Hello everyone,
Here's the situation I'm in (skip to the bottom if you don't want to read this part):
Like many people, I wasn't ready for college when I was 18 years old. I didn't really want to go, I wasn't enjoying it my first semester, and consequently I failed everything except one class, was put on academic probation. I considered dropping out then and there, but instead I decided to do everything in my power to do as well as I could the second semester, get off probation, and then leave. Which is exactly what I did!
I spent 2-3 years out of school. Eventually I felt ready to go back, and after having experienced a little more about the "real world," I loved it and excelled in it, and even was able to get research experience and publish a thesis.
My last 100 credits, at the school I transferred to after this first one, have a GPA of 3.81 and nothing less than a B+.
tl;dr: Since it's probably obvious to anyone looking at this that my first semester is not at all a reflection of my academic achievement and abilities, is it even worth mentioning/drawing attention to this in a SoP or Personal History? What about the 2-3 years I wasn't in school? I'm applying to programs in the social sciences for what its worth. Thanks in advance for any responses.