A situation when I was the "other" essay help

[BlueRose12]

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Geisel School of Medicine values social justice and diversity in all its forms. Reflect on a situation where you were the “other”.

I've been saving this essay as one of my last because I'm still not sure how to answer. I've come up with two ideas, so if anyone could let me know which is better/if both are bad, I would really appreciate it.

1. I auditioned for the school play as a freshman in high school with no acting experience to step outside of my comfort zone and overcome my shyness. I felt like an outsider at first because all of the theatre kids were more experienced and were already a tight-knit group. They were also very energetic and outgoing in a way that I wasn't. I could write about how built friendships with people I am unlikely to have met if I hadn't tried a new activity and how this experience brought me out of my shell.

2. When I was in middle school, I lost a parent to an illness. I went to a small school and everyone was well aware of the situation. Everyone treated me differently and it was overwhelming, especially because I needed school to be normal when everything at home was changing. I could write about how I learned that everyone processes grief differently and that sometimes people just need normalcy. My issue with this topic is that I don't want to come off as critical of my classmates and teachers, because I know they had good intentions and these things are difficult to navigate.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

If I had to choose, I like option 1 because you were trying to fit in, and that attempt to belong addresses the prompt.

However, it doesn't agree with the context framed by the first sentence. I see why you seem hesitant to answer the question. I don't get a sense of the value you brought into your ensemble. It seems that they welcomed you into their clique, but i don't see anything related to diversity or social justice in your description.

 

[BlueRose12]

If I had to choose, I like option 1 because you were trying to fit in, and that attempt to belong addresses the prompt.

However, it doesn't agree with the context framed by the first sentence. I see why you seem hesitant to answer the question. I don't get a sense of the value you brought into your ensemble. It seems that they welcomed you into their clique, but i don't see anything related to diversity or social justice in your description.

I guess to relate it more to diversity/social justice, I could discuss the fact that many of them were members of the LGBTQ community, which I hadn't had much exposure to having attended a small protestant school before high school. I never really believed any of the stereotypes that had been fed to me, but it was nice to actually have the opportunity to interact with members of the community and better understand how to be a good ally. I'm not sure how I brought value to the group beyond a new opportunity for friendship.

 

[Hollow Knight]

I guess to relate it more to diversity/social justice, I could discuss the fact that many of them were members of the LGBTQ community, which I hadn't had much exposure to having attended a small protestant school before high school. I never really believed any of the stereotypes that had been fed to me, but it was nice to actually have the opportunity to interact with members of the community and better understand how to be a good ally. I'm not sure how I brought value to the group beyond a new opportunity for friendship.

see, you figured it out. You'll be fine.

You bring value by being yourself and being nonjudgmental/willing to learn of others' experiences. And you already talked about being an ally, that's valuable as well.