Re-application essays

[Guest]

When re-applying, do you think it's self defeating to mention areas you were told you needed to improve the first year? I was told I had some shortcomings in areas I've now fixed- am I shooting myself in the foot by mentioning those 'failings' and what I've done to improve? Should I just launch in to the improvement parts and minimize talk about failure? My instinct is to be modest and self deprecating, but maybe this is the wrong time and place for that. I want to avoid sounding overly self congratulatory. 

Thoughts?