How Has Having Essential Tremor Affected My Life? (Scholarship Essay)
When I first noticed my left hand begin to tremor, I attributed the trembling to overworked muscles from pickleball the day before. As I lifted and tilted my water bottle to drink, I felt the shaking of my left hand and could visually see the bottle wobbling in my grasp. I tested my muscle fatigue theory again by performing the same motion without the weight of the water bottle, and this time, the shaking vanished. What a relief… right?
Soon after, I noticed tremors in my right hand. When I lift my arm from rest or rotate my palm or reach with intention, my right hand seismically shakes. This new development demonstrated an obvious problem. I was not experiencing muscle fatigue; I was experiencing tremors.
As an American Sign Language interpreter and occupational therapy student, my hands are my livelihood. My dream is to be an occupational therapist: a clinician who improves clients’ function in daily activities, often focusing on fine motor skills of the hands. The irony is not lost on me. The very hands that I hope will heal others are “failing” me. Tasks that previously did not require a second thought are now messy and unpredictable. Sipping a drink results in dribbles down my clothes. Twisting off my water bottle lid causes jerky shaking. Handwriting can appear as scribbles from an unsteady hand. The fatigue in my hands can be utterly exhausting.
People have asked if I would reconsider my career path in the face of such a confronting, cruel barrier. My answer was, and continues to be, no. While I will face unique challenges, and my tremors have the potential to narrow my areas of practice, a career in occupational therapy has been my aspiration for many years. I am not willing to give up on my passion. I will not let my tremors define my limits; my diagnosis will refine my purpose and shape the healthcare professional I will become. Since August 2025, I have been pursuing my dream as a student in the master of science in occcupational therapy program at Florida Gulf Coast University.
My current mindset focuses on the endless possibilities I have in front of me. I can learn about the origin of different tremors through coursework, gain exposure to cutting edge treatments from skilled practitioners, and engage with local advocacy organizations. Best of all, I am excited for the opportunity to support clients with tremors.
Living with intention tremors has transformed my vision for a career in healthcare. While I possess vital academic knowledge and clinical skills, I also bring a unique perspective from both the patient and provider sides. I have firsthand insight into the power of individualized care and empathy. The adversity I face does not diminish my passion, but rather enhances my dedication to helping others thrive in daily life.
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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.