UChicago Supplemental Essay Example - 3

Pluto, the demoted planet. Ophiuchus, the thirteenth Zodiac. Andy Murray, the fourth to tennis's Big Three. Every grouping has something that doesn’t quite fit in. Tell us about a group and its unofficial member, why (or why not) should it be excluded?:

The Artistic Outlier: Finding My Place in a Family of Scientists

Growing up, I was always the odd one out in my family. My parents, both engineers, and my older brother, a budding physicist, were all deeply entrenched in the world of science and math. I, on the other hand, found myself drawn to the arts, particularly music and creative writing. In a family where equations and experiments were the norm, my passion for poetry and piano made me feel like the unofficial member of the group.

At family dinners, the conversation would inevitably turn to the latest scientific breakthroughs or complex mathematical theories. My brother would excitedly explain his latest experiment, while my parents would discuss their work on cutting-edge projects. I'd sit there, nodding along, but my mind would be elsewhere, composing lyrics or crafting stories in my head. It wasn't that I didn't appreciate their work; I just couldn't connect with it on the same level they did.

For a long time, I felt like I should be excluded from this group. I thought that my interests made me less intelligent or less worthy in their eyes. I'd try to force myself to engage more in their discussions, to learn more about their passions, but it never felt authentic. I'd sit at the piano, wondering if I should give it up and focus on something more "practical" like they did.

But then, something shifted. I realized that my family's love for science and my love for the arts weren't mutually exclusive. In fact, they could complement each other beautifully. I started to see the creativity in their work - the way they approached problems with innovative solutions, the way they pushed boundaries and explored new ideas. And I began to share my own creative process with them, explaining how I crafted a poem or composed a piece of music.

Slowly but surely, I found my place in the group. My family started to appreciate my unique perspective, and I began to see the value in theirs. We'd have lively discussions about the intersection of art and science, exploring how they could inspire and inform each other. I even started to incorporate more scientific themes into my writing and music, finding new ways to express my creativity.

Looking back, I'm grateful for the journey I've been on. Being the unofficial member of my family's group taught me the importance of staying true to myself, even when it feels like I don't quite fit in. It showed me that diversity of thought and passion can strengthen a group, rather than weaken it. And it helped me grow into a more well-rounded person, able to appreciate and engage with a wide range of ideas and interests.

So, should I be excluded from my family's group? Absolutely not. I may be the Pluto to their solar system, the Ophiuchus to their Zodiac, the Andy Murray to their Big Three, but that's what makes our group special. We're a unique constellation, and I'm proud to be a part of it.