I wrote a college essay that mentioned my brother and his mental illness and how it effected me, but my guindence counselor said that I should scrap it because of the negative connotation mental illness had and that colleges wouldn’t accept me. However, my English lit teacher said that it was good and showed how it changed my point of view for the better. Should I submit it as is or find another subject?
It’s your brother’s illness, not yours.
Well… some mental illnesses have a genetic component. English teachers are not ways the best judges of college essays – they don’t always think in terms of trying to get the college to want to accept you. I would heed your GC’s warning.