Sarah was a third place winner of a 2025 NJCTS Scholarship.
Here is the essay she included with her application.
Before I left my house this morning, I almost decided to wear sneakers instead of my everyday combat boots. Of course, thinking my biggest obstacle would be my third-period calculus test, I went with the less comfortable option. Now that I’m in the middle of nowhere in upstate New York fighting a minotaur, those sneakers would really come in handy. I duck as the mighty beast reaches out to grab me by the neck. Luckily, my tics strengthen my reflexes tenfold. Just as he thinks he has me, I tuck and roll, narrowly avoiding sudden death. I reach into my pocket and pull out my trusty sword, anaklusmos (riptide). To mortals passing by, my weapon may seem like an average pen. But in reality, it’s my greatest weapon. That—and my OCD—makes me excellent at battle strategy. Just as the minotaur is distracted, I use riptide to slash his neck. Within seconds, he disintegrates and is sent back to Tartarus. Now, I can finally focus on my math homework.
OK, fine. Maybe I don’t actually fight mythic beasts between third and fourth period like my favorite demi-god, Percy Jackson. But I’ve fought my fair share of battles.
In first grade, I was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome. Each day felt like an uphill battle, and the constant stares from others heightened my sense of feeling different. Nonetheless, Percy Jackson showed me the power of being unique. Percy was constantly told he would never be enough due to his ADHD and dyslexia. However, he rose above all of the assumptions and saved the world not one, not two, but three times. When given the opportunity to prove himself on a quest, he showed everyone that their disabilities did not define them. Through Rick Riordan’s writing, I found an outlet—giving me the confidence to search for a community.
Today, through the NJCTS Youth Council, I’ve felt empowered by my Tourette’s. I’ve been able to speak at events around the state—whether its Grand Rounds at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center or at schools like East Windsor Regional. I’ve met a multitude of kids who share similar struggles, many of whom have become my close friends. I’ve even given back to this amazing community, raising over 8,000 dollars to support NJCTS through the NJ Walks for TS fundraiser.
Now, I’m used to the monsters who smell my demi-god scent and chase me during my bus ride home. My OCD has become my superpower, enabling me to devise the perfect strategy to conquer any beast. Whether I encounter a cyclops, a challenging problem on a test, or even Medusa herself—I know exactly how I can emerge from battle victorious. My Tourette’s has never inhibited me from achieving what I seek to accomplish. I know it does not take a mythical godly parent to make me a true demi-god. I’m just like Percy because I’ll thrive no matter what life throws my way. I’ll always rise to my highest potential because that’s what the greatest of demi-gods do.
