College and Life Update

This is honestly going to be a mess of a blog post and it will be pretty short also. I am finally willing to discuss the topic with you guys.

I have made the official decision to not continue school for the 2017-2018 academic year. I have been struggling quite a bit the past year with a few different things. Many of you know that I am affected by my mental health on a daily basis and it has gotten worse and then better and then worse again. It’s a never ending cycle. I struggled my first semester at the U of M and decided to leave the pre-interior design program after I was placed on academic probation. I thought when spring semester started, I would start getting back on track. Being on academic probation brought forward some big discussions from the people that I was working with for school and during this time, to no avail, I still struggled even though I was taking classes I thoroughly enjoyed. The only class that I was actually successful in was my online animal course and I also really enjoyed this course. After spring semester finished up, I found out that I was placed on academic suspension which meant unless I could submit a letter that the school cleared and accepted, I would not get to go back to any college or university for a year. I had to go through the appeal process which added to my stress. If my appeal didn’t get passed, I would not be able to continue going to the U and I wouldn't be able to go to school all of next year. Luckily, my appeal was accepted and I could continue going to school but I would be back on academic probation.

Because of this, I have really begun thinking about what I actually want to try to do with the rest of my life. I have talked with my mom and several other people I look up to and I have come to the conclusion that I will be taking this coming semester of school off. I will continue living in Minneapolis and surround myself with my support system that I have gathered here. I will work at my newer job at Dogtopia which I started not too long ago and have already fallen in love with. I will also continue working part-time at Goldy’s Locker Room. I have no plans set in stone for continuing school but I am currently looking into veterinary technology degree. I have always felt most comfortable when I am around animals and have always enjoyed helping animals.

I have not shared any of this information with most of the people who know me because I haven’t wanted to be judged on my decision but I have come to realize that it shouldn’t matter to other people unless they are willing to support me. I have my friends who support me and that’s all I can really ask for at this point. To anyone out there who has any solid advice for me that might help as I go through this extreme change, please do share.

Love,

Kael Marie