Essays That Got Me into Uni: About Me (AKA an Overshare)

Growing up, I experienced the damaging effects that untreated mental illness and addiction have on a family. My father suffered from bipolar depression and alcoholism. In an effort to protect me and my brother, he kept us sheltered. The majority of my childhood was spent sitting cross-legged on a faded and stained carpet in front of a small television. We weren’t allowed to play with other children, nor were we allowed outside. Instead of protecting me, my father left me vulnerable; I saw myself as an outcast. By the age of twelve I was sneaking out to drink alcohol with older kids, sometimes even adults. My habits evolved quickly; eventually, it was more than alcohol and marijuana, and the kids I associated with were not my friends. It wasn’t just illegal and distasteful- it was harmful and dangerous. While I managed to get the help I needed, I see many others who suffer at the hands of their addiction and live their whole lives without support. Many of them are fellow students. Looking back, the experience has changed my perspective on mental health and has left me more perceptive and accepting of others.

Experiences that most people look back on fondly were ruined for me by my desire to do them too early, to go too far. To think back to that time in my life is painful. Deprived of a childhood and driven by my determination to get one, I inadvertently created a reputation for myself in that small town. It made it difficult to be taken seriously as a scholar, even after years of hard work. Although problematic, I have come to use this as motivation for a better future. In high school I made it a point to give nothing less than my utmost effort. My past experiences have inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare to help others struggling with addiction and to set an example for young students facing the same challenges. I became a CNA and a licensed phlebotomist at sixteen, and shadowed major metropolitan hospitals regularly. I have since decided to become a trauma surgeon to work in large cities experiencing violence and to offer support for troubled youth. 

Although my past was difficult to endure, it hurt my mother the most. Since I have become clean, we have formed a strong bond. Unfortunately, my father was not so forgiving. I was out with my mother one weekend when my father changed the locks to our home and pronounced us “kicked out.”  It was at this time I realized the apparent decline in my father’s mental health. After this, his behavior became very erratic. He accused my mother and me of doing heinous things, and would later text to ask if we were coming home. My father claimed that he had never forgiven me for my past, and this was a difficult assertion to deal with. The ordeal changed my perspective on mental health and has encouraged me to do more research in the field of psychology. I believe that one’s mental state will inevitably affect one’s family as well; to care for one’s mental health is to care for their family. 

When my mother and I were “kicked out,” we resorted to couch surfing until she could afford to buy a house. Two months later, we used our savings to buy a few air mattresses and the payment on a single-story 1950’s home, abandoned for a decade prior. The home was bare and dilapidated, with stained carpets and broken windows; it needed much work done to make it livable. Several times we were taken advantage of by friends, roommates, and repairmen. Together, we rebuilt the house and created a home despite the trials we faced. The experience, although cliche, truly showed me the meaning of friends and family, whilst also teaching me practical skills such as basic car maintenance, electrical work, and plumbing; all of which will be helpful as I begin my adult life in college. I’ve also come to know that absolutely anything can happen. If I had been told five years ago, one year ago, or even six months ago what my life would be like today, I would have been in disbelief. 

I am grateful for the trials I have faced and the opportunities I have received despite my downfalls, for they have left me more than prepared to tackle my life in college and beyond.