I went to school for 8000 years and was a faculty member at what some other people might call a 'fancy' school. I wouldn't call it that, because a lot of those people were jerks. That said, I was really moved by your post. Your story is compelling. You have been on an incredible journey, the central theme of which, to me, anyway, is that you are someone who has and will fight and persevere through anything. You should absolutely not lie. You should tell your story. That is way, way more than enough to get someone's attention. No, it is not typical, but that's part of what makes it so compelling.

I think you should get your transcripts and all the records you need together. That will take awhile. Start working on your essay or whatever written thing they want from you. Get some help with it. Don't freak about the interview. When you interview for a job, what you do is you just be you. That's it. It's not even an interview, it's just you talking to some gal or guy. And you can do that. You absolutely can.

When I was picking my residents and fellows or hiring another faculty member, yours is the kind of story that really got my attention. People like me, who grew up privileged and went to all the right schools all the way through--I wasn't very interested in them. I wanted the poor kid from Harlem who was the first in her family to go to college. Got her, too.

I could go on forever. I am very excited for you. Get yourself a master to-do list and start checking things off. You can do this.