u/Typical-Sand-615

I am a HS junior from NY, middle class, first gen on one side. I have a 96.89 GPA (gna go up). A 1380 SAT (660 enflish, 720 math). I plan on getting up to a 1430+ I would be going for either aerospace engineering or cybersecurity. I am double acceleratored in math (only on in the skl) . I am apart of rho kappa honor society, spanish honor society, math honor society, and leader of field trip committee for science honor society. I’ve had a consistent job at a bagel store since august 2024, I worked at Kumon from may 2024 to august 2024. I was a camp counselor summe 2025, and i’m gonna be a lifeguard summer 2026. I also had a contracted job with uber marketing. I also recieved PSAT national recongition, a silver award at a math fair, and a bronze award for spanish level one and have been on principals list (highest honors) since freshman year. I also volunteered at an animal shelter (\~20 honors) and I am a blood donor

Currently a Junior in hs, gna give a rough draft of my essay pls give me tips and how to improve or if it’s totally trash pls tell me so i can start over. (ending isn’t done)

Growing up I was always envious of the picture perfect families, the kind that sent out
holiday cards in matching pajamas every year, the families that didn’t yell at each other and
always agreed. If my family were a piece of paper we wouldn’t be smooth and crisp. We would
have creases and folded over edges. Although imperfect we were still functioning.
Growing up in my home there was always a daily argument, always something new. My
parents were constantly fighting. My first memory of this was when I was 4 sitting on the couch
with my sister watching TV , and my parents screaming and my dad grabbing a bag and
threatening to walk out. I can still remember the exact bag to this day. At this age I never really
understood these fights. I just pitied myself and tried to drown it out by either watching TV or
locking myself in my room and reading a book. This brought on my love for reading. I immersed
myself in many novels, but it didn't erase the feeling of a lingering sadness that made me think
that our piece of paper would just tear right in half. At this age the fighting rocked my world, I
couldn't comprehend it. All I wanted was for my mommy and daddy to stop fighting and love
each other. But the more of this I experienced I learned how to read a room. I knew when to
speak and when to stay silent, I believed by doing this it was protecting myself.
As I grew older the creases began to make sense. I understood why my parents argued,
they both worked a lot, my dad works 2 jobs and my mom 1 both with very different hours. They
had to work out who would take my sister and I off the bus in the afternoon, who would make us
dinner, and who would take us to our activities. Growing up meant understanding. I realized that
these arguments weren’t out of hatred for each other, but rather caring and doing their best for
my sister and I. There is one particular memory that really changed my perspective. We were in
Puerto Rico, and had missed our flight. We were put on standby and only one seat had opened
up. My parents had to make the tough decision as to who would go back to work, and who wouldstay back with my sister and I. I realized their true motives, not just what the arguments appeared
to be. I realized that the creases we had on our paper didn’t mean tears.
Instead of focusing on the storms, I found rainbows after them. School, work, and the
relationships I built through them. I met the most caring friends that I wouldn't trade for the
world. The kind who listen to my problems no matter how big or small. I pushed myself in
school not for that feeling of validation, but for the focus. Something as small as doing
homework, or a facetime call with friends grounded me, even if home felt unstable that didn’t
mean I had to be.
The creases in my family also taught me empathy. I don't see things as black and white as
I did in the past, I see the many shades of grey in between. I understand that everyone and
everything has a complicated backstory. I learned that because of my imperfected, folded,
creased family.
I no longer hope for that smooth piece of paper, but rather I am grateful for what I’ve
learned