Agree with @Hanna . I have helped many students write Common app essays. I find the most successful essays (and by successful, I don’t mean that the student gets into HYPS. I mean that the essay does a good job of telling the reader something about the student) are usually about small things. One kid wrote about what he learned about human nature by delivering pizzas. A girl wrote about how her night light makes her feel secure wherever she is. Another girl wrote about how coloring her hair brought her unexpected benefits. A boy wrote about his love for his grandmother.
I read on this site a while back that the essay should be so much like you that if it fell out of your backpack and a friend picked it up, they should know it is your essay. Anyway, I know this post isn’t about essays, sorry to get off topic.