My college essay

College Essay

This is my personal essay that I've already submitted
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High School has its natural ups and downs, but when you're trying to balance academia and extracurriculars with recovery from surgery, things tend to slope downward. During my junior year of high school, I tore my medial collateral ligament and needed to undergo an operation. It was something very difficult for a seventeen-year-old to hear, especially one who had barely been in a hospital before. That being said, the surgery wasn't immediate. Because of complications with my insurance company, my surgery date was moved and canceled several times. Apparently, my condition didn't "warrant" surgery. I couldn't even stand in my own shower, let alone put on pants every day. These circumstances led me to carry on my everyday life with excruciating pain. Between managing this pain and attempting to study for my seven classes, I felt an overbearing amount of stress I had never encountered before. This experience broke me down and although my personal and academic life hit rock bottom, I never backed down, and as a result, I became a much stronger person than I would have ever imagined.

One would assume that after waiting so long for surgery and not clearly not being in a healthy condition to resume everyday activities, I would be granted an appropriate leave of absence. That being said, I refused to stay at home. Two days after my surgery, I was back at school. Going to class on crutches resulted in countless stares and looks of pity, and for someone who hated being the center of attention, this was new to me. Without skipping a beat, I took two exams the day after I came back to school. The biggest challenge for me, however, was recovering from my academic performance in the first semester. In the midst of all the pain and stress, my grades took a considerable knock; something that I did not foresee, but nevertheless had to adjust to. The first step in coming back was admitting that I slipped up. Although it was a challenge to come to terms with, realizing my situation helped me center myself and assess my priorities for the future. After what seemed like an eternal comeback, I managed to score all A's on all but one of my end-of-semester exams. I was able to accomplish all of this with support from my family, friends and an amazing tutor who helped me understand not only how to approach a problem, but also how to question its solution. All of these amazing people helped push me to keep going. but reminded me that in the end, the heart of my motivation would be my own.

When it came to the doctor's appointments that followed, I did my best to push them back to ensure that I wouldn't miss too much class. In the weeks that followed the surgery, my doctor emphasized the importance of showing resilience; in her words, she told me to 'stop being a wuss about it.' Although she meant it sarcastically, I took it as a form of motivation and let it fuel my drive to succeed. After weeks of physical therapy, both doctor-appointed and self-imposed, I was back. Funnily enough, my cousin as getting married that week and to prove to myself that I truly had recovered, I walked in heels for the first time in months. I can't even begin to describe how amazing that felt.

I had to see the positive side of this experience and take it not only as a setback but also as a lesson. My academic records did not reflect the work I put in for the classes, they represent only a number. The pain, the anxiety, and the stress not only taught me about myself, but it also allowed me to become a much stronger willed person than I had ever been. I don't give up when I fall, I get up and do better. The goals and dreams I set for myself, I will achieve, no matter what comes in my path. Although my life took a downward slope, I overcame it, and from now on, the sky is the limit.