Episode 258

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Published on:

30th Jul 2026

Are Students Faking Trauma to Get Into College? | The InSight Out Show | Ep. 258

College essays are supposed to help admissions officers see the person behind the grades. But some students now feel pressured to exaggerate struggles, manufacture hardship, or hire expensive consultants to create the kind of personal story they think schools want to hear.

Sharing a genuine challenge can reveal resilience and growth. But when vulnerability becomes a strategy and authenticity becomes another performance, are students being invited to tell the truth or simply learning how to market themselves?

Scripture (ESV): Galatians 1:10 – “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Reflection Questions:

Have you ever felt pressure to make your story sound more impressive than it really was?

How can we pursue opportunities without turning our struggles into a performance for someone else’s approval?

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About the Podcast

InSight Out
Clarity for your mind. Joy for your heart. Timeless biblical truth for everyday life. A Christian podcast offering devotionals, conversations, and encouragement to help you grow in faith and flourish in life.
Think, See, and Live Differently.
As God reveals His truth and removes the blinders that keep us from seeing clearly, He calls us not only to reflect on these truths when we rise, when we lie down, and in all we do, but by His Spirit to proclaim the gospel and live in faithful obedience in every area of life.

Faith In Everything.
As Deuteronomy 6:6-7 reminds us, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Faith transforms us from the inside out. As the gospel we proclaim takes root, it changes how we see ourselves, others, and the world. And it becomes evident in what we think, what we say, and what we do.

This is more than a podcast; it’s a way of life. A call to see life InSight Out; to live as we were created to live, to flourish as God intends, and to build our lives on the unshakable foundation of His Word. Because how we live matters.

About your host

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Devin Almonte

Devin Almonte is a broadcaster, journalist, and podcaster dedicated to media-driven discipleship. As the host of InSight Out and Encouraging Star Stories, she challenges audiences to think deeply about faith, culture, and purpose, offering clarity for the mind, joy for the heart, and truth for the times.

A Colson Fellow and graduate of the World Journalism Institute, Devin has written for The Stream and other outlets, integrating theology, worldview, and storytelling to address today’s pressing issues.

With a diverse background in business, broadcasting, film, commercial work, and media production, she has worked with companies like QVC, HSN, and Macy’s Merchandising Group in media, journalism, and product development. Her experience in storytelling, faith-based media, and on-screen work enables her to engage audiences in a way that is both thought-provoking and deeply relatable, inspiring a Christ-centered life.

Devin is also the founder of InSight Out Media, a faith-based company committed to media-driven discipleship, equipping people to see the world through a biblical lens and live out their faith with confidence.