30 THE JOURNAL OF COLLEGE ADMISSION ADDRESSING TRAUMA IN THE COLLEGE ESSAY WRITING PROCESS Trauma happens: Each of us is living through a pandemic that has pushed us in ways that will impact us for the rest of our lives. The "Ok, Maybe" Student: This type of student is hesitant to write about their experience with trauma in their college essay, but decides to anyway. Remind Students They Have Options Encourage students to use Ethan Sawyer's Values Exercise.