The Perseverance Project by Mia

The Perseverance Project by Mia - May 2022 Scholarship Essay

My name is Mia Thinnes, I am five foot one, and when I was six years old I was diagnosed with brain cancer. My whole life of being a good friend, a good sister, a good student, and a good human being has been challenged everyday because of the effects of my cancer treatment. My hand-eye coordination is almost non-existent, it takes me longer to process information ( math problems, and such), and I have difficulty controlling my emotions. The greatest skill that helped me, and continues to help me, is perseverance.
What perseverance means to me is that you keep trying to reach your goals no matter what people tell you you can or cannot do. For example, four years ago I went to Fargo with my parents to see a doctor about what my future career would look like. She came highly recommended by my neurologist. I took several simulated tests that tested both my academic skills and my physical skills ( how fast I could type, if I could tap a button fast enough to capture dots from a simulated game, etc). These tests lasted for eight hours, with a break at the four hour mark for lunch, and were all timed. At the end of the tests the doctor met with my parents. My parents came out of the discussion flustered. My dad later told me that the doctor had told them I wouldn’t amount to much in my future, but maybe I could be a school secretary. I tried not to let this dishearten me.
I am unaware of why my test results were so, but they do not bother me. I am already aware of my slow reflexes, of the time it takes me to solve a math problem, and what I want to do with my future. Since that test I have; gotten my license, passed an AP class, worked a part time job, will be receiving dual credit for three classes, received scholarships, and, just recently, signed up for college classes at BSC.
I am going to college in the fall, and am excited to start my journey to become an elementary teacher. If I have learned anything from my experience with cancer it's that it doesn’t matter what people think or say of you. What matters is what you do to overcome the obstacle, and that you get back on your feet to pursue whatever it is you want to do. The only opinion that matters is your own.
Thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to hearing from you.