Because the main idea tells the main message.
What life throws at you is not ALWAYS YOUR CHOICE ESSAY. SURE, YOU MAY NOT HAVE ANY CHOICE OR SAY OVER WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST. ADVERTISING. TO QUOTE RANDY PAUSCH FROM THE LAST LECTURE, YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE CARDS YOU ARE DEALING WITH, BUT YOU CAN CHANGE HOW YOU PLAY THEM.
"<span>It may be one, none, or multiple of the sources we listed" I would just make that part shorter. Make it something like "It could be any of the sources we listed" instead. It didn't make sense with how you listed them and it seems like you're just trying to add more words to meet the quota. </span>
I think it would be the second statement because it is true in first and third person
