From Homeschool to College: Overcoming Illness and Finding Belonging
You can say I did not have the most traditional high school experience. When I was thirteen years old, I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) - a chronic illness that monopolized my adolescence. POTS is a disorder that triggers my sympathetic nervous system, causing involuntary symptomatic responses, including elevated blood pressure and heart rate. As an active teenager, these involuntary responses were life-altering and dominated my middle and high school experience. When I began my freshman year, I fully transferred to an online school.
A Journey from Illness to Inspiration
As someone extremely extroverted and prefers face-to-face interaction, it was obvious that online school was not ideal for me. Throughout high school, I saw schoolwork as meaningless and a waste of the little energy I had, which translated to a very lackluster performance. While I’ve always been a driven and hardworking person, POTS required me to shift my focus and prioritize both my physical and mental well-being. Though I couldn’t always perform at my best academically, I never lost sight of the value of education. Even from doctors' offices and my bed, I stayed connected to learning, holding onto my goals and preparing to give my all again when I was ready.
After completing high school online, I was able to get a better grasp on my health and began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. To ease back into an in-person environment, I chose to attend community college—a decision that turned out to be one of the best I’ve ever made, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities it provided me. Initially, I planned on studying marketing. I took several marketing classes at my community college, but everything changed when we completed a unit on public relations and advertising. After this unit, I instantly knew I was going to make the switch. If it weren’t for community college, I may have never found the courage to attend a four-year university. As my passion for in-person learning grew and my health improved, I began to explore transfer options.
From Outsider to Insider: Navigating Imposter Syndrome
When I enrolled at Grand Valley State University, I was instantly overcome with fear, uncertainty, and the overwhelming feeling that I was so much further behind than the other students. As I wandered around campus, I couldn’t help but feel like I did not belong. I found myself questioning whether or not I could succeed in this new environment, surrounded by students who seemed to know exactly where they were going. This was much different than community college. Everyone here seemed to be connected and I felt so out of the loop, especially after transferring as a sophomore.
To make up for the feeling of lost time of missing out on high school events, I became extremely involved on campus. By joining clubs, going on a school mission trip, and attending various school events, I was finally able to feel like I belonged. As I got more involved and connected with my peers, I realized I wasn't as far behind as I thought.
Self-Doubt to Self-Discovery
To anyone who feels like they’re behind in college or life: don’t be afraid to embrace your story and share it with others. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that very few people have a perfect or seamless college experience. Sometimes, all it takes is being the first to open up to create space for others to do the same. Looking back, I now realize that every step of my journey was necessary to get me to where I am now, no matter how lost I may have felt. Today, I walk through campus not with doubt or uncertainty but with purpose. My story is not seamless, but it taught me integrity and the power of embracing your story.
About Claire
Claire McCormick is a sophomore studying Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in marketing. This is Claire’s second semester in GrandPR, and her first year as an Account Associate for GrandPR. In the future, Claire hopes to work in Sports Marketing.