Hi Mellissa,

Welcome to the forum! Take my word I understand exactly how you feel. I have absence, complex partial and simple partial seizures (sz.) and it started when I was 10 yrs. old. I've had epilepsy now for 42 yrs. and when I was in jr. high school my so called friend would cut me down and call me rude names to the point I didn't want to go to school anymore. My math teacher hit me in the head saying I was faking a sz. to get out of class but the next day she was fired.
I want you to know that you are not an odd ball and don't ever think that you are the problem is not enough people in this world know about epilepsy even though it's one of the oldest medical problems ever you can read about epilepsy even in the Bible in the book of Mark where a boy is having a sz.
When I was in my teens it was hard for me but then I made the decision that I wasn't going to let my epilepsy get the best of my life, I got a job and worked part time while in my teens and then I got a job working in public school working with students in special education who have physical or learning disabilities and I can see how my having sz. all these yr. has helped me to relate to others I work with who have medical or learning problems.
Take a look at Elton John, Edgar Allen Poe, Alan Faneca (retired professional football player for the NY Jets), Danny Glover, Einsteen, Agatha Christy all of these people had or have epilepsy and it didn't stop them from become famous so don't let it stop you from doing what you want to do in life.
Here's wishing you only the best and May God Bless You!
Sue