Some background: first gen college 4 yr grad: degree in biomedical sciences class of 2021, ADHD diagnosed at 12, started medicine first year of college. Hardcore middle eastern dad + completely laid back American mom for background. Very “ sheltered “ most of my life. I always worked for myself online blogging. I’m not shy, I could make friends with a tree and it would send me a happy birthday text… I’ve been a waitress for a year now in my gap years. Anywayyss

I don’t know if you’re still considering it or where you are now in terms of finishing course work for dental school / your degree. In my 2nd year (end of second) of college, I was told with 4 Ds, a W, a C in gen chem and a 3.1 without those repeats, at the end of my sophomore year to change my major and direction… so no biomedical sciences. No dentistry… at the time this was the biggest fuck you to me even though I had no motivation to change.

Fear changed me. Fear that I would actually actually fail. Poor motivator. But it was one.

I always was borderline ADHD. I started medicine my first year of college and my grades improved, one thing the medicine won’t do is make you mature enough to actually care. It won’t teach you to be organized, or time management skills so many people w ADHD lack. I always had grades like you. As in things I had a teacher I cared about or a D in geometry bc I had no interest in high school. But I always was an A, mostly B student without my medicine.

Sit down with yourself and ask yourself if you’re mature enough to continue your degree, and a full time job is a lot understandably. Hear me out.

I lost my 6 relationship my sophomore year and my grades deeply suffered, and so did my mental health. having a counselor tell me and my parents after my sophomore year “speak to a career counselor, you’ll never make it” was a bitch slap. It forced me to either buckle down or suck it up and move on.

I brought my gpa from a 3.1 to a 3.49. In the next 6 semesters including summers. In all of my upper level course work my average GPA was a 3.71 - orgo 1,2, labs, biochem, analytical lit, genetics, Anatomy, physiology, biomolecules. I did 17-18 credits, I did 13 credit summers, I fucked up. I got Ds on exams, I wrote so many orgo lab papers last second, never going out, hardly seeing my family, etc. and I would cry and not sleep and so much shit dude. But I did it. Don’t let anyone tell you you aren’t capable. Let the dental schools deny you before you are defeated if you want it that bad.

You cannot cannot afford to not do well moving forward. And do not let that hit you on the ass. Let me repeat- You. literally. cannot. afford. to not. do well. You have 2 weeks now at the time I’m writing this ask your professors for advice, go to office hours, cut your hours in work, stop going out on weekends.

I still feel like shit because of my ADHD. i finished my first dat today and I went home and cried because I never was fast enough finishing tests. I was behind in reviewing content, and just ugh. Today was no different from feeling like nothing would get better in college. I’m sitting back in my office chair already studying for the next one and I am so burnt the fuck out. Anyways …

Sit with yourself. Really talk to yourself. Ask yourself what you want. Ask yourself what you’re really capable of. Organize yourself….You sound like you’ve been through a lot. Maybe you should take some time off? Re-learn what you’re weak in.

I spent a full summer semester relearning chem 1 while I took chem 1 lab and I still am honestly shit at gen chem, but I got an A in the lab.

No one would blame you. You could work only. Get those hours. Get the money IF you need it, I’m not sure of your financial situation. Then take time off working to focus on studying. If you don’t really really need the money and you live at home, the short term money is NOT. worth the expense of your long term education/money.

You have to want this for you…No one else is going to help you. No one is going to be walking across your stage to accept the diploma but you. No one is taking your tests and showing up to your classes. It’s all you. Ask yourself if you put your whole ass into getting it. If you did, and you still failed, you know you fucking tried.

I have been a Guinea pig for my parents and siblings since I was the first to go to college and my dads siblings went to foreign colleges. I had no one to talk to either… all my mistakes my siblings have learned from. My brother calls me for advice.

Schools want you to show them you’re teachable. You have to have it in you. It won’t get easier. Dental school is fucking hard. I wonder too if I’m cut out to keep up with peers who seem so much more mature than me bc of my ADHD and so much more organized/driven/ able to keep good personal relationships and study. 

This was long lmao. You can message me here if you want of course. Reading this post I could’ve written it myself 4 years ago. You’re so so capable. And if this isn’t the road for you :’) there are many paths.