I am currently brainstorming ideas for my college essay. This is one that came to mind. For context, a year ago I found out from my mom that I was “on the verge of diabetes” from a blood test I took. I was a bit shocked, but my family helped me dedicate myself to getting healthy. During that time, I not only learned how to live a healthy lifestyle, but also the value of hard-work and its rewards. For example, I lost weight and became more self confident. A few months ago, I received another blood test result and found out how far I went. Yes, there are some nooks and crannies to fix, but I was nowhere near the area I was last year.
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I think you could write about this in a short supplementary essay where the college wants to know whatever has not been covered elsewhere.
My kid has type 1 diabetes (which cannot be reversed) and wrote just a few lines in the supplementary essay for that. Her main essay was about something else entirely.
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The topic could work …write a draft or an outline and see how it goes.
Consider focusing on ideas like how you took proactive action on a potential issue, personal growth etc. and how these traits could serve you well in college and beyond.
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Is it something you’re passionate about - meaning, I know no one is passionate about getting diabetes - but maybe this changed your outlook and activity in life and the episode now made you a health and exercise nut.
I think they want to learn something about you - your passions and desires, etc.
So if you’re not sharing that, i’d probably venture away.
But you can always write a quick essay and have others read and see.
Many kids change subjects multiple times before finding the right subject.
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Yes, try it out and see how it goes.
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Whether or not it works as an essay, congratulations!! That is very hard to do. Requires enormous effort and commitment to reverse it.
Keep up the good work!
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Sure, the topic could work. Authenticity is the most important element and how this particular topic fits into the arc of your life. This is your chance to tell them who you are. So be careful not to write about it, but about you.
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Be careful. Teenagers who develop Type II diabetes virtually always do so as a consequence of being very, very overweight. The last “ism” that’s still acceptable (unfortunately) is “weightism”. Your story is admirable - it takes drive and determination to lose weight and get out of the pre-diabetic range. But is it relevant for college? Is this the way you want to present yourself to schools, in the essay? Don’t get me wrong - weight loss is such a difficult thing to do, that most people are unable to manage it. But is it the best topic you have, to focus on, to give colleges an idea of who you are?
If you do decide to write about this, make sure that you have an accurate understanding of Type II diabetes, and of how weight and sedentary lifestyle are strong contributing factors (along with genetics and increasing age, but of course one cannot reduce one’s age, nor change one’s inherited predispositions). From what you describe, you got motivated, and lost weight, and got out of the pre-diabetic range. This is a very hard thing to do. You are right to be proud of yourself. But is this the accomplishment you want to focus on for your college essay? Is there anything that is more closely related to academic achievement that you might want to focus on?
If you sincerely feel that this is the topic that best shows your determination, then go for it. But do try to convey in the essay how your grit and determination to change your lifestyle and your weight in order to get out of the pre-diabetic range is related to your drive for academic and career achievement.
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