Growing up with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome has made certain parts of life more challenging for me than for most people. It’s a genetic disorder that can cause a range of health and learning difficulties. Mine is “mild”, as my doctor said, and my greatest challenges have been developmental delays that make learning, especially math, strenuous. I often felt frustrated when I worked hard yet still struggled to understand concepts or keep up in class.
Despite my best efforts, things didn’t seem to click, and during my sophomore year, I began to lose confidence in myself. Around that same time, I went through my first breakup. I initially thought it wouldn’t affect me much, but it hit harder than I expected. I started falling behind in my classes, stopped putting in effort, and pulled away from friends. It was a difficult time, and my belief in myself dropped even further.
As I entered junior year, which I knew would be the most demanding year of high school, I made a decision to rebuild and put my best foot forward. I began seeing a therapist, which helped me process what I was feeling and develop strategies to manage stress and stay organized in school. I was fortunate to have a strong support system that believed in me, including my family, and the incredible ILC staff at Community High School, especially Katie Richardson. Their patience and encouragement reminded me that growth is not linear and that small steps forward can be just as important as bigger leaps. Several awesome teachers also played a major role by showing understanding, offering extra help, and encouraging me along the way.
One of the biggest turning points for me came when I got involved in journalism and started contributing to our school newspaper, The Communicator, and yearbook, The Midnight Sun. I had always enjoyed photography, but the journalism classes and extracurricular activities gave me a creative outlet and, more importantly, a sense of purpose. Telling stories through photographs and articles for the newspaper helped me discover something I truly love, and that I’m good at. I felt proud of what I was learning and how I was expressing myself.
By the end of junior year, I had found a healthy balance between academics, work, and personal time. Although my cumulative GPA at the time of this application is 3.1, that number doesn’t fully reflect how much I’ve grown. Through persistence, support, and creativity, I’ve learned how to overcome challenges that once felt impossible. Now, in my senior year, I am proud to say that I have all As and Bs and only wish that those achievements were reflected in my GPA when applying to college.
Looking ahead, I’m eager to continue pushing myself and developing my skills as a photographer. Photography has given me a way to connect with others, tell meaningful stories, and see the world through a different lens. I’m proud of the person I’ve become, and I can’t wait to keep learning, creating, and sharing my perspective with the world.
