<p>I've always been a strong students - good grades, hardworking, extra curricular activities, and all the shabang. I was a normal, Chinese-adoptee that everyone called a great student, etc., yada yada yada.</p>
<p>Before the start of 10th grade, I was sent to a residential treatment center - a therapeutic environment. My circumstances are complicated, but to get to the point as quickly as possible, I did not need to be there. I have no behavioral problems, nor am I a physical threat to myself or others. This may be redundant, but I have never been suicidal, nor have I had problems with depression. I was sent there somewhat wrongfully, and mainly to give my family and me some space. Without going into too much detail, my family had put me in some pretty dangerous positions, and I did not think a super-fluffy-family-close relationship was healthy. </p>
<p>I was there for 14 months - all of 10th grade and part of 11th. There was no formal schooling aside from about two hours of online class a few times a week. I was not allowed to write, which drove me insane. There was mass chaos, and I almost never felt physically or emotionally safe. I found myself responsible for many of the other children there, and was often in positions where I had to protect myself, protect others, and break up fights. I managed to steal pen and paper, and created a secret language to write in. I hid my writing in the walls, and various other places.</p>
<p>I returned to 11th grade at the start of my school's second trimester. After so much time away from school, you can imagine how hard it was. I had received a 3.97 GPA in my 10th grade year because the classes were online and brainless. In 11th grade, I took a limited courseload so I could settle in, but I did pretty well considering my situation. I took two AP classes, and got As and A-s. I got a B- in precalculus, after having taken geometry and algebra 2 online. In both my electives, I got As. This senior year, I will take 3 AP classes as part of a full courseload, and I expect to do very well. </p>
<p>Since returning from that place, I have been published on a major news site, I've started my own humble blog, I've joined a feminist group in my high school, which I will be leading next year, and will be resuming piano lessons (I had taken piano since age 10, and had to stop in what should have been 10th grade). </p>
<p>This situation will not look great on college apps, and I was thinking of writing about it in the common application essay. My idea was to write specifically about my secret language, and how my writing helped me cope through tough times. How no matter what happened, I made sure that I was able to write because writing is such a significant part of who I am and how I communicate. </p>
<p>I am having trouble deciding 1) if I should write about it and 2) how, if I do choose this topic, I should explain my situation. Is there anyway to explain my situation without looking bad? If so, how? I have been struggling immensely.</p>