Additional Information Essay by College

I need to respond to this promptt:

“Please describe any special circumstances that you would like us to consider that may have affected your ability to achieve academically. This may include personal circumstances, family experiences, and opportunities that were or were not available at your school or home. If you participated in an educational preparation program (i.e, EAOP, Talent Search, Upward Bound, PUENTE, etc.) please describe your level of involvement and how each program was beneficial to you. Character Count (max 4000) ”

I have AI helped me draft something here:

“At the end of my sophomore year, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, an event that fundamentally altered my familys daily life and significantly affected my academic journey. My mom had always been the emotional, physical, and organizational foundation of our household, so her diagnosis abruptly shifted many responsibilities onto me at a critical stage of my high school education.

Once her treatment began, I assumed a central caretaker role at home that lasted approximately six months. My younger brother has multiple severe food allergies and can only eat specially prepared home-cooked meals. To ensure his safety, I assisted daily in preparing his breakfast and lunch, carefully monitoring ingredients and avoiding cross-contamination. I also helped him get ready for school, drove him to and from school and after-school activities, and remained attentive to his emotional well-being during an uncertain and frightening time for our family.

In addition to caring for my brother, I managed many household responsibilities to reduce the burden on my mother. This included grocery shopping, preparing or ordering meals, and coordinating daily logistics. I also assisted my mom with scheduling medical appointments and transportation. Many of her chemotherapy and radiation treatments were scheduled in the early afternoon, requiring me to be home during those hours to support my family.

My mothers treatment was physically and emotionally demanding. After each chemotherapy session, she was often bedridden for two to three days due to severe side effects, gradually regaining strength toward the end of the week before beginning the next cycle. This exhausting pattern repeated continuously for six months. During this period, there were multiple emergency room visits due to complications from her treatment, creating moments of intense fear and uncertainty. During these emergencies, I stayed with my brother, reassured him, and maintained a sense of stability and routine when our family needed it most.

Beyond logistical responsibilities, I became an emotional support system for both my mother and my brother. Watching my once vibrant and energetic mom struggle physically and emotionally was deeply difficult and took a toll on my mental health. At times, the sustained stress became overwhelming, and I sought support from my school counselor and later a therapist. Through this support, I learned healthier coping strategies that allowed me to manage my emotions while continuing to meet my academic and family responsibilities.

These circumstances had a direct impact on my academic and extracurricular opportunities. During junior year, I was unable to enroll in certain more rigorous courses because my mothers treatment schedule required me to be home in the afternoons. I also made the difficult decision to discontinue my participation in both club and school beach volleyball in order to prioritize my familys needs. While stepping away from activities that brought me balance and enjoyment was challenging, it was necessary given the circumstances.

Despite these challenges, I remained committed to my education. I worked intentionally to manage my time, maintain strong grades, and stay focused academically while balancing significant family responsibilities. This experience forced me to mature quickly and strengthened my resilience, discipline, and empathy. It reshaped my understanding of responsibility and reinforced my appreciation for perseverance during prolonged adversity.

Although my mothers illness limited certain academic and extracurricular opportunities, it profoundly shaped who I am today. The emotional resilience, accountability, and ability to manage sustained pressure that I developed during this period have prepared me to thrive in a rigorous academic environment like Arizona and to contribute meaningfully to its community.”

Please help me rewrite the essay so it is by human and not AI capturing the same details and tone.