Describe a school accomplishment you're most proud of and why. by Antoinette

Describe a school accomplishment you're most proud of and why. by Antoinette - December 2016 Scholarship Essay

A few years ago, if someone asked me if I was to graduate from college, my answer would have been a clear "no". The reason was because of my illness. At the age of twenty, I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder. After receiving this diagnosis, I believed that I would not be able to finish my college studies and withdrew from the university that I was attending. At the time, I was in my junior year at Trinity University and believed that withdrawing from all of my courses was my best option. I felt that I needed to deal with my illness and decided that staying in school would just get in the way of treating my illness.
After handling my illness via different treatment options, I felt much better and decided that I needed to return back to college. I carefully looked into my future and decided that finishing school and graduating from college is what I needed to help me to achieve my long-term career goals. I needed a college degree in order to move forward and reach my next step of finding that right job that would enhance my overall career and quality of life.
Today, things have changed for the better and I am currently a student at Prospect College. My major is PC Specialist and I am doing very well in school. My greatest school accomplishment so far that I am most proud of was receiving an award during my first month at Prospect College for student excellence. This award justified my way of thinking that I should never give up hope. After dealing with my illness, I returned back to college as a stronger individual. One of my greatest strength is being patient in life; looking forward to your future, and always maintaining a positive attitude. It is a combination of these strengths that has allowed me to reach this far in life.
I one day hope to graduate with high honors from Prospect College and begin working in a field relating to PC Specialist. Choosing this new major has motivated me to accomplish my goal of getting my certification degree. My long-term goal now is to have a career that will give me the necessary tools and income to support my family and myself.
Furthermore, I want my mind to be clear, focused, and maintain a positive outlook on life. I know that if I want to do well in school and in life, I must learn to cope with stressful situations in ways that are most effective so that I will be living up to my full potential. I have a lot to offer in this life and will do everything in my power to make that happen.
Lastly, I am working on building my self-esteem. I do not want my mental illness to stop me from living my life fully. I refuse to let fear of the unknown stop me from being successful. I will continue to stay on the right path by focusing on my future and not on my past.