I think it is a good idea to share inspirational stories. Why not? It doesn't mean we have to give false hope...but, it wouldn't hurt to have a little positivity on this forum with all the doom and gloom going around. So, I will go first:
I was a 4.0 international baccalaureate/honors student in high school with a decent SAT. First in my family to go to college and didn't know the first thing about applying to college. Had a free ride to my instate school (although I got into some OOS top schools and couldn't afford it). I went to college and spiraled downhill. Failed freshman/sophomore year. I posted my undergrad grades in some other thread (you'd have to go search for it). Basically, I made a lot of wrong choices and hung out with the wrong crowd. I ****ed up- royally. Lost my scholarships, went on probation, and actually got disqualified from the uni. Had to go to CC to prove myself and be readmitted. When I was 21, I got in trouble for an incident involving drinking. I was a total lush- probably borderline alcoholic at that point. I realized I was halfway down the rabbit hole and decided that it wasn't for me (the partying, drinking, etc.). So, I quit drinking, did really well my last couple semesters at uni and spent the following 3 years retaking classes and taking pre-reqs @ CC. I have a 3.9 post bac GPA, got an 87 PCAT, and since I had to work full-time throughout my undergrad career because I wasn't fortunate enough to have rich parents, I ended up having 5 years of pharm tech experience by the time I applied in addition to the many EC's I did during undergrad (because I found those more important than grades at the time- ironic, dontchya think?). Got into my top choices. It was hard work. One semester I was taking orgo, physics, and a humanities course while working 40+ hours a week. Some nights I didn't get to bed til midnight and had to work at 6am. I rarely slept between all the late labs (they went til 10pm), lab reports, homework, and maintaining my household. I never really had a day off and couldn't really sleep in ever. It sucked. But, I did it. I did it because I had to **** or get off the pot, ya know? I knew what I wanted and I had to put myself through years of misery for the years I acted like a jackass in college. It paid off, though. I'm heading into a great program with a clear mind and less distractions than ever before. I got all that partying crap out of my system so I can go into pharm school and succeed and devote time to some organizations I want to be a part of.
The truth is, if you've got what it takes, you can do it. But, nothing is going to just fall in your lap (unless you have some incredibly good karma or something). Everyone's story is different. Having a positive attitude is one thing- actually putting that positive attitude to use is another thing. Your choice. If you fail and this is what you really want, try again. But, be realistic in your endeavors.
