I can understand this to an extent, but if this is the case, why would a prompt about a topic interesting to you surface? Isn’t that a kind of prompt to show that kind of unique, yet valuable asset a candidate can have? I figured that topic would show my “intellectual curiosity” and how my mind tends to deviate into unconventional paths for the sake of fun and mental exercise. I thought it would simultaneously show something new and fun to bring to students at school X and an inner, core quality I share with most of the students at school X. Someone on a separate forum even encouraged a topic about birds, but of course, I didn’t specify this direction. Man, I thought it would be good…