Don't Lose Sight of Your Dreams by Lacie

Don't Lose Sight of Your Dreams by Lacie - April 2019 Scholarship Essay

Since I was a child, my dad and mom dreamed that I would earn a college degree, especially since my father did not and regretted that decision. I sometimes felt that goal was a mountain to climb due to struggling with epilepsy in my younger years. It was a specific form of seizures which impacted the memory lobe of my brain. This presented learning challenges and therefore I was one grade level behind by the 2nd grade and I was placed in a 504 plan at the school. Not many people knew I had epilepsy since the seizures were absence (I would just “freeze” and miss simple instructions like the teacher telling the class to turn to a page in a book). Teachers were frustrated with me since they (nor I) knew why I didn’t capture what they asked me to do. Classmates called me stupid, and I felt defeated. My confidence level was low but I just tried to respond with kindness and work harder.

The seizures eventually subsided, thankfully. However, the learning disabilities that resulted from the brain seizures remained and continued today. I did not let this get me down. My parents, along with help from wonderful teachers, helped me believe in myself and catch up to my grade level. As of my freshman year, I am proud to say that I not only caught up academically and no longer needed accommodations… I excelled in my classes.

However, life dealt another blow: my father was killed in a tragic accident. It was hard not to lose focus or feel like the challenges of every day might give me a “pass” to not remain dedicated to my college aspirations. This was a season when I truly had to give it my all and try to learn from all of it. I thought about people who are going through a much harder time, and I believe it allowed me to have more compassion and determination. I realize that the challenges I have experienced have helped mold me into the person I am. I have learned to persevere and to hold tightly onto my dreams.

I continue to push myself to take AP courses, and enrolled in dual credit college courses this year. I am thrilled that I currently have a 3.9 GPA in high school and a 4.0 in my dual credit courses. I would have never thought it would be possible.

I was also able to participate in cheerleading throughout my intermediate and high school years, which helped me to learn how to balance the demands of cheerleading and still remain focused on my school work. One of my teachers wrote the following in a recommendation letter: “Her team spirit and can-do attitude served her well in school, and she was always the consummate cheerleader, encouraging those both on and off the field.” That really warmed my heart. It was very reassuring and brought back memories of how my dad was. I think he would be proud of me.

Today, my mom has remarried and our house is filled with a healthy chaos that comes with four teenagers under roof. My stepbrother and I are both seniors and will attend college next year, followed by my stepsister and my brother. I am hopeful for scholarships and college success, and have the memory of my father and his dreams that flame my determination and help me stay strong.

In summary, I am thankful that I had the focus and support to not only to overcome challenges with epilepsy and the learning disability that resulted from it, but also recognize that they have allowed me to become a more driven and have compassion towards others with disabilities. Compared to how I saw myself in grade school, I truly feel like I am living a dream. I realize that the challenges I have experienced have helped mold me into the person I am and they ensure I hold onto the memory of my dad’s big personality. I hope to always be compared to him, but one day looking up to the sky with a college degree in-hand to say, “Look Dad, we did it.”