Hey,

Believe it or not your story is very similar to mine. Last year I had three concussions in three months. I used to play football and of course loved it.

I'd take a gap year. Seems smart to me.

My writing has actually improved a ton since getting the concussions. My mind works more creatively now. Yours is already really good.

What keeps me going is the fact that I want to help people someday.

I'd get your neck looked at. Make sure your back muscles and neck stay loose. My biggest prob is this.

Hi Red90. I'm sorry this happened to you at such a young age.

I also faced a significant health challenge at your age which interfered with social and educational development. I worked through college and didn't graduate until I was 26.

It was really tough, but the reason I share this with you, is that I hope you allow yourself the time you need to heal and grow. If it takes you a little longer to go through school, because of time off or a reduced load, there is no shame in that. It is actually admirable that you persevered despite health challenges. Accepting that you're not exactly what you used to be is the hard part, although I hope you start to feel more like your old self over time.

The things that keep me going are my daughter and my art. I played music before losing my hearing and I can't do that anymore. So now I embrace the visual artwork and feel so blessed that I still have the ability to do something creative. Since the concussion I feel like life is short and we have to take advantage of the things that we enjoy the most.

Best wishes to you, and I hope you fulfill your dream of becoming a writer.