The opening line is
"Born into a hamlet in India, I was inoculated with a conservative culture that valued tradition over discovery..."
Right now, there is a clear clash of Conservative and liberal values. The definition of conservative or liberal values varies according to the country you are in, the city you reside in, or even the ethnicity you represent. What is considered liberal in one group might be conservative in another group. Having a deep awareness of the 'definitions' of conservative and liberal values and communicating them with the Stanford GSB MBA admissions team is essential when you capture a slice-of-life essay like what I have captured through the third example - Vulnerability, Diversity, and Leadership.
Here, the opening line about the conservative culture that is "I was inoculated with a conservative culture," is a way of highlighting the importance of moving to a city and how a diverse peer changed the applicant's perspective about the possibilities in his life. There are other liberal values of expressing emotions as a leader and even how the person manages a setback.
The evolution of the applicant's values from conservative to liberal is the theme of the essay.
Read the Preview of the Essay Example: Vulnerability, Diversity, and Leadership