<p>I've been reading a lot of threads about talking about mental illnesses in college essays and how risky it is. I really would like to use my past eating disorder in my essay, but I'm worried about it being risky.
I struggled with bulimia freshman and sophomore year. When I discovered theatre/acting at the beginning of sophomore year, I immediately knew it was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Acting inspired me to get help for my disorder. I've been completely fine and recovered since the end of sophomore year.
I want to write my essay on how passionate I am about theatre and what it means to me. I want to briefly mention my disorder to show how theatre has changed my life. The essay would not focus on the eating disorder, just the recovery.
Would that still be too risky?</p>
<p>I think when people say to stray away from eating disorders in college essays, it’s more a warning to stray away from essays ABOUT eating disorders. I personally don’t think that saying that you had an eating disorder and recovered from it is something that would turn an admissions person away. I personally think it’s something to be proud of, and if you really have made something positive of it then that’s something to be really proud of.</p>
<p>Go with your gut, but I don’t think it’s something that should be so taboo that you shouldn’t just mention it. Just make sure you have a very positive spin on the essay and don’t use the eating disorder as an excuse for anything (from what you wrote I don’t think you were going to, but just to put it out there).</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>