Originally Posted by Calistizo619

So I got a 32 on my MCAT and I am applying tonight. I wrote this on my institutional action section and had it approved by my Pre Health advisor. Opinions are welcomed! Thanks for all the feedback!
When I was hungry, I took a sandwich without paying for it because money was tight. After being disciplined, I took the initiative to seek therapy in order to get some causal reasons for my actions and ways to correct my thinking. I had learned how to steal candy when I was 5 from my older cousin. I stole very few times after that, but without ever being caught the negative values were never taught to me at an early age. Also, the many hardships from moving often, my parents' unemployment issues and bankruptcy, and working since the age of 13, I have always held on to an instinctual survival thought process. I feel this incident was necessary in order to force me to take a step back and look at my current life in relation to where I was previously. Being in the military and now being able to support myself while in school has allowed me to fulfill my needs for shelter, food, and daily living necessities. Without constantly worrying about my basic needs, I had more space and time for personal development which I did not waste. I want to be someone who can grow from the many challenges they went through in order to lead from example. I have plenty of younger cousins and friends who are experiencing similar hardships and I would like to be a source of inspiration for them.