Just Smile

I’ve decided!

After months and months of decision making, I have finally decided. In the fall of 2012, I will be attending the University of Chicago to prepare myself for medical school. Although I had several better offers financially, I decided to attend Chicago because it is a place where I can achieve my greatest accomplishments.

Many other colleges gave me much better financial packages than the University of Chicago. Actually, Chicago is the most expensive offer I was given and I am going to have to work very hard to pay for it. I need to get a summer job, apply for millions of scholarships, give up my summers for paid internships, and work my butt off. However, I decided to take the risk because I believe that the experience I will receive at Chicago will be worth it.

Chicago has an atmosphere I have never seen at any other college. The students are not there just to learn, or just to get the degree to get a job, or see it as just the next step in life. They are there because they are passionate about learning. They are passionate about what they are learning about. They are passionate about becoming the best people they can become. These people actually want to learn, just like me! This will contribute to my career path because I will be placed in an environment that will foster my learning to the best of its abilities.

The University of Chicago also has many different choices for majors and minors. I plan on going to medical school after college, but the only certainty in life is change. I do not know if I will change my mind based on the classes I take. Maybe I will suddenly want to become an engineer or mathematician. Since Chicago offers so many majors, I can easily change my mind without having to switch schools.

Lastly, the University of Chicago has a plethora of opportunities for research, internships and jobs. All of these opportunities will help me prepare for my career by placing me in the work place setting to learn from experience. There is only so much that you can learn out of a text book. The most important skills you learn from doing.

Overall, I am overly excited to become a Chicago Phoenix. I plan to dive into as many experiences as I can to get the most out of my education and experience.

This

<a href=”http://www.centurylinkquote.com/scholarship”>scholarship</a>

 is sponsored by

 <a href=”http://www.centurylinkquote.com/”>CenturyLinkQuote.com</a>.

You’re all beautiful.  Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.

A Force of Nature

At the innocent age of two, I was faced with a challenge that only 0.42% of people in the United States are forced to face.  I was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes.  People with this disease tend to feel lonely and isolated.  Nobody else you know has to deal with the disease except for a bunch of old people you meet at the doctor’s office.  You have nobody who can relate to what you’re really going through, not even your family.  Luckily, I have been given the honor of being affiliated with Children With Diabetes.  This group of miraculous people is now my support system, a group of people who really do understand. 
            The very first conference in 2000 was called “Letting Kids be Kids” and was lead by various families.  Our parents strived for us to live a normal life, or at least make it seem as normal as it could possibly be.  They definitely succeeded. When I first walked into that conference hall, and saw all the other kids with diabetes, I knew I was right at home.
            In the elementary sessions, we played games and had loads of fun with the other kids, but we also learned that we could do anything we wanted in the world.  When I was diagnosed, Dr. Aisenberg gave the same lecture he gave everybody else: “Don’t do this. Don’t do that. Take your shots. Test your blood sugar.”  At this point, I feel limited.  In the sessions at the conferences, they focused on the things we could do. The conferences gave me a chance to interact with other people with diabetes such as Miss America 1999, people who have climbed Mount Everest, and, my favorite, Team Type 1. They have all overcome the do nots and made their dreams become a reality.  I suddenly went from feeling limited, to limitless, and it is a lesson I still remember today.
            Although the lessons I learned over the years have proved to be helpful, the friends I have made at the conferences are the most valuable in my life.  We call ourselves “the regulars” and only see each other two to three times a year, but they are closer to me than anybody else I know.  We now call the conferences “family reunions” and create count downs to the next one.  We keep each other sane by texting or calling each other on rough days.  When I complain, they understand.  My life would be entirely different without these amazing people.  They are the reason I have accepted that I have diabetes.  They are the reason I take care of myself.  They are the reason I am able to live a normal life.
            Children With Diabetes is a force unexplainable to the outside world.  Sometimes I wish everyone could have diabetes, just so that they could experience the love, joy, and peace coming from all of these marvelous people.  Children With Diabetes saved my life.

Well, this is one of my college essays. Finally done. I hope you enjoyed it! :)

Being busy can be fun. But also stressful. Having nothing to do can be boring. But also relaxing.  Is there anything in the middle? Who cares. I’m just happy to be living the life I have.