College Admissions Essay: The Impact Of Concussions

Imagine waking up to a dreary day. Clouds fill the sky, and you rumble through your routine for school. Walking through the front door, you see the sunlight thinking it’s a good sign that the day won’t be as gray as you thought it would be. But, you have a concussion, and this means that peak of sunlight, has given you an instant headache before your first brain-draining task of the day. Most people think of a concussion as a minor headache, However, it is a serious head injury experienced by many, and it alters the focus you most take for granted.

I know this first-hand because I acquired several my freshman year: two during a cheerleading stunt during which I was the flyer, and another after fainting and hitting my head in the shower. Medical research has shown that …show more content…
Most importantly, my sister pushed me more than anyone else from being herself. My sister was premature with a diagnosis as being borderline retarded, she spent most of her life in special education. But, to this day, she has pushed her limits, and she is in law school. She showed me that miracles do happen, as long as you are willing to try.

I pushed myself to my own limit to get my work done, my final grades didn’t reflect the amount of effort I put into my classes. My concussions occurred during several different months, which destroyed multiple marking periods of grades. However, I aimed for perfection during my sophomore and junior years, succeeded in maintaining a B average, with constant migraines triggered by minor events. Eventually, this turned into a learning experience because it taught me that I can try harder during my senior and college years. I am in a myriad of AP courses now, and I am also the captain of my cheerleading team.

In my opinion, one doesn’t push their limits until they physically try, and even then, there can be further improvement. Therefore, I will expand my limits as I aim for