Undergraduate / father's mental illness (influential person) [5]

So far, this is a well written essay! Is this for the Common App? My suggestion would be to expand on your last paragraph and be more specific. What are some examples of ways you perservered through your family issues? Remember, the college is looking to apply you, so round yourself out a bit more.

Undergraduate / 'nature and science in harmony' - columbia supplement short essay [6]

I believe that you should expand on more reasons why Columbia is for you. You could insert the name of other schools into this essay and submit it for another school, which means its too general. Not trying to be harsh