<p>Hello, I am filling out the Common App and I have a question related to the information help. The end of this last school year and previous summer I came home to find my mom had attempted suicide. She ended up spending around 40 days total in a Mental Health Facility and I had to care for the house on my own. It was as if I was living by myself. Of course I had adults come to make sure I was okay, but I was primarily alone. This impeded my ability to due volunteer work because I had to care for the house. Also, a bigger concern was that I had to worry about keeping gas in the car because the only money I had was from foodstamps.<br>
My question is should I put this in the additional information? Should i put it in and not say that it impeded my volunteer work?<br>
I am curious to know if I should put it in. I don't want to sound like I am making an excuse, so if that is the way it sounds please tell me. Thank you for your advice!</p>
<p>My first suggestion is to talk to your HS guidance counselor and ask them to write about your situation and the impact it had on your academics & ECs in the Secondary School Report. If you don’t feel comfortable with that, it is definitely something that you could address in the Additional Info section. </p>
<p>If you do the latter, you might want to ask on the Parents forum for volunteers to read what you want to submit (via PM, don’t post it on an open forum). There are many helpful and experienced members that could help you present your circumstances.</p>