Everything Good From a Bad Situation by Daniel

Everything Good From a Bad Situation by Daniel - May 2023 Scholarship Essay

At three months old, a worker found me bruised and malnourished in my birth mother’s home. The emergency room examination showed anemia, hypertonicity, and fractures in both my legs. That night, Child Protective Services took me into their protection. The challenges I experienced as a baby have taught me to push through in life. I strive to be the hope in everything unfortunate in that situation.

My birth parents clearly made big mistakes that caused them to lose me, but I have a life because of them, so I’m grateful. There is not much I know about my birth parents. I can only imagine their faces looking like mine.

As I entered foster care soon after being hospitalized, social workers referred me to the Texas Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECI) for developmental delays. With failed vision, hearing, and nutrition screenings, specialists put me on a learning and growth plan. My foster mother was the one who stepped up the night Child Protective Services placed me in her foster home. She advocated for those ECI services.

Child Protective Service placed me at my adoptive parents’ home three months later. My adoptive parents read to me for language development and incorporated floor play for my motor development. With time, I progressed. At eight months, an updated evaluation reported development within the normal range, contradicting previous developmental reports of hearing or vision problems. I started demonstrating early problem-solving skills, the ability to imitate words, and increased energy and attentiveness. I was developing into an outgoing and social infant.

The challenges I experienced as a baby have taught me to push through in life. Last year, I realized how much of a hands-on and visual learner I am. Due to the COVID-19 protocol, my school district restricted and canceled all labs, which included my Chemistry labs. I missed hands-on instruction without those labs. With the added support of tutoring, I accomplished a “B” for the semester. By staying disciplined and consciously studying, my high school inducted me as a member of the National Honor Society this past year. This honor is vital as a CPS baby because it encourages other foster children there is always support and hope.

Recently, I gained acceptance into the college and major of my dream. I am excited to have the opportunity to build a legacy of good things from a bad situation. Majoring in Biology would be the stepping stone to giving back by becoming a doctor someday.

The picture of Child Protection Services removing me from our birth parent’s home seems unreal. As devastating as that scene is, I strive to be the hope from everything unfortunate in that situation.