How do I explain this in secondaries?

[Wahed]

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When I was 19 (I'm 28 now), I dropped out during my sophomore year to seek treatment for "depression". Looking back, this depression was very situational and had a lot to do with a rift between me and my parents. They were angry at me for deciding to leave my expensive out of state school after two semesters of C's. From my perspective, I was spending a ton of money to not do very well and it made sense to move home and attend a state school while I figured my life out. They didn't agree. The stress of the situation manifested in me as depression and I couldn't handle it. I had to drop out and seek treatment. When I went back to school, I still didn't do that well. I figured out that I just wasn't passionate about what I was studying (psychology) and switched to studying Environmental Studies at a rural school (that was far away from them).

Since then, life has been gravy. I did well in school, went on to work in an environmental field, and when my work crossed paths with science, I discovered I really loved biology and especially physiology. I realized that serving people and society through science really resonated with me so I started shadowing and volunteering and taking med-school pre-reqs and here I am: I aced my DIY post-bacc, have a great sGPA, an excellent MCAT score, and I even have a really awesome relationship with my parents now.

I just don't know how to explain this in secondaries that ask about time off from school. Could I throw all of this under the category of "family issues"? I really don't want to use the word "depression".

 

[JeSuisUnDoc]

It was a decade ago and you sought treatment. I think you should speak of your depression because it really shows how mature you are even at 19. You decided to stop school and seek help even when others pushed you to the other way. That is a good thing.


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[Catalystik]

I just don't know how to explain this in secondaries that ask about time off from school. Could I throw all of this under the category of "family issues"? I really don't want to use the word "depression".

Yes. Stress related to being unable to fulfill your family's educational expectations IS a family-related issue.

 

[Sunna12]

When I was 19 (I'm 28 now), I dropped out during my sophomore year to seek treatment for "depression". Looking back, this depression was very situational and had a lot to do with a rift between me and my parents. They were angry at me for deciding to leave my expensive out of state school after two semesters of C's. From my perspective, I was spending a ton of money to not do very well and it made sense to move home and attend a state school while I figured my life out. They didn't agree. The stress of the situation manifested in me as depression and I couldn't handle it. I had to drop out and seek treatment. When I went back to school, I still didn't do that well. I figured out that I just wasn't passionate about what I was studying (psychology) and switched to studying Environmental Studies at a rural school (that was far away from them).

Since then, life has been gravy. I did well in school, went on to work in an environmental field, and when my work crossed paths with science, I discovered I really loved biology and especially physiology. I realized that serving people and society through science really resonated with me so I started shadowing and volunteering and taking med-school pre-reqs and here I am: I aced my DIY post-bacc, have a great sGPA, an excellent MCAT score, and I even have a really awesome relationship with my parents now.

I just don't know how to explain this in secondaries that ask about time off from school. Could I throw all of this under the category of "family issues"? I really don't want to use the word "depression".

I would focus on "family issues" rather than "depression". While many schools are moving towards wellness and mental health initiatives, student depression and suicide is still a very real concern for administrators and application-reviewing faculty, especially schools that have unfortunately experienced student suicide in the very recent past. Congrats on the turnaround and good luck this cycle!