How Has Having Essential Tremor Affected My Life? (Scholarship Essay)

Having inherited essential tremor (ET) from my mom, who inherited it from her dad, I was not as alarmed as I otherwise might have been when someone first pointed out my tremor at age 15. I was lighting a candle, and my hand was shaking. My friend’s mom asked if I was nervous and knowing I wasn’t, I immediately knew I, too, had ET.

In the years since my official diagnosis, I have struggled with buttons and zippers the most, and my handwriting, which was never great, has deteriorated. I use a laptop in class, which is less of a problem now that I’ve started college, as it seems to be the norm. At work, as a busboy, I find creative solutions. Because I can’t carry several glasses at once, I make multiple trips and use both hands. So far I’ve managed to do this successfully as I believe attitude is everything.

Starting college this year, I’ve spent a significant amount of time explaining ET to my new friends and professors. My weekly poker group (don’t worry, we play with chips, not money) noticed my hands shaking and asked if I was nervous, a clear “tell” in poker. Much to their dismay, I explained that my hands shake regardless of what I’m doing. Strangely, even though I often have to explain my condition to new people at college, I’ve become more comfortable with it.

I think it’s critical to educate people, especially young people, about my ET. My Gen-Z peers and I are the future of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) researchers, physicians and lobbyists who will find cures, treatments and funding for ET.

At home, there is no end to the challenges when everyone in your household has ET, but I try to find humor in those moments. It’s a pretty funny sight when my mom and I try to put a tiny pin on a ribbon for Scouts, or get the clasp on her necklace closed. The old quote, “laughter is the best medicine” rings true for my mom and me in most of these situations.

I am very grateful that I can go about my life with only minor inconveniences. To date, nothing has stopped me from achieving my goals. As an Eagle Scout I’ve continued my commitment to servant leadership through Habitat for Humanity and the Center for Self Advocacy and Wellness at Florida State University (FSU). I was honored to be selected as one of 60 presidential scholars at FSU and currently work as a research assistant on a project in their department of economics.

I am majoring in political science and minoring in history. I also plan to complete a master’s in applied American politics and policy at FSU and then apply to law school. My long-term goal is to pursue a career in politics so I can be an advocate for important issues like healthcare funding for lesser-known conditions like ET in the same way I have lobbied for gun control in high school.

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If you want to be involved in supporting students with essential tremor as they work toward their higher education goals, consider making a donation to the Catherine Rice Scholarship Fund. The IETF awards up to 10 college scholarships each year to students with essential tremor.