My daughter wrote a college application essay she was incredibly proud of, but she didn't get into that university. Angry and embarrassed, she deleted the essay and said it was terrible.
Before she deleted everything, she had emailed me a copy. I still have it 12 years later. It wasn't perfect, but it captured exactly who she was at 18. She is now successful in a completely different path. I've never told her I kept the words she wanted erased.