Michelle at graduation

MICHELLE'S STORY

My name is Michelle and I'm 21 years old. I
attend the University of California, Los Angeles and will be graduating with a Psychobiology Bachelors of Science degree in June 2009. My passion lies in medicine and I aspire to be a practicing physician. I wrote the following personal statement for my college applications in 2004, during my senior year of high school.

Personal Statement:
I slowly trace the outlines of the white spots on my brown skin – soft and delicate imperfections I once saw as major flaws. At a young age, I developed vitiligo, a skin condition that results from a loss of pigmentation; noticeable pallid patches began to form on my neck, arms, and back as a side effect. In a world that rejects anything deviating from the
norm, I saw my vitiligo condition as repulsive because it set me apart from others. I wanted to blend in with my peers, but my contrasting skin tones prevented this from naturally happening. I felt plagued with flaw rather than blessed with uniqueness. I entered elementary school completely unaware of my exterior differences, but my peers pointed them out to me soon enough.

They inquired about these blatant irregularities found randomly all over my body and although I’d answer nonchalantly, I was secretly horrified by their curiosities. I wanted to shy away and live in a hole, or instead, effectively disguise these manifestations on my skin from the rest of the world. I was envious of the seemingly flawless skin of others; in my eyes, mine was nowhere near acceptable. Fortunately, I could forget my envy through my occupation with school activities. The world of knowledge, found in various forms such as books or classroom discussions, was my escape. As an elementary school girl, it was easy for me to focus on other things that made me overlook my physical differences, which became increasingly insignificant to me as school wore on.

I was immersed in speech contests and spelling bees, I devoured
books, and I played sports. My vitiligo was never an impediment when it came to academics or extracurricular activities, but it remained a lingering insecurity in the back of my mind. I continued my academic success throughout junior high, but I was still selfconscious outside of the classroom. It was easy for me to create a façade and appear carefree to my fellow peers, but I was still mentally struggling with my own appearance. I grew more unconfident about my looks and more jealous of others. I detested how I could not simply erase my discolorations and could not grasp that my intelligence and friendly personality had more weight for real significance. High school was a turning point in my life.

Again, I readily found opportunities that served as distractions from my appearance, but this time it was different. I did not only temporarily forget my insecurities, but I began to overcome them. I focused on school and joined clubs. I exercised my leadership skills by becoming president of KeyClub, a community service organization. I organized events, such as collecting canned goods or helping raise money for Pediatric Trauma. I felt better about myself when I did these things, and saw how fortunate I was compared to others. I began to realize that only my attitude towards life could determine my happiness.

My vitiligo was a part of my individuality that I was going to accept with a positive attitude. When I was active in school and Key Club, I was incapable of being hindered by my vitiligo insecurities. I began to see how this external physical detail had no substance compared to my leadership abilities, my determination to focus on this craft, and my willingness to improve my mentality. My self-confidence grew tremendously because of
my overcompensating drive to learn and be a better person. I have built security based on my strengths. Appearance no longer plays a big factor in my life as it once did. I now live up to my full potential and embrace the
imperfections that have made me strong.

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