Undergraduate / Advertising major: Finally decided what to be when I grow up [4]

Hello EF, my name is Bobby C. I am currently a student of one semester at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, MA. After talking/dreaming/procrastinating about school for twenty years I am finally heading toward my life long goal. Unfortunately, because of the amount of time it has been, there are many issues to overcome. My diploma got lost in a move and my High School has no record of my graduation. My High School math teacher who is now a guidance counselor has done all she can to prove my graduating, atleast for Quinsigamond. But without documentation for my school of choice (Art Institute of Boston), I am at a stand still. My GPA for my first semester was 3.92 at Quinsigamond. The Art Institute is looking for a portfolio as part of admissions and I haven't taken art in twenty years. My goal is to get official schooling in graphic design and media arts, with an eventual advertising major. I realize that I am jumping around here, I am just losing my drive and focus due to all the hassles I am running into. It seems as though I need to have been in art school to get into art school. What I could use from the forum is some guidance on steps to take and something to get me started on an essay for the Art Institute. Thanks in advance, Bobby C...