An Experience with Delaying Gratification
Think about a time when you had an experience with delaying gratification – a time when you had to choose between doing something enjoyable right away or doing something less enjoyable that may provide greater benefits in the future. Write 2 paragraphs about this experience.
You might use these questions to guide your thinking:
- What made the short-term choice so tempting? What would be enjoyable about it?
- What were the benefits of choosing the less enjoyable option?
- If you chose the short-term, enjoyable option, how did that work out? Was it really a mistake? Was it as enjoyable as you expected? Did it cost you anything in the longer term?
- If you choose the less enjoyable but more beneficial in the long-term option, why did you make this decision? How did you convince yourself to choose this option? Did you really benefit in the long term?
While this is a short writing assignment, your should have a clear purpose and idea to convey. Do more than describe the experience–identify a clear purpose that you want to convey in the description. The grading rubric includes the criteria: Has a clear, central purpose or idea.