Hi [USER=19836]@njones95[/USER],
Thank you for raising this question. I think it is a hard balance to strike between being honest and personal in a professional setting.
My opinion on this is that it is up to you how personal you would like to go, so long as you feel willing to discuss your situation under pressure. Read the room and situation, and adjust accordingly too. Not all interviewers will think that it is appropriate to mention very personal stories during a formal interview.
I do not think that there are any absolute right answers on this topic though. That being said, being your authentic self is important. My advice would be not to be afraid to show who you really are in an interview and if this means discussing personal anecdotes, you should absolutely do that. It is a strength to be able to show vulnerability in a professional context.
For what it is worth, the example you have given sounds extremely impressive. You demonstrate resilience, grit, drive and ambition (amongst other things). As a result I believe that this would have been an appropriate response in this situation.
I hope that helps 🙌
Please feel free to ask away if you would like anything clarified 🔥
