Essay 2: Describe a highly stressful situation you faced and how you managed it. What did this experience teach you about yourself and your interactions with others? (400 words)
It is a myth that financial insecurity will solve the ills of all our lives. It certainly solves one problem – ‘insecurity’, but the feeling never fully disappears even when one reaches the top of the socio-economic ladder.
Mental Health Crisis in Low-Income Families
For the essay, the protagonist grew from poverty to the top 25th percentile income bracket by acing one of the most competitive exams in Finance.
Although the applicant got out of poverty, mental health challenges linger in low-income families.
Once the family moved to a wealthy neighbourhood, the social circles changed, and the applicant’s brother joined a prestigious school.
The de-prioritization of survival goals opened a Pandora's box of unresolved trauma, culminating in a shocking event in the family.
Opening Line and Insecurity
I wanted to capture the insecurity of a low-income applicant in the opening line. I used the line:
When my teacher asked where I lived, I used to say near <z> – a cover to not let them know that I lived in a slum.
Mentors, Parents, and Coaches
All stories of setbacks will have the introduction of a mentor, a heroic parent or father or mother figure, or a saviour – coaches and teachers in many instances.
For the essay, I wanted to highlight the sacrifice the mother made with the line:
Worrying that the chores would take time away from my learning, my mother took on the brunt of the workload. This was after the eight-hour shift in a textile factory.
Shift in Priority
The applicant's priorities shifted from pursuing career goals to caring for the family when a tragedy hit the family.
Stress Statement
I wanted to explicitly capture the feeling of guilt that the applicant was going through with the line:
The stress was unbelievable. I had insomnia and a deep sense of guilt that my success had taken all the attention away from the mental well-being of my family.
I have used the adjective “unbelievable” and “insomnia” to share the personal nature of the setback.
Setback Event and Motivation for IMPACT Investing
Often, setbacks in the family are a trigger for an ambitious goal. I wanted to share the motivation behind a dedicated fund for tackling mental health crises among low-income families.
Four Protagonists in One Essay
The essay was challenging because apart from the applicant, I am highlighting the applicant’s mother, the brother, and the entrepreneur, who is leading the venture to tackle the mental health crisis among low-income households.
Narrative Style
I have used multiple paragraph-based micro stories to create a coherent narrative. The transitions look typical, but a lot of thought went into them to ensure that the flow is not affected when I introduce another protagonist.
In all introductions of other protagonists, the applicant’s point of view is always present. The strategy is intentional to turn the tone of the essay into a personal narrative.
The applicant’s responsible leadership and purpose – traits valued at the INSEAD MBA are highlighted for this essay.
Read F1GMAT’s INSEAD MBA Essay Guide, where Atul Jose, the Author and Founding Consultant of F1GMAT's essay guides demonstrates how to write the highly stressful situation essay, with Unresolved Trauma as a theme.
