Excerpts from Mitchell College Student Application Essays

My tutor helped me to understand by applying the concepts to what I enjoyed, shopping. I learned about percentages and decimals, ideas I never was able to understand in math class. At that point in time I felt confident with my math and confident that I am a capable learner…I learn things at different speeds. I have my strong points and my weak points. I think everyone does.

Finding a job that I like to do and am naturally talented at has always been something that occupies my thoughts. I am going to find a career that enriches my life and can put my values t use. Because of learning difficulties, I know what it is like to feel trapped by the paradox of being smart and capable yet stranded and alone and hopeless…I fought this every day, and when things are fully together, when I am independent and confident and mature, I am going to go to college to study how to induce confidence in teenagers who feel defeated by life.

The school system provided me with a wonderful teacher who definitely was one of the main reasons I have persevered all of these years. This special education teacher taught me techniques to use to overcome my disability and reach what was thought to be unobtainable goals. She proved to me in her kind ways, that I must have confidence in myself and know that I am a bright person. She made me aware of the fact that just because you are learning disabled, you are not retarded. Many students who have learning disabilities are some of the brightest students in their classes.

My coach treated me normal, like the other kids. This is when I realized that I wasn’t so different from the others, that if I believed in myself, anything could come true for me.

I never dreamed that I would be applying to college. When I was younger, my doctors said that I probably wouldn’t be able to do a lot of things. They doubted that I would learn to read.

My handicap has taught me to appreciate the needs of others…I know what it is to struggle physically and also with my class assignments. My struggles in these areas have taught me to be patient, strong, determined, and proud of all my accomplishments…My handicap has taught me to see things in a different way than most people my age. I have learned to see the positive things, in life, and I do not take life for granted.

As I entered my senior year of high school, I realized that the teasing I got earlier in my academic career was not my fault at all. My fellow students did not understand how to accept someone who was different.

I have more trouble than others concentrating, but if it is something I’m interested in, I become completely absorbed in it, ignoring almost everything else.

“Try, Try Again!”

Tonight I’m reading a story,

But I’m stuck on a word.

I try and try to sound it out,

C-C

But I can’t get it. Let me try again.

C-L

I can’t figure out

What this word is.

Oh, I’m so nervous.

I think I’m going to burst!

Everybody has something

Difficult to learn, but why

Does mine have to be reading?

Why couldn’t it be something else

Like science or math?

I will try again.

C-L-E

I know.

CLEAN!

No

C-L-E, C-L-E-V

Oh come on, what is this word?

C-L-E-V, C-L-E-V

Come on.

C-L-E-V

This word is so hard.

I hate reading.

I mean-I don’t like reading.

Come on, Meghan, come on.

C-L-E-V, C-L-E-V, CL-ER-ER

CLEVER!

I got it! Great!!

Now,

the next word.