Just over a year ago, I was diagnosed with epilepsy and it has definitely been an interesting year. I’ve lost my license—only to get it returned and then lose it again. I’ve been on meds that I have to take on a strict regime. Sometimes it seems like my life revolves all around my epilepsy and making sure I take my medicine.

Newsflash: It doesn’t.

I refuse to let my medical condition define me. Just like I don’t let my grades define me. Why? Because I’m more than a medical condition. I’m more than the medicine I have to take. I’m more than the fact that I have to rearrange plans to make sure that I take my medicine on time. I’m not asking for any sort of pity party.

A pity party is the farthest thing from what I want actually. I want people to focus on me, not what’s wrong with me. When and if someone asks me why I don’t have my license, I typically just say it’s suspended because of my epilepsy. I just leave it at that then. Or, well, I try to.

The story then goes to said person pitying me. Bring up how sorry they are for me. Typically, a story about someone they know who has epilepsy or has lost their license gets brought up. Now, don’t get me wrong I am happy to talk about those, but not entirely.

It’s hard for me to show myself as my own person when that’s all people see about me. When my friends at school are ordered to keep an eye on me and keep me in check so that I don’t lie about any seizures. When the fact that I have epilepsy is brought up. If someone asks about driving somewhere, my epilepsy gets brought up and the unwanted pity party starts over. I appreciate the concern, as it shows who really cares, but that isn’t all there is to me.

Don’t ask me about my epilepsy, ask me about how excited I am to get my license back. Don’t ask me about my epilepsy, ask me about how my classes went this semester, if I liked them or not. Don’t ask me about my epilepsy, ask me about the book I’m currently reading. Ask about me, not my medical condition.

Some people ask me why I don’t try for priority scheduling at school or try for a service animal so that I can have a pet on campus, why don’t I do this or that? I could try to get priority scheduling, yes. I could try to get a service dog so that I could have a puppy on campus with me, yes. I don’t for the simple fact of that other people need it and deserve it much more than I do. My epilepsy isn’t severe enough for me to think that I need it. I know people who do, and they need it much more than me. I’m just your average guy and that’s how I would prefer to be treated.

I’m not my epilepsy. I’m Nick, nice to meet you.