UNDERGRADUATE PERSONAL STATEMENT
The news crashed down on us as we gathered together in the living room after dinner; it was the night my parents revealed to me and my siblings that my mother was terminally ill. Having a parent who would never get better felt like something that only existed in movies until it became my reality freshman year.
After the diagnosis, my life instantly spiraled downward. Bad grades resulted in phone calls home, friendships vanished, and even the sport I once loved became a chore. Despite being a lifelong figure skater, I struggled to land jumps, failed advancement tests, and underperformed at competitions. To make matters worse, I avoided all other extracurriculars because I felt unworthy to be in groups with these organized, hardworking examples of excellence around me. By the end of the first semester of freshman year, I felt so tiny and ashamed.
Then it finally came, the academic slap in the face. I failed to make the first semester honor roll and was now designated “normal” level by my school’s titles. As I sat wallowing in my failure, I watched out the window as my mom hobbled to the driveway before sitting down. Prior to her diagnosis, my mom was an active runner, and even though she couldn’t run anymore she never let that stop her from trying. Seeing her effort that day made something click inside of me, it was my wake-up call to do better. After seeing my mom’s courage displayed that day in the face of a life-ending illness, I knew I could push myself to achieve more in every area of my life.
At the start of our second semester, I threw myself into my studies, caring about school in a way I never had before. I felt intrinsically motivated to prove that I could do better. Now fighting for more than just a good grade, I became the student who stayed after class and studied until I sincerely understood the material. I even had a breakthrough when discovering the study method that worked best for me as a kinesthetic learner: I started creating my own illustrative study guides and colorful notes. As the second semester came to an end, I had straight As and was doing better academically than ever before.
The second semester was not only an academic turn-around but also a period of emotional growth for me. I gained the courage to join clubs that I once believed were reserved for only the most “gifted” students. Not only that, I also took on leadership roles within these groups. Though taking the lead was challenging at first, I soon developed the confidence to be assertive and decisive. I also began to recognize that the ability to lead was a great gift and my unique contribution, which helped me feel worthy amongst my peers again.
Most significantly of all, I began to excel in skating again. This accomplishment felt particularly meaningful, as this was the sport my mom fell in love with as a girl. Just like me, she had found it an escape from the stress and turbulence of life. My journey back to the ice brought so much joy back into my life, motivating me to continue pushing past personal hurdles. Skating paralleled my pattern of growth: as I became more disciplined in my training with practicing for countless more hours before and after school. As I climbed in skill, I passed my platinum ISI test and got back on track to becoming a double gold USFS skater by senior year. Best of all, it became an emotional bridge, as my mom got to share in my victories vicariously, reliving something she loved through me.
What started as a life-changing tragedy for my family became the thing that shaped me most as a person. While her illness will always be a shadow over my life, it is also my greatest source of strength and motivation. Today, I am not just a bystander of my own life but someone who has learned to take control of my own story. As I prepare for the next chapter in college, I look forward to continuing skating, continuing expanding my personal boundaries, and continuing to make my mom proud as I aspire to fight as hard as she fights every day.