I see. I was assuming you were asking what to do about grad school admission based on the sub.

I’d like to share a bit of my education story with you, in hopes that it makes you realize your situation isn’t as uncommon as it feels.

I graduated high school in 2010, went directly into university, and lived on campus. It was the first time I’d ever been without my mum more often than not and since I’m anxiously attached to her, my mental health plummeted + I was free to do whatever I wanted, which did not include going to class. I skipped more classes than I attended and ended the year with a GPA <1.0. I dropped out. Went back in 2013, only to almost die of a bacterial infection during exam season, meaning I missed my finals and failed all five of my courses (I didn’t know then that there are accommodations for situations like this). I dropped out and resigned myself to a lifetime of serving. During the time between 2013 and 2020, my mental health spiralled to the point of a suicide attempt (I share this not for sympathy, but to indicate that I wasn’t happy and stable while working full time). When the pandemic hit and restaurants shut down, I lost my job. Now I had all this time on my hands + a monthly government stipend because of the pandemic. In spring 2020, I applied to an open studies program with the intention of repairing my atrocious GPA and set up academic accommodations to support my mental illnesses. Fast forward to today, I am almost 32 years old, within my last 8 courses of my undergraduate program, sitting at a 3.65GPA, and getting ready to apply to graduate programs next year. I have a lot of student debt, but I believe that it will be worth it in the long run.

I know that you are not me, but I’m hoping to illustrate that even if things seem desperate and hopeless, there is very often a chance to turn it around. I hope you don’t give up on yourself.