'It made me suffer, but..' - COLLEGE ESSAY, schizophrenic brother

It was a drafty December night; my brother and I were wrapped in blankets watching television. I tried to concentrate on the dialogue coming from the television, but all I could hear was my brother's boisterous conversations with his nonexistent friends. One minute he would be laughing hysterically, and the next he would be yelling at the top of his lungs in paranoia. I was about to lose it. "SHUT UP ZACK! I can't hear the television with all that noise!" I snapped at him. His eyes, black with hatred, revealed someone unfamiliar to me. He totally disregarded my comment, and kept howling at the top of his lungs, bustling back and forth in his seat. My brother wasn't himself anymore. He was now engulfed by illusions and tormented by his own imagination. He was bombarded with a chaotic noise inside of his brain that would never abate. How could all my other family members be so oblivious to these symptoms?

Schizophrenia is a slow and gradual process. My brother's symptoms were ambiguous at first, but as time went on they slowly escalate. It was clear as day that my brother had the mental illness schizophrenia. My parents were in denial and thought he was just acting up due to their recent divorce. After weeks of convincing my parents with piles of research we finally took him to the hospital to get mentally evaluated. Psychiatrists concluded that he was showing severe signs of schizophrenia. "I'm sorry to inform you that Zack may never reach full recovery again..." The doctor said with sympathy. I still remember that exact moment, tears flooded my eyes uncontrollably and I was screaming "GOD GIVE ME MY BROTHER BACK! Why are you doing this to us?" my emotions took over me. I didn't know how to handle it. It was as if my only brother had died in front of my eyes, and all that was left was his frame. My mom and dad just held Zack and I. Tears running from their eyes as well.

Every life has hardships and every success story is filled with obstacles to overcome. When an individual is faced with a hardship it can either shatter them or allow that person to grow. Those that have the power to overcome hardships build great qualities. Rather than sulking in my sadness and sitting in the past I used my experience to help me grow. Each struggle my family and I have faced helped me find myself, and understand who I am as an individual. It changed my outlook on life and gave me a greater appreciation to the little things. I turned my weakness into strength and ambition. Seeing my brother go through schizophrenia in front of my eyes yanked me out of my comfort zone with no solid ground to stand on. It made me take risks, and find my strengths and weaknesses. It made me suffer, but it made me learn how to cope with adversities, and in the long run it made me stronger. That unwavering medical support has continued to inspire me as I strive to assume my own role in the medical field to do the same.

My brother's symptoms were ambiguous at first, but as time went on they slowly escalated.

After weeks of convincing my parents with piles of research, we finally took him to the hospital to get mentally evaluated.

Psychiatrists concluded that he was showing severeobvious signs of schizophrenia.

"I'm sorry to inform you that Zack may never reachfully recoveragain ..." The doctor said with sympathy.
((you kinda leave me wondering what happened after his diagnosis... after all, there are great treatments for the disorder that can help a person lead a fairly comfortable life, it is a permanent illness, but not a death sentence, he would never have ordinary mental health, but he is still a person with feelings and thoughts. maybe you could add another sentence mentioning how there is hope for someone with his problem, and how your family and doctors will be there to support him))

Nice job with this essay, good luck in school :)