"Childhood Disappoinment": Stanford Supplement Essay on Intellectual Vitality

Hello! I'm applying to Stanford, and this was one of the essays for the supplement. The prompt is:
Stanford students are widely known to possess a sense of intellectual vitality. Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging.

(max. 1800 characters)

Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny; we believed in all of them as children, but they disappear when we grow older. It breaks our hearts when we find out that these people were lies. If children are destined to be met with such heartbreak, then why keep the lies alive from generation to generation?

I have found the idea of childhood beliefs to be intellectually engaging, especially because these beliefs children cling to become nonexistent a few years down the road. Are these beliefs here because parents want to give their children something to believe in? Do they want children to look forward to something in life?

There is an ulterior motive to having children believe that Santa Claus comes to town once a year, the Tooth Fairy leaves coins under pillows, and the Easter Bunny carries around colored eggs in a basket. When children hear that these people are really their parents instead, they feel devastated. But what if that was the point?

What if people are faced with immense disappointment when they are younger so when they are older disappointment does not hurt so much? Eventually, everyone gets used to disappointment so they are not so crestfallen later in life when sadness comes their way; it gets to the point where people start becoming optimistic instead.

I've wanted to know why my parents told me about these people while being aware that I would learn the truth in the end, but maybe it was for the better. When my parents told me they were getting a divorce, I honestly felt numb instead of devastated, but looked to the brighter side and realized both mom and dad would be happier. Learning the truth about these fictional people may have disappointed me, but encourages me to look to the brighter side of things, even though it's only slightly brighter.

(1794 char.)

Is your point is-children got devastated when they find out Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny are lies so that they will be stronger when facing harms later in their lives?

Your point is interesting while I don't think it's necessary for you to spend so much words on this topic. Why not relating your own experience and performance when dealing with setbacks or whatever hurts?

Like your point though!

Please comment on my essay.. I really need help! Thank you for your time if you could read it!

What do you mean Santa is not real!! Who do you think left all these presents at my apartment!?

...to which these children cling...

Santa Clause has an e at the end, I think.


I don't know if compounded disappointment can lead to optimism...

I don't think the end of this should be about the divorce, because it equates the theme of disappointment with your own disappointment, as if you are still struggling with the idea that Santa is not real. It will be better to read some articles about what psychologists say about finding out Santa is not real, and you can cite the articles as you discuss the nature of this disappointment.