This is not my appeal letter, I’m just not sure if its a reasonable appeal and wanted some feedback. I am 31 and recently registered for classes. I went to college right out of HS. My senior year of HS I lived in a woman’s shelter with my mom due to my dad being violent and her having to leave. I gave up an EOP scholarship to stay with my mom and work to help her get on her feet and I chose to go to a city college instead. At the time, I wasn’t aware I had a mental illness and that it was peaking, a year later I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Before my diagnosis I stopped showing up to a class and didn’t do that well in another one and was able to get a “C”. I was only taking two classes because I registered late since I had planned on attending SFSU. Over the next decade I applied to go back multiple times but didn’t register for classes. I did register for one in 2009 and ended up not showing up at all. I would have manic episodes and depressive episodes throughout the next 10 years. I had a full time job but even that was very unstable because I called in or left early a lot.
The psychiatrist that diagnosed me gave me an Rx for very strong medications and they made me like a zombie. I was only 19 and I didn’t understand what was happening to me. The medication scared me away and I stopped taking it. Obviously that wasn’t a good idea and I should have tried to talk to the doctor about switching medications. Honestly, I didn’t understand anything about my illness and was too young to understand the potential severity of it. No surprise that I went full blown manic and had somewhat of an amnesia, not remembering most of the episodes. There is a lot to that 10 years with no treatment but it isn’t necessary to go into that, I was extremely unstable and I realize now I should have been hospitalized a few times.
This past year I have been fully committed to my treatment and discovered that I have Bipolar(BP) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) comorbidity. I see a psychotherapist biweekly or monthly depending on my stability (previously weekly) and a new psychiatrist I see monthly (previously bi-weekly). I am on a medication that has been life changing for me. I am much more mature, I advocate for myself and make decisions with my doctors when it comes to my treatment, I have had stable employment the past 3 years, and I’m a single mom of am amazing 5 year old. My pregnancy was very high risk due to very rare complications and both of us fought for our life that day, she is my reason to fight these illnesses so hard and she changed my life. I had a very long recovery though and it kept me from work for awhile. Most importantly, I understand my illnesses now and what triggers them. I am open about my mental health now and have an amazing support system of loved ones, doctors, and support groups. I also have action plans to take when I notice certain symptoms. One of the symptoms of BPD is not having any sense of identity, it’s known as a chameleon or mirror behavior. BPDs mimic other people to be socially accepted as we don’t understand who we are as an individual. I see now that I had no idea who I was and all I knew was college is what I should do because it’s what everyone around me was doing. I can wholeheartedly say that I am finally beginning to know who I am as an individual and what I want, not just faking it to be accepted. Which leads me to registering for classes and I am determined to get my degree in special education.
Currently, I have a 50% and need at least 67% completion to be awarded my financial aid. Mind you, I have never used/received financial aid before now.