Should i even mention it in the essay ?

<p>So I have done some research on UC: Davis ( my dream school) and im starting this essay first to make it pure perfection, and I was wondering if I should mention my experience of being gay, how I was depressed for some years and got bullied daily, but how it changed me and etc etc etc. ( I understand they say prove it don't say it I have points to back me up) but the point is should I mention me being gay? or would that be to much of a risk?</p>

<p>I don’t think mentioning that you’re gay is risky if it’s relevant, but talking about depression and bullying might result in an overly pessimistic essay.</p>

<p>If you have proof and it doesn’t stray off topic it should work. Like halcyonheather said, don’t make it sound like a depressing essay. If the main focus of your essay is about being gay, then it should be fine. If it’s just a minor addition, it’s a bit risky to add it if doesn’t relate to your main point.</p>

<p>I was thinking that I would write something along the lines of how
From 8th-9th grade I was builled, father moved out of country, grandma died, and grades were so rock bottom I even got a letter saying I was going to fail 8th grade (I did not fail tho, just barely made it) but than somewhere in the middle of freshmen year I realized im wasting my life being miserable. and it picked up from there. And than somehow tying that into how I have highly improved, but I still havnt reached my full potential … some proof I guess I have is my steep upward trend.
Freshmen yr- 2.8 sophomore yr- 3.9 junior- 4.3. (weighted) And how my volunteer at the church nd elementary school just heightened my need to succeed.</p>

<p>Good thing UC doesn’t look at your freshmen year for Gpa, which has its obvious perks :D</p>