the essay that got me deferred from UChicago
Essay by Nora
Prompt: Choose one of the six extended essay options below and upload a one- or two-page response. Please include the prompt at the top of the page. Past extended essay prompts can be found on our website. (500-700 words)
“Ah, but I was so much older then / I'm younger than that now” – Bob Dylan. In what ways do we become younger as we get older? – Inspired by Joshua Harris, Class of 2016
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Taylor Swift had it right when she said, "How can a person know everything at eighteen but nothing at twenty-two?"
While I’m not eighteen yet, her words resonate deeply. Growing up as an only child in a house full of adults, I always felt older than I was. It was subtly understood that I should shed my wild-spirited adolescent self and embrace a more composed, graceful version of adulthood.
As a child, I was constantly "adulting." Whether it was giving therapy sessions to my grandmother, planning intricate family gatherings, or deciding which cable company we should be getting, I found myself taking on responsibilities beyond my years. I didn’t think of myself as a child. I was just another adult in our household of eight people, engaging in conversations about the market, politics, small businesses, and my personal favorite: family drama.
I was navigating the complexities of adulthood before I fully understood what it meant to be a kid. While this shaped the person I am today, it also robbed me of my childhood.
Transferring to boarding school at the start of my junior year, I was introduced to a world that felt like technicolor after living in shades of grey. For the first time in my life, I was truly alone, free to do as I pleased, whenever I pleased. I could laugh as loud as I wanted without worrying about disapproving looks from aging grandparents. My friends and I could pull pranks without fear of disappointing my family or facing one of their inevitable lectures. I could stay up late into the night with no one reminding me to be responsible or follow a rigid schedule.
This newfound freedom made me realize that I’d grown up too quickly. I took on burdens beyond my years, like when I seriously considered buying land in Vermont before finishing sophomore year, trying to “catch up” with my uncles. I was constantly concerned with proper etiquette and always striving to please everyone around me. I found myself lecturing my mom instead of being on the receiving end. I prematurely stepped into adulthood.
But now, in this space of independence, I’m learning to let go of those burdens. I’ve realized that I don’t need to have everything under control all the time, and it’s okay to make decisions for myself—not just for others. I’m relearning how to laugh freely, act spontaneously, and embrace the youthful energy I lost in my rush to grow up.
After a year at boarding school, I feel like a different person. I’ve joined the soccer team, tried figure skating, and now attend high school football games. I'm still learning how to do my makeup, how to braid hair, and discovering my own style—beyond what my grandmother approved of. With each passing day, I feel like I’m becoming younger and rediscovering the part of myself I set aside too soon.
As I step into this new chapter, I realize I’m relearning what it means to truly live. For so long, I was bound by expectations, both mine and others, constantly prioritizing my family over my own needs. Now, I feel like a nervous little kid again, stepping into the first day of school, unsure of what lies ahead. Somehow, I knew everything at thirteen and nothing at seventeen, and that’s okay.
Nora will be attending ___________ Fall of 2025.
