are likely to write letters to parents or other family members, this writer ensures her essay will still stand out by structuring her essay around stories and anecdotes that are personal to her relationship with her dad. Her father’s rejection of a “patriarchal tradition,” two specific examples of books they have read together, and her description of one of his favorite sweatshirts all show what makes their connection different from any other between a father and daughter.

More broadly, these personal anecdotes help readers understand this writer’s background as a whole, not just her relationship with her dad. The essays are admissions officers’ number one resource for understanding how you’ll fit into their campus community as a person, not just a student, and this essay gives us a clear sense of the intellect and compassion this writer would contribute to late night conversations with her roommate, interactions with the dining hall staff, and all the other “little moments” that truly define a college experience.

Unfortunately, this essay falls into the trap outlined in our breakdown of Essay Example 1: we learn more about the author’s dad than we do about her. We know he breaks patriarchal tradition, has encyclopedia-like knowledge, loves poetry, and gets emotional when watching the movie Coco, but we don’t learn anything concrete about this student’s values, only that she admires these qualities in him.

To improve this, the author can reframe some of her ideas to be more focused on herself. For example, take the paragraph:

“Thank you for motivating me to constantly learn more with your encyclopedia-like knowledge of the world. For inspiring me to see beauty in language, history, literature, and science. For strengthening my empathy through every late-night dinner debate. For spending hours discussing each book we share, from Sapiens to Sophie’s World.”

Instead of spending most of the space highlighting her father’s virtues, she should rephrase this paragraph to be grounded in actions she has taken as a result of feeling inspired by her father. This could look something like:

“Your encyclopedia-like knowledge of the world has motivated me to linger by paintings in museums for a few seconds longer, to make sure I fully grasp the artist’s intentions, give Moby Dick a second chance even though I couldn’t get past the third chapter on my first attempt, and start self-studying Italian.”

As you can see, fleshing out her ideas in this way will take up space, and right now the essay covers too much ground for her to do this for each point she makes: she touches on Arabic culture, disagreements they have had, films and books they’ve enjoyed together, and general values she has learned from her father like empathy.

Narrowing her focus will give her the space she needs to make the essay more personal, and also communicate in a more cohesive way what her dad has taught her, as right now readers might leave feeling confused about what the most important lesson she has learned from him is. Choosing just one or two things to focus on will make the essay feel more unified.

Dear Mrs. Charles,

Entering your classroom, it was the lively music that drew me in, yet it would be your energetic voice that would hook me into the countless lessons about history for the next nine months. There was no dull moment, only excitement and the curiosity to learn more. You have instilled beyond knowledge, but more importantly, the inquisitive admiration for education and especially America, an impression so deeply indented in an immigrant like me. You looked out for me even when I was too insecure about my residential status to ask for help. With my first ever letter of recommendation, you have since advocated for my academic career. Amidst overwhelming college applications, I sobbed reading your note, “Good Luck My Perfect young woman – You deserve the world!” You continuously believe in my potential, and that faith has emboldened me to be the resilient woman I am today. Thank you, Mrs. Charles, for encouraging me when things seemed impossible, mentoring me when I was lost, and strengthening my confidence when no one was there. It has been an honor to be your student, and I cannot wish for any other teachers to have changed my life this way.

This student’s genuine gratitude towards her teacher comes across in her strong personal voice, which is reflected in engaging lines like “there was no dull moment” and “the inquisitive admiration for education and especially America, an impression so deeply indented in an immigrant like me.” We can tell that the student’s appreciation for her teacher comes from moments that were truly formative for her, and that authenticity wins us over by pulling at our heartstrings with strong word choices and phrasings.

Although this essay does a great job of expressing the emotional depth of this student’s relationship with her teacher, it lacks the specific details to evidence how this relationship has grown over time. For example, the student writes:

“You have instilled beyond knowledge, but more importantly, the inquisitive admiration for education and especially America, an impression so deeply indented in an immigrant like me. You looked out for me even when I was too insecure about my residential status to ask for help.”

While these lines are compelling, and speak to how the teacher looks out for the writer as an individual, not just a student, we don’t get any details about how she “instilled beyond knowledge” or “looked out for” the student. An anecdote that provides some of those details would give us a clearer sense of why this relationship is so meaningful to this student. That might look something like:

“You went out of your way to meet with me every week as I prepared for my mock debate on the pros and cons of the American public education system, a system that, as an immigrant, I had always admired. I had been too nervous about my residential status to ask you for help understanding the points my peers knew instinctively, and so it meant the world to me when you asked me to join you for a snack at your desk after class one day. This discrete support made me feel simultaneously looked out for and empowered.”

Finally, this essay would look better on the page if it were split into two or even three paragraphs. A huge block of text on the page can be daunting, and you don’t want to turn off your readers before they even start. Plus, breaking up your ideas into smaller paragraphs can also make your essay easier to understand, as your reader can focus on one point at a time, rather than trying to keep everything in mind simultaneously as they’re reading.

Also on a structural level, the writer should have a signature of some kind. If you were writing a note to someone in a non-college essay context, you wouldn’t leave it unsigned. So, while it’s a small detail, to be true to what the prompt is asking, this student should include a signature.

Dear Mrs. King,

Even though it has been five years since I’ve stepped into your English classroom at Harrison Middle, I remember the sound of your enthusiastic voice and genuine smile like it was yesterday.

Your energy was contagious and your quick wittedness unmatched. The way you effortlessly enthralled the entire class with your love for writing is something I will never forget. When you organized a classwide debate based on our argumentative essay topics, you captivated everyone to the point where enthusiastic shouts bounced off the walls of the room.

You made us feel warm and comfortable. As a rigorous teacher and thinker, your lessons impacted me in and out of the classroom. The door to your classroom was always open if I needed advice, helping me navigate everything from friendships to high school applications. In your presence, I felt like a friend instead of a student, because that was just your comforting nature. Thank you for the moments with you in middle school that will stay with me for a lifetime.

Warm regards,

This essay’s greatest strength is the author’s use of vibrant, playful language, which helps readers vicariously feel Mrs. King’s enthusiasm and energy. For example, the “enthusiastic shouts bouncing off walls” and feeling “like a friend instead of a student, because that was just your comforting nature” drop us right into Mrs. King’s classroom, and allow us to vicariously understand why this student respects her so much.

This essay’s biggest issue is that most of the writer’s points are very generic, and could have been written by anyone, about any teacher. The point of this prompt is to highlight certain aspects of your personality by describing values you have learned from someone else, but the details we get about Mrs. King are very surface-level, like the sound of her voice, smile, and love for writing. As a result, we don’t learn much about either the teacher’s personality or how she has impacted the writer.

The author should instead include stories that show us specific values and lessons they have learned from this teacher. For example, the line “As a rigorous teacher and thinker, your lessons impacted me in and out of the classroom,” could be about nearly anything. To make this line more informative, the writer needs to get much more specific about what their point is, along the lines of:

“When you took us on a field trip to see a production of Hamlet which had recast Ophelia as a man, you challenged me to reconsider how societal standards, which I like to think I’m able to transcend, unavoidably impact my interpretation of literature.”

This version both identifies a particular aspect of the writer’s personality (their ability to push back on preconceived ideas) and something specific Mrs. King did to help them develop that aspect. As a result, admissions officers now get what they really care about: information about who this student is, and how they would fit in at their school.

Where to Get Feedback on Your Essay

Want feedback on your UPenn “Thank You” essay before you submit? That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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Common Application Essay Option 4—Gratitude

Tips and Strategies for the 2021-22 Common App

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One major change to the Common Application in the 2021-22 admissions cycle is the addition of a new essay prompt. Option #4 now reads, "Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?"

This new prompt replaces the earlier question about solving a problem : "Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma--anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution." Keep in mind that colleges and universities still want to learn about students interested in solving significant problems, and you still have the "Topic of Your Choice" option if you feel your essay would fit well under the former option #4.

According to Common App , the new prompt serves a couple purposes. First, it replaces a prompt that wasn't very popular among college applicants. More importantly, it gives applicants the opportunity to write about something positive at a difficult time in world history. Rather than write about significant problems, challenges, and anxieties, the new prompt #4 invites you to share something heartfelt and uplifting.

The Importance of Gratitude and Kindness

During the college application process, it's easy and tempting to focus entirely on your personal accomplishments: good grades, challenging AP courses, leadership experiences, athletic ability, musical talent, and so on. Even community service can sometimes come across as focused on your self—hours spent to bolster your application credentials.

Gratitude, however, is a largely selfless feeling. It's about your appreciation for someone else. It's recognizing that your growth and success wouldn't be possible without others. When you express gratitude, you aren't saying "look at me!" Rather, you are appreciating those who have helped you become you.

The folks at Common App have expressed that the new prompt allows students to write about something positive. This is true, but the prompt serves a bigger purpose in the admissions selection process. Highly selective schools end up rejecting thousands of well-qualified applicants, and those decisions will often come down to questions of character rather than GPA and SAT scores.

Think of it this way: when a college is choosing between two students who are academically strong and impressive on the extracurricular front, they will choose the student who seems to be the most kind and generous. Admissions officers are building a campus community with their admissions decisions, and they want to create a community filled with students who appreciate others, build each other up, and recognize the contributions of peers, staff, and professors. They want to admit students who will be kind roommates, collaborative lab partners, and supportive team members.

Chris Peterson, an assistant director of admissions at MIT, wrote a blog post in which he identified three essential qualities for getting into one of the world's most selective schools: do well in school, pursue your passion, and be nice. He notes that this last quality "cannot be overstated." MIT is not a Common Application member, but the point applies perfectly to the value of prompt #4. A winning essay doesn't say "me, me, me!" It shows that you are not only an accomplished person, but also someone who knows how to say "thank you."

Breaking Down the Essay Prompt

Before crafting your essay on prompt #4, it's essential to understand everything that the prompt is asking you to do as well as what it is not asking. The prompt is just 28 words long:

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

The prompt has several important elements to consider.

"Reflect"

The very first word in the prompt is one of the most significant. "Reflect" means much more than "write about" or "describe." When you reflect on something, you look inward and reveal self-awareness. You employ critical thinking skills to explain why something is important. Reflection is an act of self-discovery as you examine what you have learned and why it was meaningful.

Here's a quick example:

Unreflective writing: Coach Strauss always taught the team the value of hard work. We practiced hours every day regardless of the weather. The coach's strategy paid off when we won the state championship. The effort we put in wasn't always enjoyable, but the team's success showed that the path to success requires sacrifices.

Reflective writing: I used to resent those miserable and seemingly endless soccer practices in the rain or even snow. Looking back, I now recognize the value of what Coach Strauss was teaching the team. To succeed, we need to work through small obstacles. We need to persevere even when motivation is hard to find. We need to recognize that we always have room for improvement, and we need to support each other as we work towards that goal. I can now see that her lessons were about much more than soccer, and thanks to her I am not just a better athlete, but a better student, peer, sister, and community member.

The first example describes the writer's soccer experience. Nothing in the passage looks inward to analyze the importance of Coach Strauss to the writer's personal awareness and development. The second passage succeeds on this front—it expresses gratitude for Coach Strauss and the way that her lessons helped the writer grow.

"Something" and "Someone"

A nice feature of the Common Application is that all of the essay prompts are designed to give you a lot of latitude in how you respond. The words "something" and "someone" in the new prompt #4 are deliberately vague. You can write about anyone and anything. Possible choices for the person you focus on include

• A teacher who helped you realize your potential or see the world in a new way.
• A coach who taught you valuable skills.
• A family member whose support, love, or guidance helped you become the person you are today.
• A peer who was always there for you in challenging times.
• A student you mentored or tutored who ended up teaching you something valuable in the process.
• A member of your church or community who had a meaningful and positive impact on your life.

The wording of the prompt implies that the "someone" is a living person, so you'll want to avoid writing about an author, God, a pet, or a historical figure (but feel free to use prompt #7 for these topics).

As you think about the "something" that the person did for you, make sure it is meaningful. It needs to be something that has changed you in a positive way.

"Surprising"

When the prompt states that you should write about something that has made you "happy or thankful in a surprising way," don't get too hung up on that word "surprising." This doesn't mean that you need to be shocked or overwhelmed by whatever it is that a person did for you. Don't think of the term "surprising" as something that made you speechless and caused an adrenalin rush. It does not need to be something earth-shattering or even unusual. Rather, the "surprise" can simply be something that expanded your world view, made you think about something you hadn't considered before, or caused you to appreciate something new. Some of the best essays focus on something small or subtle that changed you in a meaningful way.

"Gratitude"

The essay's focus on "gratitude" and thankfulness means that you absolutely must show appreciation for someone other than yourself. One main purpose of this essay, in fact, is to show that you recognize the contributions that others have made to your personal journey. Be generous. Be kind. Show that you value the people who have made you into the person you are.

"Affected" and "Motivated"

Here's the tricky part. Essay #4 is all about recognizing someone else and showing gratitude for the way in which that person has enriched your life. That said, every college application essay needs to be about you. The admissions folks aren't really interested in learning about someone else. They are interested in learning about the student they are considering for admission.

This means you have a careful balancing act to perform with essay option #4. You need to write about the person who contributed to your life in a meaningful and surprising way, but you also need to be introspective and present why that person was so important to you. What did you learn from the person? How did you grow? How did that person change your world view, strengthen your convictions, help you overcome an obstacle, or give you a new sense of direction?

When you answer questions like these, you are writing about yourself. The true goal of this essay is to show that you are a grateful, kind, thoughtful, introspective, and generous person. The focus isn't so much on the person you are writing about, but your ability to cherish that person.

Avoid These Mistakes

You can write about anyone who was important to you, and your gratitude can be for something large or small as long as it affected you in a meaningful way. There are, however, several mistakes you want to avoid when responding to the prompt:

Don't display ego . Prompt #4 is about acknowledging the important contributions others have made to your life, so a boastful or egotistical tone will be entirely out of place. If at its heart your essay says "Coach Strauss helped make me into the award-winning national champion I am today," you've missed the mark.

Do more than describe . Make sure you "reflect" and explore how the person "affected" and "motivated" you. A winning essay needs to be thoughtful and introspective. If you spend the entire essay describing the person who has made you grateful, the admissions folks won't get to know you better and your essay won't have done its job.

Don't be clever with the "someone." Write about a real living human being who has enriched your life in a direct way. Don't write about yourself, God, Abe Lincoln, or Harry Potter. You also don't want to write about a sports idol or musician—while they may have influenced you, they didn't actually do something specifically "for you."

Attend to the Writing

Never forget that your Common Application serves not just to help the admissions folks get to know you, but also to show that you are a capable writer. No matter what your major is, a significant part of your college GPA is going to stem from writing. Successful college students can write clear, engaging, error-free prose. You'll want to pay careful attention to your essay's style , tone, and mechanics. At a highly selective university with more qualified applicants than can be admitted, the difference between an acceptance and rejection can come down to some glaring grammatical errors in the essay.

If you aren't confident in your writing ability, seek help. Have multiple people read your essay. Get feedback from parents and peers, Even more valuable will probably be feedback from your high school counselor and English teacher, for they have more experience with personal essays.

A Final Note for Common Application Option #4

This essay prompt can be approached is so many different ways, but at its heart, the essay needs to accomplish one thing: it needs to show that you are the type of person the college wants to join their campus community. Make sure you come across as someone who is kind, generous, and thoughtful. Show that you care about good writing by crafting an engaging essay that is free of any significant errors. Finally, don't be afraid to let your personality shine. Don't hold back (within reason) if you are a quirky or humorous person. The essay needs to sound like you.

• "Grandpa's Rubik's Cube"—Sample Common Application Essay, Option #4
• Tips for the Pre-2013 Personal Essay Options on the Common Application
• "Handiwork" - Sample Common Application Essay for Option #1
• 2020-21 Common Application Essay Option 4—Solving a Problem
• 5 Tips for a College Admissions Essay on an Important Issue
• Common Application Essay on a Meaningful Place
• Common Application Essay, Option 1: Share Your Story
• Sample Common Application Essay for Option #5
• Model Essay on Identity
• "My Dads" - Sample Common Application Essay for Option #1
• A Sample Essay for Common Application Option #7: Topic of Your Choice
• Tips for Writing an Essay on an Event That Led to Personal Growth
• Common Application Essay Option 2 Tips: Learning from Failure
• Tips for the 8 University of California Personal Insight Questions
• Should an Application Essay Be Single-Spaced or Double-Spaced?
• Tips for an Application Essay on a Significant Experience

Gratitude Essay

500 words essay on gratitude.

Gratitude is a beautiful way of enriching our lives. It refers to the feeling and attitude of appreciation and thankfulness for the good which we receive in life. It has been proven scientifically that when we express our gratefulness to other people, we feel happier and calmer. Thus, it allows goodness to enter our lives. For instance, when a stranger holds the door for you or greets you, it makes you feel happy. Thus, a gratitude essay will teach us how advantageous gratitude is.

Advantages of Gratitude

Gratitude can have a lot of advantages to our personal as well as social life. First of all, it strengthens our relationship with others. When you have a thankful feeling, it will strengthen the bond with the other party and enhance the trust factor and feeling of respect and love .

Moreover, it also makes us happy. When we express gratitude or receive it, we feel happy either way. As a result, people who have gratitude do not stress out a lot. Similarly, being full of gratitude makes society sensible.

In other words, people become considerate and never leave a chance to say thank you to others. Thus, it helps society to progress in the right direction with the right tools needed for the development of it.

Most importantly, gratitude reduces comparisons and promotes acknowledgement. When we become thankful, we do not compare ourselves to others. Thus, it helps us acknowledge our own achievements and blessings and remain content.

How to Practice Gratitude

There are a lot of ways through which we can practice gratitude. Some of the most effective ones include making a note of every good thing which happens to us every day. Moreover, also note the people behind it.

This will help you to return the favour at an appropriate time. Never forget to return this favour as they deserve it too. Moreover, always make sure to appreciate everything in life ranging from nature to animals .

We are lucky enough to have animals, green plants, fresh air and much more. Thus, never stop acknowledging the importance of these essential things. Moreover, always remember to say thank you to different community helpers.

It can be anyone, whether your gardener or sweeper or even the police officers. Make sure you thank them for their service whenever it is possible for you. Remember that to wake up every day is no less than a blessing itself.

So, make sure to be grateful for a new day and thank the almighty for making you wiser and stronger with each passing day. Most importantly, try to avoid complaining about things when they don’t go your way. You don’t know about the blessing behind it.

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

Conclusion of Gratitude Essay

All in all, gratitude is the most essential human expression which proves that humans are sensible and have emotions. Moreover, this emotion does not just limit to humans but also animals. Often, we see then express their gratitude and return the favour. Thus, we must always express our gratitude.

FAQ of Gratitude Essay

Question 1: Why is gratitude important?

Answer 1: Gratitude is strongly and constantly connected with greater happiness. It is what helps people feel more positive emotions, appreciate good experiences, advance their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.

Question 2: How can gratitude change your life?

Answer 2: Gratitude can change your life as it makes you appreciate what you have rather than what you don’t have. It can change your life  because it is the single most powerful source of inspiration that any individual can tap into if they simply stop and pay attention to the simplistic beauty and miracle of life.

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Appreciation Essay: Examples, Format, and Topics

An appreciation essay can be defined as a piece of writing that is both creative and academic and chooses to focus on a particular person, art, subject, place, object, or concept to show positive sentiments, gratitude, and admiration. Recognizing and valuing a person can make them feel worthy and validated while spreading positivity and kindness. This act can be carried out using words, gestures, or actions.

We use this essay to show appreciation for a particular topic. Writing an appreciation essay is not hard because it is among the common academic papers and there are plenty of appreciation essay examples available. If you are having a hard time with your appreciation essay, visit our website at eminencepapers.com where we have appreciation essay samples on different subjects.

This article is going to guide you on an appreciation essay format and even provide you with topics you can use to write your appreciation essay. With our homework help your paper is in safe hands. Hire our assignment writing services in case your assignment is devastating you.

Appreciation essay format

Below is a general appreciation format you can use when showing gratitude.

• Introduction
• This section of your essay writing is used to capture the attention of your readers. Use the perfect hook to make sure your audience is invested in your paper. You can start the appreciation essay with an anecdote, joke, quote, or even a statistic.
• Expound on your subject matter by introducing where you are directing your gratitude. Introduce the person or thing you will be appreciating and give a reason why you feel they deserve it.
• Background information
• The readers will require more information on your appreciation subject. This will assist them in having enough context on the topic and understanding your views more. They will also be able to relate with you on the importance of your subject.
• In the case your subject is a person, always state the kind of relationship you have with the person, their background, and achievements.
• Body paragraphs
• An appreciation essay is written with 2-3 paragraphs as per your professor’s requirements.
• Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence where you will introduce the main point of discussion. Each paragraph focuses on a single reason for appreciation. For instance, contributions, qualities, achievements, or even actions.
• Each point should have supportive evidence. Show your readers that you have a valid reason to appreciate the person or thing. Could be observations, statistics, or even personal experiences.
• Always make sure that the appreciation essay has a flow. Use transition sentences to move from one paragraph to the other and be organized. Present your points from the most important and relevant.
• Personal connection
• Explain to the readers how you have interacted with the subject and the changes that followed after that.
• Say what you think about the subject, and the feelings you have, and express your emotions.
• Show the readers the benefits that have developed as a result of your subject that have made you appreciate them. Go broader by discussing the impacts made in society and the influence they have.
• Remind the readers about your subject and why you are grateful.
• Summarize all the main points in your appreciation essay
• End an essay with a lasting impression on the subject. You should find something that will help your audience always remember the subject.
• Closing remarks
• Finish with a statement of appreciation where you warmly and sincerely offer your gratitude.
• Sign and proofread
• Personalize the essay by signing it. You can use your name or even your initials. Finish by checking your essay for errors. Make necessary corrections and check for clarity before submitting.

Appreciation essay topics

Writing the perfect appreciation essay requires you to have the right topic. There are plenty of areas one can show appreciation thus the appreciation topics are plenty. Choosing an appreciation topic is different for everybody because our reasons differ. Below are a few topics you can look at before choosing a topic that is interesting to you and your needs.

Dance appreciation essay topics

• What is ballet and how has it evolved over the years?
• How are modern dance styles influenced by African dance?
• Write a case study on Flamenco dancing and how it has impacted the culture of Spain.
• Can ballet be possible without men? Discuss
• How has pop culture been affected by hip-hop dance?
• Dancing is therapeutic. Explain various beneficial uses of dance
• What was dance used for during rituals in traditional times?
• Analyze how dance relates to technology in the modern era
• Is choreography dance and does it need music to happen?
• Different ways political leaders can use dance to protest
• Talk about Michael Jackson and the choreography available in the music videos
• Why do musical theaters use dance in their production?
• Who is Martha Graham and how has she impacted dance in the modern generation?
• The significance of dance in modern cultures
• Dance was embraced at weddings and funerals. Explain
• Explain ways in which different religions use dance
• What are the pros and cons of using dance as a marketing strategy
• Various ways the community can use dance to create social connections
• Different ways the media can help dancers with self-esteem and body image
• Diversity of modern dance as compared to traditional dance
• Name the different types of dance
• How have famous choreographers influenced the world?
• Is dance a source of income or entertainment?
• What kind of lives do ballet dancers lead?
• Can one create a legacy through dance?
• Is there honor in dance?
• Different ways social media has contributed to the growth of dance
• Online dance classes in the contemporary era
• Dance and covid-19
• How has education benefited from dance?
• What role does dance play in child development?
• Dance and Bollywood films
• How are teenagers affected by dance competitions?
• Ballroom dances and how they have made history from historical times till modern times
• Poetry VS dance

Art appreciation essay paper topics

• Why did art fail in the U.S. market?
• ‘Lady with a Fan’ by Gustav Klimt
• A case study on the Sistine chapel
• Name ten prominent female artists and their achievements
• The house museum by Louis Armstrong
• How has the Brooklyn Museum represented African fashion
• What impact did Raphael make as an artist?
• What is the relationship between Taylor Swift’s music career and the economy?
• Different ways Megan Nolan has made an impact on the literature of Irish
• Types of printing techniques
• Discuss art in philosophy
• Is photography an art?
• What is art?
• Why did the Egyptians value jewelry?
• What is an amulet and how were they used?
• Why are the dead buried wearing jewelry in Egypt?
• Discuss Mayan art
• musical instruments used in primal days
• The advantages and disadvantages the Egyptians have faced in maintaining their art canon
• Who is an impressionist discuss the two impressionists in history.
• When were the carnival masks in Venetian invented?
• Medieval France and stained glass
• Calligraphy styles and materials used in Japanese history
• The history of k-pop music
• African tribes and their textile industry
• The history of the Maori culture and their haka dance
• Malaysian tradition of shadow puppet dancing
• What are the characteristics of the mehndi in the Middle East
• Vietnamese and their tradition in water puppetry
• Papua New Guinea and their art of using totem masks
• Discuss the style, symbol, and composition used by Leonardo da Vinci in ‘The Last Supper’
• What is the difference between the artwork of Patrick Hughes ‘Darkness Falls’ and other pieces
• What were the intentions of Giovanni Arnolfini when he did the painting ‘Marriage Contract’?
• What is the purpose of Christopher David White ‘Heart of Gold ‘
• What is meant by good art?
• The benefit of schools adding art to their curriculum
• The best artwork of the 18 th century
• What are the similarities and differences between art in the 20 th century vs. the 18 th century?
• Why are the Baroque sculptures easy to recognize?
• Can we say computer games are a form of art?
• Is graffiti street art?
• What impact does art have in our lives?
• Art as a form of investment
• The Effiel Tower in Paris stole the show in the 20 th century
• Describe Chinese art from medieval times till today.

Parting shot

Appreciation essays are important for expressing gratitude towards people, objects, and art amongst others. From this article, you have learned about the appreciation essay format and also received a few topics for your appreciation essay. If you have an appreciation essay that is due, visit eminencepapers.com and you will find experts who will write your essay. We also have online classes where you will learn everything you need like writing a short essay about appreciation. We are affordable and our work is high-quality. We assure you of a remarkable capstone project courtesy of our reliable capstone project writing services .

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Gratitude — Things I Am Thankful For in My Life

The Things I Am Grateful for in My Life

• Categories: Gratitude Personal Beliefs Thank You

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The Importance of Showing Appreciation: 10 Good Reasons To Show Appreciation

Showing appreciation to other people

We all need to know that we’re important in other people’s lives. Humans need to be noticed and valued — in private and business life. Why do I believe that it is so important to show appreciation? Because…

Why appreciation matters so much

Appreciation is powerful. 10 good reasons to show appreciation, what can a company do to value its employees.

• What can each employee contribute?

And how can I express to my colleagues that I appreciate them?

Just ask me personally.

At least in Germany, the term “appreciation” degenerates into a buzzword; today it is used inflationary and is seldom meant honestly. Although appreciation is often confused with praise and recognition for achievements, real appreciation goes much further. It regards colleagues as human beings who are valuable because of their abilities, personality, and uniqueness. Regardless of their position in the company, each employee has enormous potential in different areas.

Respect, recognition, and benevolence are a part of how we show appreciation. Appreciation is characterized by interest, attention, devotion, and friendliness.

Appreciation is a fundamental human need in both professional and private life. We want to be appreciated by what we are, what we do, and what we achieve. We all need to know that we’re important in other people’s lives. And we need to feel that we are appreciated — in private in business life. It doesn’t matter whether your office is a boardroom, classroom, or anywhere else. We all want to be noticed and valued. Appreciation is at the core of all healthy relationships. Most of us feel like we don’t get enough appreciation. Did you know that one of the main reasons people leave their jobs is because of a lack of appreciation? It’s demoralizing when you’re not recognized for your efforts and skills. There are a lot of people who do things for you every day. Employees, colleagues, family, and friends are expected to do their part. Do they know that you appreciate them? Let others know that you appreciate them.

Why do I believe that it is so important to show appreciation? Because…

Appreciation is the act of giving something or someone their proper value, and everybody has value. The value in a relationship is important because it lets a person know where they stand, and what they mean to you; appreciation is a way of letting that person know what you value. There are plenty of powerful benefits to the recipient and giver as well. Here are a few examples.

Apply appreciation to your relationships in business and private life and you will…

1. … make other people happy..

Appreciation is a fundamental human need in both professional and private life. We want to be appreciated by what we are, what we do, and what we achieve.

2. … make yourself happy.

When you express your appreciation for someone, you will not only improve their lives but yours as well. You will feel more fulfilled because you have done something to make someone else’s life better. It will change your mindset. Our mood and daily outlooks change when we focus on positive things rather than negative.

3. … boost moral.

Appreciation boots moral. It has the largest effect on trust when it occurs immediately after a goal has been met, when it comes from peers, and when it’s tangible, unexpected, personal, and public.

4. … motivate others.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to motivate others is by appreciating them. When you praise or appreciate someone, it indicates that you have recognized their effort. It may encourage them to go the extra mile. Giving recognition inspires greatness in others.

5. … build trust in relationships.

Gratitude makes us nicer, more trusting, more social, and more appreciative. As a result, it helps us make more friends, deepen our existing relationships, and improve our marriage. Those who express appreciation with others are more committed to them and more likely to stay in the relationship.

6. … show respect.

Respect is an essential ingredient for healthy relationships.

7. … deepen your relationships.

When you look for the good instead of the bad in the surrounding people, you begin to notice just how interesting they are. You will engage at a higher level. It will accelerate the relationship-building process and enhance their overall impression of you.

8. … see more clearly what counts.

Your focus change and will be more positive.

9. … see more innovative results.

Employees who recognize their team members experience a huge increase in innovation.

10. … increase your effectiveness.

Giving appreciation has a direct impact on results. For example; employees who give or get appreciation experience a huge increase in work results.

Go ahead and thank someone for something they’ve done for you. It costs you so little, but it might mean the world to the other person.

Survey results

Do you feel appreciated by your employer?

Rare to never

Just enough.

Result of a non-representative survey on www.karstennoack.de and among participants attending events of NOACK Training & Coaching Berlin (n= 633)

Appreciation within the company I work for is…

rarely meant seriously.

Usually meant seriously..

Result of a non-representative survey on www.karstennoack.de and among participants attending events of NOACK Training & Coaching Berlin (n= 645)

Companies that are serious about appreciation should consistently live the values they share. Unfortunately, this is rather the exception! All the more gratifying that some of my clients are willing to take this step. All too often, it’s all about declarations of intent.

What can each individual employee contribute?

Each of us can open our mouths, express ourselves appropriately, and show appreciation to others. By the way, even superiors are still human beings. We cannot say “Thank you!” often enough. It costs so little and brings so much.

Speak out what is valued about each other. Small gifts maintain friendship; whether verbal or quietly, sometimes symbolically tangible. Even an honestly meant smile can speak volumes. And undivided attention, as natural as it should be and yet is not, is also a precious commodity.

Be ready for important conversations and negotiations

Communication can be easy. But often it is not. Sometimes we say one thing and then realize later, based on the other person's reaction, that they were talking to someone else. With the best will in the world, I didn't say that. - Or did I?

More or less consciously, conversations are about convincing other people of something - be it a special offer, your personality, a perspective, or a necessity. If this doesn't happen quickly enough, and above all, if it isn't precise and vivid, the other person quickly loses interest, and we lose the hoped-for opportunity. - The conversation has failed.

You can let me help you prepare for your meetings and negotiations (to be on the safe side: no legal advice!). Find out how you and your message are perceived (arguments, body language, language, voice, and much more) . I will train you in effective tools and communication strategies. Develop your psychological skills, learn to stay calm, act confidently, remain authentic, and ultimately convince.

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Appreciation - Free Essay Examples and Topic Ideas

Appreciation refers to the act of recognizing and valuing someone or something for their worth or importance. It is about expressing gratitude and acknowledging the positive aspects of a person, object, or situation. Appreciation can provide a sense of validation and increase feelings of self-worth for the recipient, while also fostering a culture of positivity and kindness. It can be shown through words, actions or gestures, and can have a powerful impact on relationships and overall well-being.

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Why Appreciation Matters So Much

• Tony Schwartz

I’ve just returned from an offsite with our team at The Energy Project. As we concluded, I asked each person to take a few moments to say what he or she felt most proud of accomplishing over the past year. After each of their brief recountings, I added some observations about what I appreciated in […]

I’ve just returned from an offsite with our team at The Energy Project . As we concluded, I asked each person to take a few moments to say what he or she felt most proud of accomplishing over the past year.

• Tony Schwartz is the CEO of The Energy Project and the author of The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working . Become a fan of The Energy Project on Facebook .

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How to write a heartfelt appreciation message to a friend, colleague, or anyone.

Saying thank you when someone has done you a good turn is not a lost art in the 21st century. The words "thank you" are still two of the most powerful words we can use to convey appreciation to another person, and sending an appreciation message remains one of the best ways to truly let someone know you are grateful for what they have done for you.

But sometimes, beyond just the "thank you," it is hard to find the right words to use in an appreciation message. Here's some expert advice on creative ways to send appreciation messages in different situations and for different recipients.

Writing an appreciation message.

An appreciation message can be any expression of gratitude or thanks, from a simple note sent by email to an ornate card with a handwritten letter delivered in the mail. As family strategist and coach Sonya Belleti, LCSW , explains, people often send appreciation messages after receiving a gift, to thank someone for showing up for them (such as to a wedding or funeral), or to help stand out after a job interview.

"An appreciation message is one way to let someone know how much you appreciate them for what they have done for you," licensed clinical social worker and health coach Sarah Brown, LCSW , tells mbg. "It is so important to show appreciation to others, and sometimes giving an appreciation message can go a long way."

Brown notes that appreciation messages can be meaningful to send out to truly anyone who has affected you personally: "Think, hairstylist, child care worker, personal trainer, coach, mentor, etc. They can also be used for colleagues and for your team if you are in a leadership role in a work setting."

The great thing about writing appreciation messages, Belleti adds, is that they benefit the giver as much as the receiver. "When we are writing a true heartfelt appreciation message, we tap into gratitude, which is always great for lifting our spirits as well as the recipient," she explains. "Appreciation messages don't always need to be big gestures to be impactful. Expressing gratitude to someone makes a person feel seen and affirms that their efforts were noticed and appreciated."

"The benefit of living in the digital age is, with only a few keystrokes and the tap of a button, we can immediately reach out to everyone we want to thank," says Belleti. "The method of outreach depends on your relationship with the recipient."

Some options to consider:

• Text: A simple text message can be a quick, casual, yet meaningful way to show your appreciation to someone. Belleti and Brown both note this method may be more appropriate for personal settings, such as to a friend or acquaintance.
• Phone call: Telephone calls can be a quick and effective way to thank someone. According to Brown, this is probably most appropriate with a friend or family member. Belleti adds that it can be a nice option for someone you're trying to build a deeper friendship with.
• Email: Email can be a great way to send a note of thanks in a professional manner or to teachers or any other helping professionals that you want to show some love to, says Brown. Email thank-you notes are also appropriate after an interview, Belleti adds.
• Card: Cards show you have put some effort and thought into thanking a person, says Brown. Although a small token of thanks, it will still be much appreciated by the receiver.
• Gifts: Giving a gift can be a way of showing appreciation and, although not showing it with words, can be an act of kindness that can go a long way, according to Brown. Oftentimes for those who do selfless acts, they may need some encouragement to practice self-care. Sending a thank-you message in the form of a gift can be a wonderful way to show your appreciation. "Gift baskets are also wonderful if they are curated to the recipient's likes," Belleti adds.
• In person: Expressing appreciation for someone in person may be harder for some people, especially if you feel awkward expressing thanks and if the receiver struggles with attention and/or recognition. However, that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be done, according to Brown. In-person appreciation messages can be incorporated in speeches, introductions, and other formal ways in a public setting, and it can also be as intimate as telling someone one-on-one that you appreciate them.

Examples of appreciation messages.

Below, our expert shares examples of great appreciation messages. "The best appreciation messages are personalized," Belleti notes, so make sure to customize your message to the specific person you're writing to and your specific relationship.

Appreciation messages for a friend.

Friends are important people in our lives, so it is important to let them know what they mean to us and to show gratitude and appreciation for the things they do for us. "The key to writing appreciation to friends is to be specific about what you are grateful for," Belleti says.

Some examples:

• "Thank you for showing up for me. Your presence made my day even more special."
• "This ___ outfit you gave for my baby is so adorable. I will be sure to send pictures when they wear it."
• "Thank you for coming over after my _____ passed. It meant a lot to have your support."
• "Thank you for your kindness and support over the last few weeks. Your friendship means the world to me, and you were such a big part of me moving and growing through this period."
• "Thank you for being a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on when I have needed it the most."
• "Thank you for being there for me, making me feel supported and cared for."
• "Thank you for being my friend!"

Appreciation messages for a family member.

Many times, and in many cases, we expect and assume our family will do things for us when we need them to and that they will show up for us. Because of this, it is even more important that we show gratitude to them so they don't feel taken for granted.

• "Thank you for always supporting me even when it is not easy to do."
• "Thank you for your support and for seeing me through all the many life challenges I have experienced."
• "Your wisdom, kindness, and strength has carried me through many challenging times. Thank you for always being there."
• "Thank you for your help with the move. I appreciate the time and help you gave me!"
• "I wanted to thank you for always being there for me. It means so very much."
• "To show my appreciation for all of you, I'm going to cook you all dinner for us to eat together!"
• "I appreciate you always having my back."
• "The help you gave me was so important. I am lucky to have such a supportive family."

Professional appreciation messages for a boss or colleague. 

Sending appreciation messages to a boss or colleague can be a little tricky because it is important to strike the right tone. However, a well-written appreciation message can go a long way toward building positive relationships with your co-workers. Writing an appreciation message is also an opportunity to give colleagues credit for their contributions and to receive deserved recognition.

• "Thank you for taking the time to teach me about ____. Your mentorship and support have not gone unnoticed, and I am appreciative of the opportunities presented to learn and grow from you."
• "Thank you for having my back. It's people like you who make this company a wonderful place to work."
• "Thank you so much for your help on this project. I couldn't have done it without you."
• "Thank you for your valuable contributions to the team."
• "I remain impressed by your ability to inspire everyone on the team to do their best."
• "Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this project. Your belief in me and my ability to get the job done helped me to give my best."
• "Through your mentorship, I have learned a lot. You have helped me to learn and apply new skills and knowledge. I appreciate the time you have taken to teach me and develop my potential."
• "Thank you for helping me reach my personal and professional goals. I enjoy working with you and appreciate the opportunities you have given me."
• "Thank you for always pushing me to be my best. I am so lucky to have such a great boss."

Professional appreciation messages to send your team. 

Working as a team is an essential part of the modern-day workplace. Typically, you collaborate intensively with the team, and your success or failure rests on the individual contributions of your team members. Therefore, it is important to recognize the contributions of team members, so they know their work is seen and appreciated.

• "Thank you for being such a valuable asset to our team/company."
• "Thank you for stepping up when the team needed you the most."
• "Hey team, I don't know how we would have gotten through this project without each of you giving it your all. Your commitment to doing good work is an asset to this organization, and I appreciate each and every one of you."
• "Finishing this project would not have been possible without your hard work and positivity throughout. You truly embody the meaning of teamwork. Thank you!"
• "Thanks for your hard work, team. Because of your efforts, this company has achieved a new milestone."
• "I wasn't sure if we would have managed to beat the deadline without each of your efforts. We did it! Thank you for your good work!"
• "This is a great job. Thank you for all your effort and positive thinking. You have made this organization be recognized."
• "The mark of an effective team is one that pushes everyone's individual work to another level. Thanks for doing just that and for being a great team!"
• "Thank you for always being there for each other. You're the best team that I have ever worked with."

Appreciation messages for a teacher.

Teachers are some of the most hardworking and dedicated professionals in the workplace. Unfortunately, they are often one of the most overlooked in terms of receiving recognition and praise for their contributions. Sending an appreciation message or thank you can go a long way toward letting them know you appreciate their work and commitment. When writing an appreciation message for a teacher or educator, Belleti advises, "It is great to share a specific fond memory of highlight of something that was impactful during the school year."

• "Thank you for inspiring me to be the best version of myself. You are greatly appreciated."
• "Thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone and toward being the best version of myself."
• "Thank you for sharing your time and talent. Without you, we wouldn't have been what we are today. I can't find the right words to convey our gratitude except to say thank you."
• "Great teachers are great because they find a way to bring out the best in their students. You are one of the greats, and I wanted you to know that. Thank you for everything."
• "Most kids need someone to believe in them, someone to offer them hope, and a little help from time to time. You helped us, believed in us, and helped nurture and grow our hope. The world needs teachers like you, and we are so grateful for you. Thank you."
• "Dear X, your patience with finding a teaching method that worked for me helped me excel in class this year. Thank you for inspiring me and giving me the tools for success."
• "A truly amazing teacher is a treasure to find, hard to part with, and impossible to forget. The influence of a good teacher lasts a lifetime. I will always remember you and will always be grateful to you."
• "Thank you for encouraging me when things seemed impossible, mentoring me when I was lost, strengthening my confidence when it felt like no one was there for me. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to you and to thank you for being there for me when I needed someone the most."

Tips to keep in mind:

Be specific..

People can tell when they're receiving a routine thank-you note sent simply for social graces, Belleti notes. So, if you're going to send a note, she recommends really focusing on trying to be specific in your message and really gear it toward each individual.

"Whatever the occasion is, be specific, and speak from the heart," she says. "It is important to keep in mind when writing an appreciation message what actions the other person took that you are grateful for and the impact those actions had on you to inspire an appreciation message."

Try to send your appreciation message promptly.

"The best timeline to send an appreciation message is within two to four weeks after an event," says Belleti. "However, it is important to remember that appreciation is not limited by time, so a heartfelt thank you sent later is always appreciated."

Brown concurs—in general, it's never too late to say thank you and show appreciation.

You don't need to write a novel.

A little goes a long way, says Brown. While she recommends being genuine and speaking from the heart, sometimes a succinct and meaningful note is just as impactful as a long-winded one. The old saying is true, she notes: It's the thought that counts.

Validate the recipient.

"In general, an appreciation message is validating to the recipient," says Belleti. "It says, 'I see you, and your actions mattered.'"

The takeaway.

Showing gratitude to someone who has done something for you improves the well-being of not only the recipient but also the sender. Practicing gratitude daily has been proved to have positive psychological, social, and emotional benefits . It helps build thriving and healthy people and societies and improves the quality of one's life.

"When we show appreciation for the small and big things, we are all better for it," says Belleti. "Who doesn't want to know that their actions or words had meaning, and who doesn't want to know they have people who support them? Appreciation opens our heart and is a win-win for everyone involved."

The next time you have a free moment, consider using it to practice gratitude by writing someone special a note of appreciation. You'll probably make their day.

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Art Appreciation Essay

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Read this essay on art to learn more about knowing, identifying, and understanding the qualities of art.

Art is an object that possesses beauty, admired and appreciated by the people, and cannot be found anywhere but in particular places where people can visit. Creating artwork, therefore, requires excellent imagination to give the piece of work the desired aesthetic value. The works of Art in the Ancient culture were of various forms which included architecture, sculpture, and graphic arts (Funch, 1999).

Architecture and sculpture are the oldest forms of art that existed and still exist in the present day. For example, the pyramids that are among the tallest structures in the world.

The primary materials used in architecture were stone, wood, and glass. The sculpture also used stone and wood. Other materials used in sculpture included bronze, marble, silver, copper, wood, and clay. The two techniques involved were carving and casting. Carving means subtracting material to get the desired figure while casting is adding material to obtain the desired figure (Carroll & Eurich, 1992).

Initially, a two-dimensional form of work was used for both architecture and sculpture, but as art advanced through the ages, the two-dimensional form of work was applied. The materials used for both architecture and sculpture included wood and stone. Sculptures also used marble, copper, bronze, silver, and clay.

Sculpture and architecture employed some techniques and processes that were similar to arrive at the final desired object. Carving and casting were mainly used in sculpture which was also practiced in some parts of architectural objects to obtain the shapes required.

The sculptures were painted using the colors of the natural things they represent, while architectural objects were painted according to their use, and the message they portrayed.

Materials were put together in a line to form the shape aimed at both architecture and sculpture. The texture is the roughness or smoothness of a surface as is seen when it is illuminated by light. Different materials have different textures so the artist can make materials of the textures he requires. Most sculptured objects have a smooth finish, while architectural objects are rough.

The value of an Art depends on the materials used to make it, its size, and the image it represents. The beauty and the natural appearance of an object are found in its symmetry(Art Through the Ages, n.d.).

This is used mainly in sculptures of animal or human images to display the true natural appearance. The artists obtained a balance by making symmetrical sculptures and some architectural objects like the pyramids in Egypt. The balance was achieved to give the art natural beauty and safety (Parker, 2003).

The work of art always carries a subject matter. Sculptures of animals by the people of the past appreciated the mysterious way that a supernatural being created the world. Architectural buildings were sacred places and symbolized the presence of God, a sign of adherence to traditional values and way of accompanying death after life.

Works of art such as sculptures represent the real natural environment and thus appreciate nature. The art’s message is to display the purity of nature and for the moral evaluation of the people. Sculptures of Gods and buildings like pyramids represented the presence of a supernatural being and a creator (Horovitz, 1995).

Functions of art are divided into personal, social and physical functions. Individual purposes include religious practices and a sense of control over the entire universe. Social functions dealt with aspects of the life of all the people not personally. It also covered the political functions of the people.

Physical functions were symbolized by architecture, crafts, and industrial design. Artists had a crucial role in ancient cultures. They served the interests of the people, appreciated nature and showed the changing times (Parker, 2003).

Art Through the Ages . Web.

Carroll, H. A., & Eurich, A. C. (1992). Abstract intelligence and art appreciation. Journal of Educational Psychology, 23(3), 214-220.

Funch, B. S. (1999). The psychology of art appreciation. London: Abm Komers.

Horovitz, B. L. (1995). Art Appreciation of Children. The Journal of Educational Research, 31(2), 17-23.

Parker, D. H. (2003). The Principles Of Aesthetics . Web.

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