I didn't do that well academically in high school or in my first shot at college. Dealt with unrecognized and untreated depression from age 13 forward (my parents thought it was typical teen angst). Quit college a semester before graduation, essentially ran away from home (long story), had a traumatic relationship/event happen that haunts me to this day, moved home with parents I hadn't spoken to for a year. Had a series of crappy jobs from 23 (I only lived at home for 6 weeks, btw) to 30, when it occurred to me that I might be single the rest of my life and would need to support myself.

Went back to college full time while working full time, graduated with a 3.9 GPA, got a free ride to grad school and now have a master's, which I finished in the midst of my dad's death and a major depressive episode. Finally got myself into mental health treatment, spent most of a decade in therapy, worked out what I needed to work out, and apart from time off recovering from a near-fatal physical illness, have been gainfully employed since age 22 (I'm 42 now) -- the last several years specifically in my field. (Other jobs were tangentially related to my degrees, but not directly.)

I've won awards for my writing (I'm a journalist) and have taught, quite successfully, at the university level. I have a number of students who have kept in touch after leaving my class, and several of them wrote me recommendations when I moved to a new area and was looking for a teaching job. I take that to mean my social skills have improved -- kind of a problem for me in HS and college the first time.

So yes, I'd consider myself successful after a "bad" start. I've done all this while dealing with several severe depressive episodes leading to hospitalization and one hugely manic one that should have. Unlike some, I don't believe in using it as an excuse -- it's another challenge to be overcome.

Candy