The following is the essay that Devi Vishwakumar wrote in an effort to be accepted to Princeton University.
Essay[]
| “ | A long time ago, someone told me to write my college essay about my father. But I didn't want to because it felt exploitative and wrong. However, I don't think there's a way to really know me without knowing about him. I should back up and tell you that my father died my freshman year of high school, and he died right in front of me at an orchestra concert. I was 15 years old, and I watched the person I loved most in the world disappear right before my eyes. But I don't want to focus on his death. It was how he lived that really shaped me. He was a person who had unending joy and optimism about the world. Princeton was actually a dream he and I came up with together. I think I've so fiercely held on to Princeton so that I could keep holding on to him. But if you don't accept me, I'll be okay because I can't lose him. He's always with me. But if you do happen to find a spot for me, I promise I won't take a second of it for granted because I'd be living that dream not just for me alone. | ” |
| — Devi |