Expelled from beauty school
I graduated high school in June 2023 and immediately signed up for beauty school to study esthetics. I started in October 2023 and was set to graduate in April 2024. Only a 6 month program. I have wanted to be an esthetician for a few years now because waxing and facials really interested me. Well when I was in school, my mental health took a horrible turn. I have been struggling with depression since I was 5 years old but I feel it may be the worst it's ever been. My anxiety has been so much worse too, so I ended up missing a lot of school. I got to be about a month behind, but oh well, at least I can still graduate. Well in March 2024 (one month before my contracted graduation) I got terminated for attendance. I sat there crying in front of the campus director asking if I can get 100% attendance from now on or pay more money to stay, but unfortunately I could not. BUT she told me that I could submit an appeal, pay a fee, and come back but I must maintain 90% attendance. Of course I took this opportunity. I was so close to finishing... And I was TERRIFIED to tell my family about this. I didn't want them to be disappointed in me. Some of my family members aren't very understanding of mental health issues and don't really see it as a valid thing. The thing is my depression is so extremely bad that I've been close to checking myself into a mental hospital. I am on anti-depressants but it's been 3 years and I'm still trying to find a medication that works well for me. I told my family, because, I had to eventually. I still live with my parents (I'm 19) so they'd notice me not going to school and not graduating of course. Last month I came back. I only have 2 months worth of hours to complete before I can graduate. I came back August 12th, set to graduate mid October. Yesterday my campus director asked if she could meet with me. I got very anxious and asked why, she said my attendance for August was 69%. Today, I meet with her. My attendance is based on both in school hours and online homework hours. I believe I missed 2 days in August. One due to sickness, one due to sleeping in late. But I hadn't let depression/anxiety keep me from school even though it was so damn hard. Every single day I consider not coming, but I somehow do it. I haven't kept up very well with my online hours. I know that is so stupid because that's easier to maintain than actually coming to campus. I don't know what I was thinking, I mean, I thought I was getting enough hours and any I missed I could easily make up when opportunities for extra hours came. Plus I'm pretty positive that not all my online hours seemed to get logged and processed. So I fear that today, my campus director is once again going to terminate me. And this time for good, because I'm pretty sure I can't just submit an appeal and try again for a second time. Oh my god I am so scared. This time I really screwed up. I am so embarrassed. And when I came back to school I realized how much I do enjoy esthetics and I do want to do this as a career. But if I'm kicked... I'd have to start over. And it'd take a WHILE to save up for that. School cost 14k and I mostly got it paid through scholarships and my dad and sister helping me out. I have paid some out of pocket as well but I'm mostly concerned about wasting my family's money... My dad has even said (when I get terminated a few months ago) that even if I don't enjoy it, I should finish it because I am so close and it'd be good to have a back up license. Which is very true, but also, I do enjoy it! But if I get expelled for good, I am too ashamed to admit that. I would just tell my family that I don't like it. But even then, they'll be disappointed in me for screwing this up so much. Especially my dad and sister who have put so much pressure on me to keep going. Just yesterday I missed class because my pet was having health issues, and when I told my dad that he said: "Okay? Are you gonna screw this up? What f*cking excuse is next?" He later apologized for being harsh, but he's always been that way. Very intense and blunt. So you can imagine how scared I am if I'm gone for good... Also, what am I gonna do with my life? Right now I work a part time job but I know one day I'm gonna need more in order to make a living for myself. I am so scared that I have ruined my future. ALSO not to mention a lot of people in my life know I'm in beauty school, and it'll be so embarrassing if I have to tell them I'm not going anymore (especially because a lot of people know I'm so close to graduating.) I know I am completely in the wrong for this, it is entirely my fault for missing so much time. My depression has been unbearable but this time around I feel I can't even excuse myself, I mostly missed ONLINE hours. How stupid could I be??? I don't know if I'm subconsciously self sabotaging or what (which I have done in the past.) Anyway I'm not sure what to do or exactly why I'm posting this. I guess if anyone has a similar story or advice I would appreciate hearing it. I'm gonna try to meet with the campus director in half n hour. Wish me luck, and thank you for reading.