I live a fairly normal life, so yes, it is definitely possible!

Like you, I struggled a lot in school. My symptoms first showed up when I was 11 years old, and I didn't seek help until I was 24 (which was after I graduated with my master's degree). As a result, my grades suffered a lot and I wasn't able to do as well as my classmates.

I was still able to earn a bachelor's and a master's degree despite all my struggles. I was successful because I had motivation and determination. Of course I had to work 5 times as hard as everyone else, but I still did it. In fact, in my last semester of grad school, I was working a part-time job (20 hours a week) and taking 3 classes (30 hours a week), and I managed to get an A in every class despite feeling heavily depressed and stressed out.

If you really want to do something, then do it. Don't let bipolar disorder hold you back. There are plenty of bipolar people like Carrie Fisher who've become successful Hollywood actors/actresses. You may have to work harder than the average person, but that doesn't mean you won't be successful at all. It's important to remember that.

Now personally, I would recommend trying to get stable before you make any big career decisions. If you've gotten worse with lithium, then maybe it's not the right drug for you. That's okay. There are plenty of other drugs out there that you can try.