<p>When I was 6 years old I was diagnosed with moderate complex-partial epilepsy. I was very, very precocious when I was little. I could read fluently at 3, touch type 60 words per minute at 4, etc. When I was 7 I went on the highest allowable doses of two epilepsy medications (which also function as psychiatric drugs, so they are really heavy duty). My intelligence literally dropped to average level and school became really, really hard for me until 3 years after I went off the medicine (in 6th grade) because I fell so far behind and had A LOT of catching up to do. I've outgrown epilepsy now and my intellectual capacity is back to wear it used to be, but I think the fact that I know what it is like to struggle intellectually and academically is unique and has shaped my life. Some highly intelligent people have little or no sympathy for people with intellectual/academic problems. They might just see them as lazy or dumb or something else similar. </p>
<p>I've written other essays, one about winning a sandcastle contest, another about how I love to win radio contests, and one more about my love for WaWa, the convenience store. All of those essays, while interesting and kind of cute, weren't really defining moments or life changing like my experience through epilepsy was. BUT, I worry that colleges think I'm trying to come up with some sob story from back in my childhood that's not even relevant since I've recovered and everything. What do you think? I'm afraid it will sound too dramatic.</p>
<p>^Yes, I would say that it seems too sob-storyish. If you want to write about hardship, you need to focus on how you were able to overcome said hardship, not how your life has been crippled by it. Explaining disabilities is task best left for counselors.</p>
<p>I think it would work, but with the proper spin. Of course, the topic itself would lend itself perfectly to a “what obstacles have you overcome?” topic. </p>
<p>But it could be the main essay, too, as long as the essay is actually “about” something else. Like your most influential or admired person might be your mother for making the very difficult decision to put you on the meds then watch you struggle academically. Or someone who befriended you or teacher who encouraged you during your “not smart” era. Or how you think the most important human quality is being non-judgmental, or the importance of empathy. </p>
<p>Think of a related topic, then weave your own experience into it.</p>
<p>I was going to spin it more towards how I am really nonjudgmental/empathetic at least in the academic arena. Sometimes I think that’s rare amongst more academically competitive people. Just because you may not perform well at a point in time doesn’t mean you aren’t highly capable. </p>
<p>And it’s not really supposed to be an explanation of a disability because I don’t have it. It’s not really supposed to be an explanation for poor grades because my grades are good. My guidance counselor seems to prefer “Overcoming Obstacles” for kids with bad grades/test scores but mine are both pretty good for the schools I’m applying to.</p>
<p>i think that if it’s something that was really important in your life, there’s no reason you shouldn’t write about it. i mean it sounds like the kind of essay that is really personal and shows who you are. i’d think that that would be better than just a normal cutesy essay.</p>