College Applications Essays

Today, my oldest child finished the first semester of her Senior year in high school. She has been applying for college and I wanted to share one of the essays that she and my husband worked on together, it really meant a great deal to me when I read it (and brought tears to my eyes)...

This is Faith and I in Memphis a little over a year

 before I was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence 250-500 words. 


My mother, Melanie Kabo has shaped my life so much. She was a single mother to me for much of my childhood, but still found the time to volunteer in my classes and earn some income. Just before Thanksgiving in my Junior year at high school she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Time stopped. . .but she is a fighter and a year and a half later she has very little tumor left after several treatments and remains positive living her life to the fullest.

My mother has proven that when life gets tough there is always something good that will come from it. She volunteers in my brothers school, at our church, works out, and still finds time to spend with me. I really appreciate the time I spend with her before I head off to college. If anything, this disease has brought us closer together.

She helps me see that I can't let this slow me down. That I need to keep on going and act as if there is nothing to slow me down. I continue trying my best in everyday including extracurricular activities to show her that I am able to continue to do what I love. Seeing her do all these great things in her life, watching her stand up to cancer, and not let it influence her negatively has really shown me that anything is possible. I want to live my life in a way that shows others nothing is impossible and that even though life throws things at you that may be hard to deal with, or things that have a major impact on you, you can still live life to the fullest. Nothing can stop me and I hope to continue living like this through college and everyday life.

For these reasons my mother is a true inspiration and has had an incredible influence on me. I plan on carrying her fighting spirit and toughness to help me succeed in the future.