Just recently, I began practicing for college interviews and I came across the question, “What is your best quality?” I thought about this for awhile, but could not think of a definitive answer. I have several good qualities (including modesty). For the sake of this essay, let’s call my interviewer Suzy. If Suzy is a bit OCD, maybe my best quality is that I am extremely organized and I absolutely relish in my ability to make lists for every occasion, whether they are pro-con lists, to-do lists, college lists, etc. What if Suzy is a business woman? As an extremely logical person, I can understand how society as a whole would react to a certain product or idea. If Suzy tells me she loves reading fictional stories to her children, my best quality may be my unwavering ability to reread the Harry Potter books every summer or my aptitude for babysitting. Perhaps Suzy is a neuroscientist, in which case I will answer with my passion for psychology that has evolved throughout the years, shaped by my own experiences with my brother along with my scientific research.

However, throughout this process, I have come to a realization: I do not need to tailor my answers to my individual interviewer. This is about me. My overarching best quality should be applicable to any situation, person, and interview.