Prompt: Emory University
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
Essay
One cup of milk plus a good squeeze of lemon yields one cup of buttermilk—a hack ingrained in my mind since I first asked my Google Home for buttermilk substitutes. In the kitchen, I have never been one to follow recipes strictly. If I am missing an ingredient, my first instinct is not to go to the grocery store but to find a substitute.
This mindset of improvisation was instilled in me by my grandmother during my visits to Kerala, a lush coastal state in southern India. Known for its vibrant greenery (providing it the nickname of “Spice Garden of India”) and distinct traditions like houseboats, Kerala is also home to a large Muslim community, and my family embraced its customs. One summer, as we waited for my uncles and cousins to return from Friday prayer at the local mosque, my grandmother began preparing her signature tea. Without a second thought about how many people she had to serve or if they would even want tea, she began pouring creamy, fresh milk from the local dairy, sprinkling in aromatic spices and strong, dark tea powder. When she set out six mugs and started pouring sugar, the magic commenced.
“Immichi, why are you pouring different amounts of sugar into each cup?” I asked, noticing varying amounts of sugar being tossed into each mug.
“Everyone likes their tea differently, kunju. Some of our family likes it sweet, some like it bitter, and some like it somewhere in the middle,” she responded.
Rather than adhering to a strict recipe, my grandmother improvised, guided by our family’s preferences. Catalyzed by her creative whims, her tea transformed into a potion—unique to everyone’s taste and instantly healing. When I sipped the pungently sweet tea (perfect for my 8-year-old self), one thing was clear: I wanted to cook like her.
Inspired by my grandmother’s intuitive cooking, I began experimenting in the kitchen. However, my initial attempts were far from magical. My food often had acrid, inedible tastes or left someone queasy due to being overcooked, undercooked, or both. I had yet to create my own personal potion. Attempting to navigate the kitchen’s maze, I stared at pots and pans in desperation, hoping they could help me become a better cook.
In a quest to find my flair, I launched into a frenzy of cooking and baking. My endeavors ranged from gooey shakshouka to warm apple pie. The moment everything finally clicked was the day I baked blueberry scones. I skimmed the recipe and measured ingredients by feeling, just like my grandmother. However, the process wasn’t without challenges. I had no buttermilk for the doughy mixture; so, I poured some milk and a squeeze of lemon in instead. I didn’t have a pastry cutter; so, I found a bread knife. I couldn’t find powdered sugar; so, I took to the mortar and pestle to grind granulated sugar until it became powdered. While the scones weren’t perfect, they were my very own creation and they were delicious.
The one key difference this time was my intention to adapt and overcome setbacks instead of feeling defeated by them. I realized that adaptation is essential in the kitchen. Previously, if my final product didn’t look like the cover image on the recipe’s website, I would throw it away. Now, I understand that uncertainty in the process is a given, and have learned to adjust to unexpected obstacles as they come. I don’t need to make the perfect bite every time. Recipes are a suggestion, not a rulebook. A cook is a creator, not a perfectionist.
As I head to college, I embrace this philosophy in every aspect of my life. Whether it’s navigating new academic challenges or immersing myself in diverse campus culture, I know that flexibility, creativity, and resilience are key. I’m ready to adapt, learn, and create new experiences, just as I’ve learned to do in the kitchen.
Tips for Writing/Getting Started:
One thing that I did that was a huge help throughout the process was beginning my personal statement early on. I began the summer after my junior year, and giving myself over 4 months of time to write was very helpful. With this time I was able to write three different personal statements and decide which topic I liked best, and which could be edited to the essay that would present my best self.
Additionally, giving myself a lot of time to write also eased a lot of my anxiety and stress during this process. There are many things that are out of your control during the college application process, but your writing and the time you give yourself to begin is something that you can control.
If you need help figuring out what to write, keep in mind that your essay doesn’t have to be about a topic that is extremely dramatic. You should choose a topic that is unique to your life experience and that allowed you to substantially change and grow into the individual you are today.