Reese McGee Memorial Scholarship

In 2004, after having two consecutive seizures the same day I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I was only 7 years old. It has impacted my life substantially because it can be an everyday struggle. Even with being medicated I never know when they will happen. They seem to happen more often at night when I am asleep, but every once in awhile they will occur randomly during the day. Until someone truly experiences a seizure themselves, it is so hard to explain how draining, debilitating, and mind numbing they are. I don't always remember them and I don't always know what happens. My family has been truly supportive which I am thankful for but I always feel bad because the struggle also falls on them daily. Honestly, if you would ask me how many seizures I have had I wouldn't be able to answer. I lost count a long time ago, which in a way is sad but the more I focused on that the more depressing the thought became. I want to live, I don't want this to define me. I have also been diagnosed with Asperger's. I can be a very high functioning adult especially when it comes to anything technology based. I built my first computer when I was 4 years old with my grandmother, which is incredible for someone my age. I still dabble daily building computers and learning about new emerging technology. Ever since I learned about computers it has made my life better. It gives me something to focus on and build on. In fact, computers in a sense are a second language to me. I strive to understand them in every way, whether its disassembling something to see how it works or researching what is the best motherboard over others and etcetera. I love how complex they are. There is always so much to learn. I have built roughly ten computers. I am IT Support to several friends. Currently I am going to school for Computer Network Administration. I hope to achieve a Bachelors Degree. My dream is to have a Computer Building and Networking Business. The legacy I want to leave is a story that proves epilepsy, amongst other diagnoses, doesn't control every aspect of my life. That I can overcome the struggles even if they are daily. With todays world becoming so dependent on technology I hope to teach others how to handle computer issues; I hope to teach myself new ways and possibly better ways to build a computer.