What's My Story: the Example of 'Tell Us Your Story'

Hi, I’m Sophie. I’m 18 and just graduated from high school. I graduated top of my class with the highest honors. I was a PC representative and a school captain. I’m currently going to The University of Queensland and studying Bachelor of Law. This tell us your story essay has examples from my life: my childhood and school experience, life struggles and memorable moments. 

What’s my story? My story is not the same as the act I put on. People say I am 'friendly', 'motivating' and 'outgoing'. In any case, there is more, so much more, this isn’t every last bit of who I really am. My life is a movie, and I’m the actress.

I was 5 years old when my parents separated. My dad and I were best friends and were pretty much inseparable. Then one day he suddenly stopped visiting me. I lived with my mum and my younger brother. My mum and I had problems getting along. Every time she had a drink of alcohol she would become really angry. I’ve either been punched, scratched, grabbed, yelled and cussed at and slapped every time. She would always make it that everything was ALWAYS my fault. There had been times where she would come home drunk and would be throwing up everywhere. And I was the one who would always take care of her and my little brother. Therapists would label her as an “abuser” or “abusive”. I wouldn’t believe what they said because the problem is better than what it used to be. And I knew that she still cares for and loves me, even when she is drunk.

Throughout middle school, I was bullied persistently. It was either physically, verbally and/or emotionally. I was small, so that made me an easy target. The fact that I was never a “popular” kid, the girls would like to make fun of me. I never had any friends, because they would either leave me or the girls would turn them against me. I was around 13 or 14, when I finally found the attention I would crave for. I found someone made me feel important and special. He was 27 years old, and he was my piano teacher. He was my world. And I was his target. I trusted him, which made me completely vulnerable. He manipulated me and destroyed me. I decided to report him when he crossed the line for the last time. He was fired, and he fled to the USA. Throughout the rest of my middle schooling I had to deal with private investigators, police officers and the rumours and bullying at school. For years I blamed myself for ruining his job, marriage and life. It was my fault. Yet he was the one who shattered my life, and because of him I stopped living.

I suffer from serve depression. I have cut and intentionally harmed myself. I have also inflicted pain upon my body. I have tried multiple ways to kill myself. I have felt alone. I have felt hopeless and worthless. I have felt isolated from the rest of the world. I hated my life. I hated myself. Every time I looked in the mirror, I would think, “what a screw up. Who would ever love me?” I struggled with living every day. I was diagnosed with having depression due to a chemical imbalance, but I know a lot of it was situational as well.

I’m dating this amazing girl called Chloe and I am incredibly happy. That’s all that matters, that I’m happy. I decided to post this after my high school graduation, so I wouldn’t have to deal with any of the gossip or bullying at my school. I’ve gone through too much to have to tolerate with disrespectful behaviour. I don’t. People are going to choose to hate me, but I now have many friends and family who love me for who I am. If there is anyone who struggles with what I have been through. I want you to know and to believe that you are beautiful, special and you are loved. Hope is real, love is real, and it will, and it does get better. Everybody has their own story and so no one is alone.