Bob and Bert are pursuing their PhD and discuss how things went for them during their midterms. Bert is a very successful grad student that has everything seemingly in good order; his lab can afford fancier equipment , he follows lab protocols perfectly, he does not need to repeat his procedures, and he has a good relationship with his supervisor. He tells Bob with serenity: “My project is going well. My reactives arrived at the lab in time, I discussed everything I needed with my supervisor, and I am getting the expected results. I think I can finish this study in a few terms.” 
Bob on the other hand sighs and with a gritty attitude and some pain in his voice, states: “Man I can’t keep up with it! My reactives always come a week or two later. I accidentally broke a beaker the other day, and it’s my supervisor’s favorite! I accidentally contaminated my plaques too! He wasn’t happy after that, so I had to pay out of my pocket for it. While I finally didn’t contaminate my plaques after the third time of making them, I don’t think my results will impress anyone. Bert, can you give me some advice? Whenever I ask my supervisor, I just can’t understand what they mean half of the time.” 
Which student did you identify with the most? Most people might find Bob’s story more engaging. And you remember the stories of people with a similar plight, why is that?

As humans, we have evolved within a challenging world, which was all but perfect to us. Evolution gave humans the ability to make tools, solve problems and adapt our surroundings to ourselves for survival. But we have gone past the natural issues of survival most animals have: we have air conditioners, food supply chains, clothes, medicines, vaccines, and foods with the daily calorie requirement in a single snack. Yet when we apparently solved the “natural needs” problem, why are things not perfect? How can celebrities with enough money to live 3 lives without lifting a finger and access to all beauty treatments fall into problems related to drug abuse and depression? And sometimes, there isn’t much engagement or gossip about a person that’s “perfect” until they’re no longer perfect. Likewise, when a person that is imperfect improves or overcomes their weakness, that’s something to be spoken about. This in itself influences one of the key aspects of any culture: stories.
I took a course on storytelling time ago and one of the more important things in writing a story is to have a problem for the protagonist to overcome, especially one whose resolution causes them to change. There is an affinity towards knowing how someone overcomes a problem. And you can use this principle of storytelling to make more compelling presentations, defenses, and much more. Being imperfect is important to make yourself someone interesting to others. You’re more likely to wonder if Bob finally got it his way before you thought or remembered about Bert. Once the hook has been bit, the question becomes “did this character come to a resolution and did they grow?” Characters that are badass or perfect are most likely impressive in the short run. If they don’t change, then the interest wanes. If you talk about a problem that is relatable to others or you give them a reason as to why your problem can impact them, they will be more easily hooked. People look for answers or inspiration from others that overcame their weaknesses or imperfections, but to overcome them, they need to be flawed in the first place. 

No human is perfect, but that makes us the perfect protagonist of the stories we want to tell. 

And sure, your writing skills are likely not perfect, but you can get that development you’re looking for through McGill! If you want to learn how to make your story telling capabilities and improve your writing skills, remember you can always check what Graphos has to offer!