Whatever your kids write about - please don't let it be generic. I used to show horses. Started with quarter horses at the ranch, moved to Arabians in the city. Did shows all over the state and SW. Specifically two Arabian stallions. God they were beautiful. So before the shows everyone lines up in the "shoot" before the gates open. More mares that most, as they can be a little more tractable. Enter the stallion. I was in my early teens. English saddle. Double reigns. Full riding tux. I liked to get to the gate early, so as more contestants joined, we're surrounded. He's been around mares at many shows, so one must have been in heat? I don't know, as he'd never done this before.
Boxed in, on a stallion, surrounded by mares. Still undefeated....he freaks his shit. Rears up ala The Lone Ranger. English saddle - meaning there's no horn to grad hold of like a Western. Falling off is not a great option in a narrow corral filled with agitated horses. Gate workers start yelling, gate flies open, this horny turd bolts into the arena, and pull the reigns to one side, jerk his head and get him going in a small circle.
I caught up with one of the admission counselors years later, and he still remembered the essay. Wasn't the best writer, but it was a hell of a memorable story. Focus in the moment, make your world small, compartmentalize your actions, focus, and act. I sort of plagiarized an OODA loop before i knew what it really was.
Better than Chief Brown Fingers, I guess......