To give some context, I am applying for a PhD position in Germany. I hold a MSc but this was because I mastered out an American PhD program after 2.5 years to mismatch in research interests.

One of the application sections reads,

"Beyond a listing of courses/milestones, please describe to us the support (family, acquaintance, institutional) as well as sources of difficulties (personal, structural/social, ...) you have encountered, and how you dealt with it, on your path towards this PhD application."

How much should I include here? Some of the difficulties I have encountered include:

• Losing my father during my last year of college
• Losing my grandmother during my first year of graduate school
• The isolation that comes from being the first and only graduate student (and the only other member from the PI) in my PI's group in the US program
• Anxiety and imposter syndrome duing my time in the US program
• Being the first in the family to attend graduate school, leading to limited familial understanding or support.

Is it worth mentioning any of this at all, or would it hurt my application and seem like I am making excuses?