<p>Well it doesn’t sound like you wallow in self-pity, so that’s a start. You should focus on the changes you’ve seen in yourself and the strength you’ve developed because of learning how to deal with it. My advice would be not to spend too much time talking about embarrassing or difficult moments, opportunities lost, the sad stuff. If it’s needed for context, a short paragraph might sufficient, and then you can move on to explain how you’ve dealt with the challenge, what it’s meant to you, etc. I think that as long as you don’t pity yourself, you should be able to write an essay that reflects your attitude. However, definitely have other people read your paper. They may read it differently than you and show you places where rewording might help you give the right message.</p>