You're in college, you're starting a new chapter in your life, and boom! Life hits you with a disability or you come into college with a disability. You realize you won't have the same support group you've had back home. You have to accommodate yourself to this new lifestyle. There's also the task of finding doctors, support groups, and other accommodations that are nearby.

Then there is having to explain yourself time and time again how you can have a disability without it being evident, knowing that at the end of that conversation people will still assume you are lying. This, my friends, is what I call an invisible disability.

Due to my invisible disability, personally, I have a slightly different morning routine from my roommates. From struggling to get out of bed to lifting my arm up to brush my teeth. Yes, it takes me twice as much time to get ready at times and yes, every morning I motivate myself to wake up and take on the day, but I do it. The mornings are just the beginning though.

Let me start off by saying that employers and invisible disabilities don't always mix well. I've jumped from job to job trying to find one that would fit my needs and would understand my situation. Employers don't always understand that some days I feel 110% healthy. I feel like I could take on a million tasks, work an eight-hour shift, and go for a three-mile run. Then the next day I may not even be able to move from my bed, emotionally and physically. As hard as it may be for an employer to wrap their head around such situation it is equally if not harder for me to have to call in sick knowing many times that the employer may just assume I am lying. Then there is the battle of deciding whether to bring in your 50-pound file of doctor notes and prescription drugs or to just hope that your employer will understand and not hold it against you.

School is another hardship that I deal with every day. Attendance is a pain for my grade and me. No, I'm not asking for a free pass, but why is it hard to understand that life is happening and many of us are coming from a lot of different backgrounds. I do care about the class, professor, if I didn't I wouldn't even be paying for it. Understand though that I can't always show up. Yes, I know I looked fine the other day, but today is a different day and though you may not see it my invisible disability is taking a toll on my body. No, I can't tell you days in advance if I will be missing class due to my invisible disability. That's not how it works sorry.

On that note, though, I have had the pleasure of having a great accommodation center here on campus that has made my life a little bit easier. I think it is important to note that someone with a disability, invisible or not, should take advantage of such centers. The paperwork may be tedious or you may not be ready to admit to your disability, but at least check out what's available to you online.

To my social life, sorry I have ignored you I am working on that, but when I come home from a day of work, school, intern duties, and club meetings I just want to sleep, eat, and Netflix. No social life I have not forgotten about you, I just need to plan you out in advance and know that I will need an extra day to recoup after a social event. As a person with an invisible disability, I have become a firm believer of self-care. Sometimes you just need to focus on your self and though some may think you're being selfish, in the end, it is for the better of your own health, not theirs.

To those who do not understand invisible disabilities or choose not to understand, let me tell you they're no walk in the park. They are oh so very real and not just made up in our minds. My disability is not some excuse to get a free pass in life, nor is it to a way to get sympathy from anyone.

To those who have invisible disabilities, remember you're not alone in this battle. Yes, it may be difficult at times, but you are stronger than you think and you will succeed.

I believe the more I voice this topic, the less discrimination their will be on it.