Everyone has a story, an event that has shaped them into the person they are today. Whether this incident was tragic or joyous, it is used as a mold. Valuable lessons are learned at that moment in time and used to shape one into the person they are at this point in time. I, like most others, have found my true identity due to a certain event. Throughout my entire life, I have thought of myself as a perfectionist, especially in my schoolwork. I used to cry if I ever received below an 85 on anything. I remember always being so stressed with the need to do well and be perfect. During my sophomore year of high school, however, I faced what I believe has been my greatest challenge in life thus far.

Being a cheerleader for Cumberland High School, I was constantly putting myself at risk of injury. That year, while at practice I was dropped on my head from a stunt and later diagnosed with a severe concussion. During this period in time, concussions were misunderstood and not taken seriously in my high school. Staff did not understand the extremes and difficulties such a head injury can cause. With the concussion came constant migraines, difficulty concentrating, nausea, and other various symptoms. Concentrating during class without getting a severe migraine became extremely difficult. I was prescribed medications to help fall asleep, however, this backfired when it made waking up each morning difficult. Being a perfectionist, I worked as hard and long as I could before I could not bare the extreme headaches, causing me to fall behind in classes. A few months later, I was diagnosed with a second concussion due to another cheerleading related injury. My neurologist ordered me to only attend school days for half the day because the concussion was so severe. If the brain is not kept relaxed and is over-worked to a certain extent, damage can be caused. Because this took place during the middle of the year, attending school only half of time made keeping up almost impossible.

I received hardly any help from the school administration and staff. My stress level rose to an all-time high, slowing the healing process even more. I felt completely on my own, once an honor student and now struggling to meet a passing grade. My mother and my doctors fought for me constantly with guidance and administration, finally getting through to them. They realized it was indeed a very serious matter and a learning plan was set into place. A contract was signed by the principal stating I had all the necessary time that was needed to make up work and take exams. I finally felt a sense of relief in all the chaos I was going through when a new principal was hired the following year. This apparently meant the contract was no longer in effect. The incomplete grades that I was told I would have the time necessary to make up that would now turn into failing grades. All my hard work leading up to that point had instantly disappeared because of a medical injury I had no control over. Throughout this time I developed severe anxiety, making each day a challenge.

It took a great deal of determination and the help of my mother and my doctors. We were finally able to show the administration the hardworking student I am and the great deal of effort I would into completing all the work that was necessary to receive the credits needed to graduate. It finally made sense to them that because of my medical issue and the great deal of work there was to make up along with my current school work, it would take time, but I would get it done. And I did. And I graduated with the highest grades I had gotten in my entire high school career. Through this experience I gained a confidence in myself, I have never had before. Because I have accomplished so much through such a challenging time period in my life, I feel as if I can take on whatever is to come in my future years. The fact that I knew it was possible from the beginning and did makeup all my work is the best feeling. I proved everyone who doubted me wrong and showed them how studious I truly am. Throughout this entire experience, I find myself to have become much more hardworking and mature. Going through and finally overcoming this has really made me grow up and realize I am not a child anymore. It has given me a new sense of self-confidence and allowed me to set goals because I know anything is possible and anything can be achieved.