They are trying to get at “what makes you tick”, as well. They can read your resume, but that doesn’t tell them ‘who you are’ as a person. And how you deal with this hardship. Other examples I think of are caring for a sick family member, or a disabled sibling, for example.
As mentioned, this is how you ‘show them’ who you are. The answer to this question is different for everyone. Take a while to think about it. And whatever you do, DON’T answer it from a perspective of what you think they want to read. Be honest and open.
As I recall, this prompt is an optional essay piece? My boys were very fortunate in that they didn’t have any significant hardship issues. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t deal with pressures, or have friends that did (that affected their own lives). IMO, never leave an opportunity to show who you are in your application. And in that spirit, they still addressed hardship in this optional piece. True, they weren’t experiencing significant hardships, but some people (them) are still affected by it, in some form. And they used this opportunity to show themselves under this subject matter.
You will also have an opportunity to discuss this part of ‘you’ in your BGO interview. Another significant part of the process where USNA ‘gets to know who you are and what makes you tick’.
Good luck. There is no right or wrong answer to your question, and use it to ‘show who you really are’. And make sure it’s well written! With proper grammar, and structured well.
