Personal Statement

Our experiences are an integral part of who we are. Some people are influenced by innate

qualities while others are impacted by major events in their lives. For me, the most influential

moment I have experienced was coming across a resource video for children with Tourette

Syndrome. This experience is so central to my identity that I believe my application would be

incomplete without it. It has taught me to acknowledge the significance that my background has

on my life and my identity.

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes involuntary motor and vocal

tics. These tics come in many different forms- some being mild, while others are more

aggressive. Since I was a child, I have always exhibited symptoms of Tourette Syndrome. My

earliest memory of tics originates from the age of five. Although I have always had this disorder,

I was not formally diagnosed until the age of sixteen.

As a 16 year old high school student, I spent most nights browsing the internet and

running on little sleep. One night, in particular, stands out to me the most. Although I was

extremely tired, I still managed to muster up enough energy to watch one last YouTube video

before going to sleep. My fatigue exacerbated the intensity of my every tic, but I regarded this as

normal. Sluggishly, I clicked on a random link that appeared on my screen. A video titled

Tourette Syndrome Tic Resource Video #2 began to play and immediately changed my life

forever.

On this seemingly normal October night, my cell phone screen was lit with a montage of

several diverse children. These children were so different but all shared the common feature of

Tourette Syndrome. One by one, they explained the phenomenon of the disorder and shared their

unique tics. This video was not significant to me until I began to recognize the familiarity in their

tics. I had experienced repetitive and involuntary tics my entire life, but I never questioned them.
 Personal Statement

In fact, I never even thought it was a possibility that I had Tourette Syndrome. I find irony in the

fact that a video I randomly selected turned out to change my life forever.

This experience is unique to me because it was the first time I could identify with

Tourette Syndrome. After coming across this video, I initiated an appointment with a neurologist

and was formally diagnosed with the disorder. Recognizing my symptoms in other people made

me realize that I am not alone. I have the support and mutual understanding of thousands of

people who are just like me. I believe that finding people that you are able to connect with is a

major part of establishing your identity. This experience has helped me to establish a sense of

belonging and an understanding of who I am. I am shaped by my environment and the unique

experiences I have undergone. I am now able to identify not as someone who struggles with

Tourette Syndrome, but as someone who thrives from it.