One common theme is redemption. When a character admits their guilt, they often start on a path towards making things right, like in the story of Tom admitting to breaking the vase. Another theme is honesty. It shows that being honest about one's wrongdoings, even if it's difficult, is the right thing to do. Just like Lily in the school story who finally owned up to cheating.
There was a student named Lily in a school. She was accused of cheating in an exam. At first, she denied it vehemently. However, as she thought more about it, she felt guilty. After a day of inner turmoil, she went to her teacher. 'Sir, I admit that I cheated in the exam. I saw some answers from my neighbor's paper. I know it was completely wrong and I'm ready to accept the punishment.' The teacher was glad she finally admitted her guilt and decided to give her a chance to make up for it through extra work.
I'm not sure specifically without reading the story, but often in a story about guilt, there might be a protagonist who has committed an act that makes them feel guilty. There could also be secondary characters like a friend or a family member who either knows about the act or is unknowingly affected by it.
One guilt short story could be about a student who cheats on an important exam. He feels extremely guilty afterwards as he realizes he has not only deceived his teacher but also himself. He constantly has this nagging feeling of guilt that won't go away, and finally decides to confess to the teacher.
Another theme is the struggle to make amends. In a guilt short story, the character often has to deal with the guilt by trying to fix what they have done wrong. They might face internal and external obstacles in this process. For instance, they could be afraid of punishment or rejection but still feel the need to confess or compensate. The story usually shows how they navigate through these difficulties. In some cases, they succeed in making amends, while in others, they may not, but the guilt still haunts them.
A short story about guilt often centers around the emotional weight and moral dilemma a person experiences. It might show how guilt affects their decisions, changes their perspective on life, or even leads them to unexpected revelations. The story could also explore how society or others react to the person's guilt.
One of the main themes could be remorse. The characters might experience guilt over past actions, which drives the plot forward. Maybe it's about moral transgressions and the inner turmoil that follows.
The key elements in a good admission short story include relevance. The story should be related to the admission criteria. If it's for a science program, a story about your musical achievements might not be as relevant as one about a science project you did. Additionally, emotion is important. Let the readers feel what you felt during the experience, whether it was excitement, disappointment or pride. And don't forget about the transformation. Show how you've changed or grown from the experience, which will demonstrate your potential for further growth in the institution you're applying to.
The theme of secrecy also runs through many guilt short stories. For example, someone might lie about something important and then have to keep that lie a secret. This secrecy only adds to their guilt as they are constantly worried about being found out. Also, the idea of redemption is common. Characters may try to make up for their wrongdoings in some way to ease their guilt, like a person who donates money to a charity after embezzling funds from work, hoping to atone for their sin.