<p>During my high school years I began to realize that my home life was significantly different from that of my peers. The circumstances I endured were the cherry on top of preexisting difficulties. However, the setbacks I have faced have been nothing short of an education; they have taught me about myself.
Growing up with my father has been a constant battle for my self-esteem and self-worth. As a result of his alcoholic and bipolar tendencies, debilitating anxiety arose which made me so unsure of myself that I came to believe I was incapable of succeeding in anything. As the oldest in my family, I was alternately held responsible for the behavior of my siblings and the quality of his marriage. It culminated in the demise of my family as I knew it; the night he drunkenly tried to strangle my mother. A messy divorce followed, and I was inescapably stuck in the middle. This misfortune was the turning point in my life, however.
The months after, I isolated myself. I didnt focus on school or relationships. Instead I focused on myself; discovering who I was and who I wanted to be. During this time, I reached a mental epiphany. I realized the reasons behind my inability to succeed werent because I was untalented or unintelligent, but because I never gave myself a chance to show my talents or intelligence.
While the structure in my life dwindled it became clear that my independence would be key in defining my future. The privileged lifestyle I had long become accustomed to would last only as long as my adolescent years. I chose not to be angry but instead redirected my emotions into productivity, responsibility, and integrity. My abilities and my academics have only progressed from this experience and I expect that if given the chance, they will only progress further.</p>
<p>helpppp me CC wise ones, help me!!!</p>
<p>i don’t think that the quality of your essay justifies the riskiness of your topic</p>
<p>What would you recommend I do?</p>
<p>do you have any other ideas for an essay?</p>
<p>I mean, that has been the most influential event in my life. I can’t imagine writing an essay that wasn’t about this topic because it it explains why my GPA is sub-par</p>
<p>in that case it seems like it belongs more in the additional information section</p>
<p>First of all, I’m really sorry you had to go through something like this. I think your topic could make a personal, moving essay.</p>
<p>Maybe show more, tell less? If I was writing the same essay, I would begin it with an actual scene of violence, plunging the reader into the situation, and end with the reflection. A narrative account is usually more interesting than just “hearing the facts.” The essay could then go into reflection and talk about how you’ve grown.</p>
<p>Good luck! :)</p>
<p>^ This. I say, don’t go overboard with the violence scene (if you go with that show-more-tell-less advice) but do go with that general format. Readers will definitely be impressed. From what I understand, elite colleges LOVE risky essay topics/formats.</p>
<p>okay so I came up with this last ditch effort… opinions? </p>
<pre><code>It was 3:30 in the morning and I awoke to what I thought was a storm. I heard loud smashing and screaming, so I carefully peeked out of my bedroom door. I saw my drunk father destroying my mother’s PC. That, however, was only the aftermath of the real destruction that happened that night. My father had tried to strangle my mother while in a drunken rage. Unfortunately this wasn’t the only negative impact my father has had on my life. Growing up with my father has been a constant battle for my self-esteem and self-worth. As a result of his alcoholic and bipolar tendencies, debilitating anxiety arose which made me so unsure of myself that I came to believe I was incapable of succeeding in anything. As the oldest in my family, I was alternately held responsible for the behavior of my siblings and the quality of his marriage. My family as I knew it deteriorated after his attack on my mother. They divorced, but in the process of doing so, dragged me into the middle of it. My father was then out of my life completely and my mother was emotionally unavailable, locking herself in her room. Independence became a necessity.
</code></pre>