TED Talks Education The rise of the "trauma essay" in college applications | Tina Yong
Apr 7, 2023
Tina Yong, a politics student and TED speaker, tackles the troubling trend of 'trauma essays' in college applications, shedding light on how disadvantaged youth are pressured to share their darkest experiences. She argues that this practice commodifies pain and imposes emotional labor rather than genuine self-reflection. Tina critiques the expectations for sanitized narratives, revealing how these essays often erase ongoing struggles. Advocating for transparency and trauma-informed admissions, she encourages applicants to reflect beyond their hardships and own their unique stories.
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Immigrant Story Recycled For Admissions
- Tina Yong recounts immigrating to Canada at age 10 and being teased for broken English and lunches.
- She used that immigrant story in essays and now finds the retelling hollow and overused.
Admissions Reward Dramatic Hooks
- Colleges and admissions guides implicitly reward vivid, personal trauma hooks in essays.
- Examples and admissions tips push applicants toward dramatic, pain-centered openings.
Racial Patterns In Personal Statements
- Tina cites Aya Waller-Bey noting racial differences in personal statements' content.
- Black students tended to write about survival while white students wrote about passions and activities.