Adrenaline Junky by Emily

Adrenaline Junky by Emily - May 2023 Scholarship Essay

I take a deep breath and my mind fills with chatter from the roaring crowd. I feel the anticipation pumping through my veins, and then the music starts 5, 6, 7, 8. Suddenly, I’m being thrown 20 feet into the air, flipping, twisting, and crashing down. I hit the floor and the world goes silent. And the only thing I can think of is, who created competitive cheerleading? My bones break, my cartilage tears, but surgery fixes it.
I have been a competitive cheerleader for 10 years, breaking countless bones in my body, for the sport I love. In 2019, I broke my growth plate in my wrist and tore my cartilage. Since that moment, I have dedicated my life to becoming an orthopedic surgeon, so kids like me can continue to pursue their passion. I never wanted a child to feel the pain I did, when I was told, I would have to stop cheering; I wanted to be able to make dreams become a reality, not crush them.
When entering high school, I made the choice to attend a special school. None of my friends would be with me, I would be completely alone. However, my dedication to become a surgeon overcame my fears and I started college as a sophomore. In simpler terms, I took all college classes in place of my high school ones, so I could have the chance to graduate high school with my associates degree. Fast forward three years, and I am soon graduating with my associates in science. My whole life has been based off cheerleading; it has shaped my personality, characteristics, and values. C.S. Lewis once said, “hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny” I live by this truth. Being a surgeon is a reflection of my cheerleading career and the hardships I have endured, allowing me to help others in similar situations I was in.