My 13-year-old brother Colin is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and ADHD. He is 100% non-verbal and severely intellectually disabled. He requires assistance in simple daily living activities such as feeding, going to the bathroom, and taking a shower. Throughout my life, I have had the responsibility of helping my parents care for Colin. As a result, I missed out on many academic opportunities.
I have stepped up to help out at home since I was young. My mom used to work graveyard and weekend shifts so she could free up time for Colin’s numerous therapies during weekdays. I had to be involved in Colins’s home behavioral therapy sessions after school with different therapists. I directed him to communicate with his augmentative and alternative communication devices. Occasionally, I was responsible for putting on his long foot braces before school and giving him his anti-epileptic medicine before his bedtime. During the pandemic, the disruption of his usual routine increased his aggressive behaviors. The lack of occupational, speech, and behavioral therapies also led to the regression of specific skills. I vividly recall the day before my PSAT test, when Colin had a frantic episode at night. It was triggered by the shrill sound from our home alarm system accidentally going off. He started kicking, screaming, and throwing anything he could get his hands on. My dad and I had to hold him down for twenty minutes to calm him down. I was exhausted mentally and physically the next morning before the exam. Although I scored well, my adversity resulted in falling one point short of qualifying as a National Merit Semiinalist
Many of my friends had very supportive parents to help commute to a variety of extracurricular activities. However, with a large portion of my parents’ attention focused on my brother, they were less involved with my academics. With less availability for my family to chauffeur me around, it was more difficult for me to reach my full scholastic potential. Additionally, I wanted to expand my range of interests, resulting in less academic achievements during the summer of 2021. Nonetheless, earning my driver’s license has given me the freedom needed to go after opportunities that were once unattainable.
I have learned throughout my childhood to embrace my unique family dynamics and find ways to accomplish my goals despite the challenges I face. In the future, I want to be in a position where I can make a genuine impact on families that go through similar challenges.
