Do You Have a Half Page of Background Information in Your Personal Statement?

When is it ok to exceed the conventional length of background in your personal statement? The listener goes on, i've been told that half a page is about all you want this background information to be. You don't have to share any of this if you don't feel like you want to and it doesn't fit in with your application materials. For example, if you have experienced multiple dramatic events that impacted your g p a, would you explain the full story in yourpersonal statement?