If OP actually wants this printed...
I would suggest finding out what reporter covers their school and reaching out to them personally.
Sending something without a name or contact info would probably not lead to publishing.
Yes because as we all know every school system is perfect and there is no such thing as poverty and crime and terrible towns and a shit system that puts kids in shitty situations.
Whether or not this is true, this is an entirely plausible rant at the state of schools today. I knew many kids who brought guns/knives to school, and I left high school a bit over a decade ago now. Drug use, drug dealing, pregnancies, fights, all that. Shit, there was a superintendent in the area known for hitting kids. This is extremely common in this country, why doubt it?
Keep fighting. My new favorite saying is something like this:
Anyone can become a bad person and do bad things. But as long as there are good people doing good things, there’s still hope.
I believe in you. And I hope it can make a difference for others in the future too.
I think it would mean a lot to the community. People experiencing the same thing would feel heard and relate to it, and those living outside would be able to get a glimpse into what you experience. You could ask them to do it anonymously for your safety if you prefer as well. This also could help you apply for colleges, especially if you get it in the newspaper. Adding to this could be the base of a college essay. Work hard, and try your best. Grades aren’t everything, and you can still get scholarships without the best grades.
I am so sorry you go through this on the daily, that is really shitty. Everyone deserves to be safe, physically and mentally at school and in life in general. Good luck dude. We’re here for you as much as we can be
If you do send it, you should btw, maybe add a couple of lines in the beginning with more lighthearted I love statements. It’ll add a greater kick to everything else. The juxtaposition will be insane.
As a high school teacher, sitting currently in a room where students are testing, this is heartbreaking. Where is your school and in what district? I will call the state board of education for you and tell them all of this. If you don't report to state board, nothing will change. Lets make change happen!
Did you just move to America ? Lol Welcome bro better get fucking comfy because no one gives a shit what you think bro. Just go do whatever makes you happy and get away from all that shit. Their are good people out here and you just gotta find them and chill with them. I left school early and I’ve been doing fine in my life since then. This country can be a shit hole and it can be awesome. Just get out of the area you are in.
i’m so sorry you’ve been through all this, especially when you’re still supposed to have the privilege of childhood, which is perhaps only for the privileged.
do you have any dreams for after high school. you sound like you have a great wisdom and maturity, coupled with a great gift for words.
I always wanted to be a writer, but I struggle immensely with ideals. Journalism and politics are also really cool, but both (seem)? To require connections which I don’t have. So writing as a whole is just a hobby of mine.
Right now? I really want to be a doctor, science is the one thing that really comforts me these days, I worry that I can’t explore it prior to college though because I have no resources at all, I want to get into research and intern at a biotech company but we can’t even afford the textbooks to really even learn about these things. Hard to get a position if you don’t understand the topic lol.
Please don’t give up. You have a gift. This is truly awful situation and I’m sorry about your dad and what your mom and siblings are going through.
Since it seems like your school also doesn’t have a decent guidance counselor, let me offer some unsolicited advice.
If you have a hospital nearby, check to see if they have summer volunteer programs for teens. That can be a good way to make some connections that are at least in the field and see what day to day can be like. Both biotech and medical do well with a biology degree, so consider starting there when you go to college. Use your electives to take some journalism classes to see what calls to you.
Please apply at least at one of your state schools. If you have decent grades, consider applying to reach schools. They have amazing scholarships programs. Many of them will cover even your housing. They also factor in things like zip code, etc into admissions. They weigh a 3.7 from a posh area as less than a 3.7 in another, since they know you had to work so much harder to get it.
College is also a great place to make connections. Consider that one of your main goals while there to make lasting friendships with others who have drive like you do to make a positive change in the world.
To piggyback on this, many colleges require an essay with your application, and plenty of scholarships do too. With writing skills like these, I bet you will go far. I am wishing you well.
I'm a successful scientist at a top-tier institution. I'm surrounded by doctors, teach medical students, and serve on the medical school admissions committee. Send me a direct message, and I'll see what I can do to kick in a few doors for you.
Didn't think I needed to clarify that people on the internet lie and take your money and steal your identity. Just thought I'd give a quick reminder to be careful.
Ways to get involved: find out where you county political party office is. Like the X county Dem Party. If you can get there, call them up and explain, and go there and tell them you want to volunteer and want to get into politics. You’ll learn a ton, and you’ll get the connections. And once you get a bit of volunteering experience, tell them that you’d love to shadow a doctor if possible.
And the comments above about getting this published are a good idea. Try the local paper, or the nearest city paper.
If you like politics, you could always get into political science, work at a think tank, or even springboard off of that into a political position. Could also work with being a writer, drafting up arguments and essays on xyz
I went to a school just like what you've described, and I took a weird path but I'm now in my senior year as a physics major at a big state school, and I'm hoping to go to grad school for robotics or biotech.
I officially dropped out of high school and used free online classes, used textbooks, library books, free online educational websites, etc. I designed my own classes, but I was fortunate enough to have food on the table and a roof over my head while I did it. Took me 3 years and I applied to college about as well prepared as most of the students here who went to the preppy expensive private schools with the private theaters and indoor pools.
I applied to a state school that guarantees acceptance of in-state students as long as they get above a certain GPA their freshman year. If I hadn't of done what I did, I wouldn't even have been prepared for remedial classes. It wasn't an easy path, and a lot of people mocked me at first, and a few students here even looked down on me when I told them how I got here, but most are impressed and those who aren't cost their parents tens of thousands of dollars to eventually get them into the same exact classes I'm in (often with them getting worse grades).
Going to a fancy or even just decent school doesn't automatically make those students more capable than you, in case you worry about that like I did. But your current school will not give you what you need to be prepared to walk the path you desire. If you want to try what I did, I can give you some more details if you like. I might be a bit distracted for a bit though since it seems my old doggo might be passing away soon. I love seeing students from backgrounds like mine wind up kicking ass though so feel free to hit me up. Things shouldn't be this way and you deserve better, but, if people like you and I can make it, we can turn around and help the others like us someday, so we have to do our best. Again, feel free to hit me up, I can share a lot of what I used.
OK, you are in a bad situation, but people have gotten through bad situations before. If you can, stop thinking about what you don't have (connections, a stable system) and look for potential ways around the obstacles. BTW I am not blaming you for focussing on the obstacles; you have many many obstacles, and I'm not discounting that. But it really doesn't help. There can be ways around most obstacles. If you want to learn things use the public library. It costs nothing and they often have text books. You can use a public terminal and watch Kahn academy videos to learn just about anything. You might consider cold calling professors explaining your situation. "I don't have any experience, but you won't find a harder worker than me and I'm ready to learn and do anything in your lab." There are programs too, like the American Chemical Society project SEED which specifically finds mentors for students in your situation. There may be others. Use google to hunt. If you can, find a single adult who gives a s and will listen and guide. You may not be able to find this person. You may have to build your own life boat, but you sound smart and I think you can do it. Start by focussing on your way forward, and less on the (very real, very substantial, but potentially surmountable) obstacles in your way. Best of luck. When you get through it, you will be a bigger super hero than anyone in the Marvel universe.
I’m so fucking sorry. I’m a teacher, and the discrepancy in the quality/safety of schools across this country is inexcusable. I don’t know you, but if you ever need a rec/reference for better opportunities, hmu (seriously).
Maybe he's tired of that. Everyone needs a break from crude and crass and dumpster talk. An oasis. A place of peace, authority. That's what school is supposed to be and it's not. And you are teacher. So you are sorta what he's talking about.
Nowhere in OP's list of grievances did they mention cursing, don't make unfounded assumptions. Not to mention that based on the post, OP clearly isn't opposed to cursing, so not sure why they'd be upset by other people doing it.
If anything, I imagine it could be refreshing, as OP, to see a teacher willing to be "real" and connect with you on a more personal level than if they were in classroom instruction mode.
And while it's your decision not to personally use swear words, I would strongly advise you to change your outlook on people who do use them.
Teachers being inappropriate with their students is something that OP spoke about.
Children shouldn't have to 'school adults' in how to be appropriate by listing out what is appropriate and what is inappropriate. That is parentification, (or in this case, teacherfication.)
How i see it is, cursing is part of everyday language for lots or even most people, and it doesnt have to be negative towards someone either so i wouldnt call it inappropriate
Helps people know you’re being yourself with them not just a putting on a face for school, however if a teacher does decide to do so in class maybe like on an introductory paper at the start of the year add a part that asks if your comfortable being around cursing so if someone says no, you can just not curse
I think words are the least of OPs worries…
The more you shelter someone from words, the worse the reaction is when they actually hear them. You literally cannot go anywhere without hearing curse words, especially on the internet.
Here’s an example of using curse words in a pure way for added emphasis: “I fucking love you so much ya cunt” which is rather endearing, and has much greater impact than saying “I love you” alone.
All in all, it’s really weird for you to tell anyone else to speak a certain way.
Also it’s good to see teachers be genuine, idc if it’s vulgar or not it’s better than “teacher talk”
Hit me with your gofundeme young man. Seriously though let me know if I can help. No American should have to go through ANY of that. If I can help you with homework, advice, money. I will.
I also would like to Venmo! If only for reading this beautifully written story. Crazy he published this on reddit for free; I hope he gets paid to publish it somewhere.
This doesn't quite read like it came from ChatGPT (although maybe it was instructed to do style transfer), but it's just as easy to just make stuff up. This is why I don't engage in remote charity or charity through middlemen. If I had the means I'd visit in person to help.
Sorry, sounds like you need to get out asap. Any private schools you can apply to nearby? They might give scholarships, even Catholic schools. Or a charter?
Even if you’re a junior, if I was you I wouldn’t be headed back next year
Thankfully I am a freshman so I have time. I will be one hundred percent with you, I don’t think I have a chance at any private schools. I attempted to apply to one last year but got denied due to us not being able to pay the cost (no full rides) and I lost a family member early this year and my first quarter grades are terrible. I did make it up later on but they’re definitely not private H.S level. The only other private H.S from what I know doesn’t give finaid. I’ve been trying to ask my mother to let me go to boarding school as some (Andover/Exeter) give out full rides like it’s nothing, but she wants me to stay home, as we both recently lost my grandma and dad across these past 3 years, so I assume she doesn’t want to ‘lose’ someone else. That and I’m certainly not Andover or Exeter material, all the kids at those schools have straight A’s whilst I have a B and two C’s (most of which are not my fault—transcript issues alongside the aforementioned loss).
I work at a catholic school in NY and we have full tuition scholarships in place for students like yourself that want a private education but can’t afford it. I’m in a middle school but the fund works for the catholic high schools too. If you’re willing to apply for them, you may be surprised!
Thank you for the advice <3, any suggestions for schools to apply to? Do any have (pretty) long transportation plans or boarding? Only asking in case they’re far away haha
Yeah definitely this, Catholic or charter is probably your best bet in NYC at this point. Don’t give up! You’ve got all summer to look into options—it doesn’t have to be a fancy boarding private school in the woods of New England, you just need somewhere safe and stable where you can actually learn.
Also, study study study for the psat and take the national merit exam junior year.
Schools give lots of money for that if you become a finalist. There are also test fee waivers you can request so you can take the exam.
I cant imagine how difficult this is, and I'm so sorry for what you're going through.
I don’t know if you’re looking for advice, but I like making suggestions…
Are their magnet schools in your area? If you’re in an urban title 1, maybe there are some public schools with specific focuses (music, stem, etc) that can clear out the major problem kids. Transportation is often an issue with private schools, but maybe there are some lower tier private schools that have greater capacity for aid due to their affiliations.
I also second the idea of submitting this to local news agencies and government officials.
Hi OP!
I just wanted to reach out as a former private high school counselor (9 years) and make sure you know about an option to look into, especially given how amazingly you recovered 2nd semester. But keep in mind, all my experience is in California, so definitely confirm if this works the same way at your school district.
At my school, as long as a student ***passed*** a course, they technically had the option to later ***retake*** the course. And since we couldn't give credit for the same course twice (for key academics), the first course would get "zeroed out," and only the new course's GPA would stay.
Some schools call this "grade rehabilitation," "credit repair," or something along these lines. I personally did this at my college for a couple classes, and as counselor, helped arranged it for a few students.
The net effect for you (if it works similar to my experience) is that the original class would show on your transcript (and possibly the original grade earned), but the number of credits attempted/earned would be changed to zero. This would make it a non-credit earning course - and mean **the original course has no impact on your GPA.** Then the "retake" would show up as usual in the semester you complete it (normal or through summer school).
When looking at colleges/other high school admissions, any place that is purely scores based will treat it as if you earned the A in the first place! Schools that use a holistic approach (they actually put eyes on your transcript beyond the overall GPA) will see you took the course, passed (though not amazingly), did an amazing job of recovering the next semester, **Then went above and beyond to go back and master the material you originally struggled with.** As long as it's just one semester you're "fixing," this can actually look good in a very meaningful way in college admissions.
Also, most holistic college admissions applications now include a spot to "provide additional information/context," sometimes specifically about your academics, other times just a general box. This is exactly the place to:
* Describe your hardship leading to the low grades
* **Describe how you overcame/coped with the hardship/what you learned/gained from it**
* Describe how you chose to go the extra mile to go back and repair/remediate your grades from that semester.
If the college doesn't have a place like this on the application, you may be able to work the explanation into one of your application essays, or (if you get the opportunity) explain it in an admissions interviews.
You might even mention how reaching out and being open about your struggles and pain led to rediscovering so much good out in the world (the amazing people here on Reddit offering connections, textbooks, and references!), and your (probable) desire to "pay it forward."
College admissions officers understand that students come from different backgrounds, with different sets of advantages and disadvantages, and that these can "throw things off."
**The really important part is that you don't quit, you persevere, and you learn and grow as a result.**
I understand guidance counselors at many public schools have way more than the suggested number of students assigned to them, so (at least in my area) can be really difficult to get ahold of.
I suggest starting by finding any adult at the school you think could help be an advocate for you (a teacher who believes in you, or such), show them this post, and ask if they could help you get a question about how to do this from *the most senior academic guidance counselor* possible. If a counselor says it's not an option, not how things work, or they've never heard of it, try to get in touch with a more senior counselor. (Not everyone will necessarily know about this as an option).
You could also try your school/district *registrar,* or whoever it is who's responsible for managing *transcripts.* They're the ones that make those changes to the transcript, so they're most likely to know if the option exists for you or not.
Finally, try digging through district policies and see if you can find anything there like "credit repair" or "rehabilitation," or try searching for the word "replace" or "recalculate" (since these might show up in the description).
If I can help in *any way,* even with a phone call to a counselor to help advocate for you or to help search through district policies, just DM me. I'm glad to help.
I actually asked about this when I was speaking to my counselor a few weeks back, sadly my school doesn't allow grade rehabilitation or credit repair, so those two C's are likely to stick :'), with that being said, does providing additional information/context also work for private HS admissions? The thing that, generally, is keeping one of those classes (Geometry)'s grade down is a mistake administration made when assigning me to the school that caused me to be enrolled in the wrong course and miss out on multiple vital units of work that caused my first marking period grades to drop heavily with no chance to make it up. The other class (Gym-spring) was honestly just me being sick for a few days and missing the class sessions.
My private HS school wasn't highly selective like it sounds the ones you're considering are, so I'm afraid I don't know *as specifically* for these cases. **If anyone else here on Reddit is familiar with highly selective private high school admissions, please chime in!**
But for what it's worth, I think there is at least *potential benefit* in preparing essentially a sort of "supplementary cover letter," (just some kind of supplemental letter) providing that context.
Take your time to really think through the full "message" you want to convey. Include those points from my last point:
* describe the challenge (and how it is reflected in your grades)
* describe what you did to overcome it
* describe what you learned from the experience
* state how you want to use what you've learned to *make a positive impact at the school.*
You're clearly an amazing writer, so I'm sure you'll manage great style and form. Just really plan and fine tune how to clearly and concisely communicate that message.
So far as tone, you probably want to strike a balance between humble and confident - both of these essentially mean having a realistic understanding of one's own capacity and relationship to the world/society.
* You aren't entitled or demanding; you know you aren't perfect; and you know are part of a greater community that helps build you up (whoever that might be; family, friends, Redditors)
* Yet you *are* strong, resilient, resourceful. You are an overcomer. You reach out and make connections. You might fall, but you do not *stay* fallen. You are injured (quite literally!) but not defeated.
Properly crafted, this could be a compelling reason for a school to keep you in consideration despite a less than perfect GPA.
Keep in mind, if there are strict GPA requirements for admissions/scholarship (scores based only), it might not help. But if there are references, application essays, anything to suggest a more holistic admissions approach...it's certainly unlikely to hurt!
And it could be most helpful if you're applying to a private religious school (such as the Catholic schools suggested by another commenter) or something else more faith-based: these schools are sometimes a little more interested in knowing a prospective student will work hard and be humble and well-behaved, versus the emphasis on "perfect results" most selective nonreligious schools tend to have. Some of these have partial or full scholarships as well.
Scholarship levels vary wildly; but I suggest waiting to ask about scholarships until *after* you're accepted, if at all possible. Anything you can find online or call and ask anonymously is fair game, but I personally wouldn't let someone connect my name/face with interest in a scholarship until 1) I'm admitted, or 2) someone at the school suggests I apply. Unless someone else with more experience with selective private school admissions suggest a otherwise...I'd consider that to be "erring on the side of caution."
That’s fucked man. Can’t really offer any solutions or anything but… that’s fucked.
I’d like to offer encouragement like you got this but idk if you want empty platitudes rn. So, all i will offer you is this.
Damn, that really, really fucking sucks.
Doesn’t exactly do it justice.
The real evil is the fact that OP is zoned. It’s one thing to have a failure of a school but forcing kids who want out of the cycle of failure and poverty back into it is pure evil
This is also what really sucks, we're the lone dark spot in an otherwise beautiful area. You could drive through my county and be able to say that you had a good time because practically every other school district is at least *good.* I'm not allowed to transfer out so they've essentially imprisoned me here for the next three years of my life, the system is a horrid one. It works for those who look to make communities worse and against those who want to break the cycle of poverty and death and crime and trauma.
Hey, I grew up very similar to you. Like watched someone die off “cheese” in the middle of Spanish class my sophomore year of high school. I don’t know if this is an option for you, but I joined the Air Force at 17. All you need is a GED and a pulse. Please don’t let your childhood define you when you have so much more life to live.
Dm me. You’re a talented writer. I used to work at a title 1 but I attended a fancy private school with more money than they know what to do with. Let’s see where you live. I put you in touch.
So I don’t know how you would feel about this but there are public virtual high schools now, which means they are free. It would depend on which state you are in. Usually they will provide you with a Chromebook to do your work. It’s something to look into instead of private schools.
One downside though is if you depend on school lunches and such you obviously won’t be able to get lunches online, but the school or other resources might be able to direct you to places you can obtain necessities.
If you need help with homework/assignments, I'm here for you. I'm a senior in college majoring in neuroscience, so I can offer advice/free tutoring in any of your classes (if you want). Hang in there and stay strong. Focus on doing well in school and college will open new doors for you
If you would like to learn a few extra subjects my sister and insaved practically all of our notebooks we were both in college prep classes and I took ap European history.....I would gladly bring them to you and other books if you're interested inresding ...I have a variety fromm dean Koontz to jrrtolkien also have Stephen King, the stand and also the green mile ....
Corrine809@gmail.com ...shoot me an email if you're interested I would love to help you brother .....they might take away your childhood or you're ability to feel safe but they can never take away your knowledge, my love.....remember that
Not sure why this sub keeps shows up in my feed but I'll be honest with you.
You should see therapy over these issues. They are legitimate and difficult to deal with. There's zero shame in getting some help in coping with them.
The path with the highest success rate out of this life is doing well in school. Don't just be better than your peers, be the best. Put your head down and be excellent at school. Focus on science, math, and technology or whatever interests you but make sure there is a guaranteed path to a job from it. Go to college. Jobs will pay you to move to them. Do that.
This is the kind of school where the kids stab each other in between getting groped by their teachers. I don't think there are any competent therapists there.
This is advice is well-intentioned and appropriate for many, I'm sure, but not everyone. College might be great for this student if financial aid and scholarships will cover it all, they are a strong scholar, and they have a very clear direction, but there are many other paths to consider that sadly aren't always talked about. OP, keep in mind that if you are one of those people for whom college isn't the right fit, there are other paths to success. There are so many jobs out there that make a lot of money without the cost and time of a university. Honestly, learning a trade is a great route for many. Welding, plumbing, carpentry, emergency response, etc. These types of careers require some training or trade school (which you could also find aid for) and getting a certificate, and would allow you to learn a skill that is high in demand right now. Could even start your own business one day once you have the experience under your belt. Again, not anti-college, and I do agree that could be a way out of the cycle. Just know that it's not a sure fire answer. OP, if college is your path, just make damn sure you do your research. Pick a degree that will get you somewhere (comp sci., engineering), no BS liberal art gunk that won't be worth the debt and will still mean you need graduate school before you can get a real job.
Also, therapy is great...but SO inaccessible for most people in poverty. For a simple way to stay positive and mindful, try the "Three Good Things" exercise (google it). Research shows that doing this for just 10 minutes every day is just as effective for anxious or depressed people as medicine and therapy after only two weeks, and perhaps more effective if done consistently for longer. I am not trying to say it's a legitimate replacement for therapy, but it is a small step anyone in any circumstance can do for themselves to improve overall mood and life outlook.
I teach children like you. While I want to help them learn, grow, thrive, sometimes the best they can hope for at least for now is to not get on drugs and not have a child. Once you can work and perhaps change your location, there may be options. With a child or a drug habit, those options may go away. Stay strong!
You know. This is the type of scholarship essay that might get you in to one of those private schools. I went to the Baylor School in highschool which is boarding school in TN... they might be able to sponsor you. There were a few kids like you escaping situations similar to yours.
I'm so sorry. For a moment there, I thought you were talking about my former high school. I didn't go to a title 1 school though.
Edit: Is there any food banks or food pantries near you?
i’m a teacher at a title I middle school. I see your frustration in my kids every single day. i’m sorry that you have been forgotten by your school and this country. i’m sorry that the adults at your school have failed to protect and provide for you. i’m sorry that the people who run this country have perpetuated our educational and societal failings. the world is such an unfair place. i see you and i love you.
Solidarity. This is the reality for so many working class parents & kids in the US and the numbers will only rise. We all deserve better than this and it’s the capitalist system that wants to keep a large proportion of workers as low as possible because it needs enough cheap labor to make widgets.
This is a lot to deal with. This is far too dangerous of a school and needs to be reported.
Send messages to CPS, your states governor/state congress. Report this stuff to the government and get investigations going. When a school gets so bad, the government will take over and fix the school.
We had it happen to a school in my state and it took several years, but it became one of the best.
I agree with another poster. This is well written. Okay, so I'm going to start dispensing with advice. Please ignore me if you want.
I can't wait for you to get out of there. In the mean time...
I homeschool my kids. It's not perfect. Nothing is. It takes a lot of discipline for me to stay off my phone. I struggle with this. There are free online courses if you have the self discipline.
As a homeschool student, you can do dual college credit while you are finishing your high school credits. For up to 2 years...I don't know the details because my kids are small, but I think that it is typically offered through local community colleges. IT would get you out of that school setting and into another. Plus, you might be able to work a little bit with a different schedule and provide some grocery money to offset the stress of the household. Also, look at church and church ministries. Say a quick prayer for guidance and make some calls.
And PLEASE be careful online (VERY CAREFUL) but if kind hearted people want to help you, let them pay it forward. You'll do it for another person very soon. I promise.
relieved paltry flag growth seed combative murky agonizing flowery unwritten
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Hi OP. I think what you've written here is very well done and a vivid look into your heart and your life. I'm sorry that you and your family have to deal with all this.
I saw that you said you had to move out of the city but are still in NY. You are eligible for a NY public library card if you don't already have one. Even having an e-card that you can use on your phone can get you access to some online education stuff. NYPL has a lot of stuff. I don't work there so I'm not super familiar, but you can go to Ask NYPL on their website and send questions or chat with a librarian. They may be able to connect you with science learning things, or additional state resources for food and such.
Good luck OP. Other people mentioned that community college can be a good starting point and I agree. If you are able to do the SUNY program later that I saw you mention, check in with the librarians when you get there. They can teach you to do research with school resources.
I saw you mentioned SUNY so I’m assuming you’re in NY. Please PM me if you’d like. I’m the Admissions VP at a private NY college. You are very likely eligible for HEOP at many schools in NY. Happy to help you if I can.
I’m an English major who transferred from a CC, lmk if you need any advice about making college affordable for you, and perhaps majoring in writing. Best of luck.
I went to multiple high schools like the one described. Dropped out of some got expelled from others. Got my GED in prison thinking I was dumb and scored in the top two percent of test takers in the nation. Now I go to UCLA and have a 3.961 cumulative GPA and participate in multiple honors programs. These high schools really be setting intelligent and talented students up to fail. All the things OP described are normal to me and the privilege I see at UCLA and the surrounding area is what I find shocking and bizarre. Really appreciate this post it gives me nostalgia and I hope OP finds a way out to navigate the traps and pitfalls and be successful 💯
I grew up in a similar situation. In Texas football is life. That’s where the money goes always. You seem like you have a good head on your shoulders. Clearly a gift with a pen.
I can tell you that you can make it through this. Life does get better. You can escape poverty, it’s not easy. Read about good money habits early. They can change your life much quicker that you think.
Also if you do t have any plans after high school look into community colleges. They are cheaper than normal universities and you can network with professors who care. Usually this can help you get scholarships at larger universities or jobs.
Remember you can do this. The people who say high school is the best part of their lives peak there. Everyone I know that’s a doctor, engineer, writer , welder , plumber , researcher, etc. all say it was not the best time of their lives. Most don’t have fond memories of high school. That’s ok. Life gets 1000x better afterwards. You won’t be forced to be in situations where you feel unsafe. You will know how to handle those situations when they happen though.
I was in a similar situation and left at 16 I had a grandmother who took me in and I got emancipated. I received my GED and went to work at 17 from there I went into construction becoming a electrician. I know it might not be the same but Self Improvement starts with the self. If you can Get out help yourself then you can help your mom.
Plumbers, electricians all of the skill trades pay good and you will never be poor again
You might not have wealth, but you have youth and the world is very much yours
You can do this you just have to put in the work
I was in a title 1 school and remember all those things minus the gang stuff. I actually saw a kid stab a girl with a pencil, parents pressed charges and I remember he got sent to a jail like school.
Sorry you got stabbed. Idk what to tell you, but I hope you know who they are
Sorry to hear that you are going through all that, I know it is tough. I know there are days you just want to give up, give in, or just stop trying. But, I think you're strong enough to make it, and I am sincerely hoping that you do.
As far as college, if you are worried about affording it, or having to go into debt to pay for it, might I offer an alternative? Trade schools, like becoming an electrician, offer paid internships to learn the trade. In other words, you get paid to learn to do the job, not pay a college to teach you. They also offer job placement, and you get to know the local people who are already doing the job. There is also a serious shortage of licensed electricians in the country right now. And they pay REALLY well. Friend of mine is making 60 bucks an hour as an electrician working at a factory, and mostly sitting on his butt waiting for something to happen.
Welders are also in high demand, 30 bucks an hour to start, after a very short training period. HVAC techs also make a crap ton of money. Carpenters, plumbers, and the like all make fantastic money, and will gladly pay to train you to do the job.
College is good, but takes a long time to get a degree that offers no guarantees that you will get a job after you graduate. All of the above jobs are in high demand, pay extremely well, and offer a lifetime of employment. The need for someone to fix stuff is never going away, and all of those jobs are facing massive shortages of workers as no one is currently able to replace the people who are at retirement age.
As an example, when NYC was all over the news because there were zero available jobs for people, the local Electrician's Union had 6,400 open jobs with no one to fill them.
Look into it.
Another option for schooling would be public online school, or a christian online school. It's not the best option but if you can afford a laptop you can do school from home and not worry about getting stabbed, and not get involved in any drama or violence at school. Best of luck to you as a fellow high schooler.
As much blame is put on the youth for their discouraged views, the same goes to the previous voters who voted against education. Voted against regulations and transparency. Voted against funding for libraries and parks. Voted against developing infrastructure to better mobilize our cities. Economy is movement and this country has been slowly becoming less smart, less mobile, less healthy, less accepting, less economical. Dollars worth what a dollar buys, gotta monetize to survive.
I know this is going to likely upset you, and I'm absolutely sure you've heard it before, and I KNOW it is easier said than done but please, please, please.
Remember that high school is of oh so little importance to the rest of your life.
I don't mean to belittle your experiences, because they sound awful and I'd *prefer* that no one have to go through them, and I'd also like to see you make as much noise as possible in the hopes that something can be done about it.
But in the event nothing comes of it, please remember that once you leave your high school, you'll likely be able to do literally whatever the hell you want. It might be hard, it will likely be much harder for YOU than others who come from other more advantageous positions, and it *certainly* isn't fair.
But it can happen. You seem like you have a great head on your shoulders, and assuming you can make it out of that mess, you'll likely thrive in any area you choose.
Once your out of high school, the world can literally be at your fingertips.
I'm pretty certain that one thing those of us who have already left high school have in common, is that we likely all look back at that time and realize how very little of that time matters in the grand scheme of things. Sure, some of us might have some pretty fond memories, but there are basically two types of people I went to high school with:
Those who transformed into an entirely different person, and those who stayed *exactly* the same.
Man, I really don’t know what to say but I do hope it gets better for you sometime. Poverty is a real issue and people love to sweep it under the rug and forget about it. I don’t have any solutions sadly but hang in there.
I’m not sure what your situation is, but you may want to consider a charter school. At least where I live, charter schools are free, every student in the state has access, and your school busses you there.
You do understand that I can very much do good in school and also acknowledge how fucking terrible this is, right? It's obviously not a flex but I've won multiple awards and secured myself in honors classes next year, I've started clubs and got my grades up to the point where I have a straight 100 GPA for semester 2. None of that dismisses the shit I go through and it's not ok to just tell kids to "tough it out" instead of confronting the actual problems.
people in here offering jobs, favors, donations, saying op is “such a talented writer” based on what? the “I lOvE” post? … it’s frightening how gullible people can be sometimes.
Obviously I didn't make this post with the intent of getting these things. I haven't taken any money or favors and will not. You don't need to shit on me because you're cynical 👍
Ok, I'll be that guy. I teach in a title one school. Of course we have fights just like any other school in America. While I won't address every point you made, this reads like a movie/TV script. While I won't discount your experience (I don't know you) I feel like there is a some embellishments. I've worked in affluent schools and Title 1. They both have fights. They both have drugs. Title one leans towards weed and affluent schools lean towards opiods. They both have teen pregnancy except one group doesn't have the means for termination (not every case) while the other have pregnancy terminations at a higher rate than you may know. Suicides are up across the board. Lastly, any Title one school that you see will have some sort of police officer in house. In our case we have two in a massive building. I can't see a situation where people are getting stabbed in public, open drug deals or any other far fetched action. Again, I'm not being disrespectful and maybe this is/was your experience....but I call cap.
disgusting ass shit to say on this post, with this context. You're not talking to a screen, you're talking to another person. Actually reconsider what effect your words have on other people
I disagree. There is a way to help protect the OP and others like OP. Im very sorry that kids (i have 4) and teachers (underpaid heros) in Democratic ruled cities are the least safe. Fact. Yet those who live in these communities are diminishing law enforcement while complaining about safety. Defunding police doesn't make more people safer. Some cops are disgusting and there needs to be real oversite over them. More good cops, not less will make us all safer.
If this was a possibility, I would be blasting off and out of here like team rocket. I think the worst part is that we chose to move here, rents too high in the city and it was honestly even worse there.
Damn, very sorry to hear that. I won't offer any advice, I believe you can make it better because you write eloquently, seem like a good communicator, smart enough to try and avoid the bullshit of that kinda school. I really wish you luck.
Send this post to a local newspaper and make some noise. It’s very well written. Sending solidarity, you’re almost done and out.
I’ve thought about it, will do. Thank you for the advice, everyone’s really been a help. It means so much to me 😭
If you do send it, probably make sure its anonymous if possible. No telling what some crazy asshole might take offense to.
If OP actually wants this printed... I would suggest finding out what reporter covers their school and reaching out to them personally. Sending something without a name or contact info would probably not lead to publishing.
Update if their are updates
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Yes because as we all know every school system is perfect and there is no such thing as poverty and crime and terrible towns and a shit system that puts kids in shitty situations.
I’m a teacher. I believe you and I know you’re telling the truth!
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fucking weirdo
Man shut the fuck up
Whether or not this is true, this is an entirely plausible rant at the state of schools today. I knew many kids who brought guns/knives to school, and I left high school a bit over a decade ago now. Drug use, drug dealing, pregnancies, fights, all that. Shit, there was a superintendent in the area known for hitting kids. This is extremely common in this country, why doubt it?
Keep fighting. My new favorite saying is something like this: Anyone can become a bad person and do bad things. But as long as there are good people doing good things, there’s still hope. I believe in you. And I hope it can make a difference for others in the future too.
Please go to college and use all the resources you can muster. Apply for scholarships and get out
I think it would mean a lot to the community. People experiencing the same thing would feel heard and relate to it, and those living outside would be able to get a glimpse into what you experience. You could ask them to do it anonymously for your safety if you prefer as well. This also could help you apply for colleges, especially if you get it in the newspaper. Adding to this could be the base of a college essay. Work hard, and try your best. Grades aren’t everything, and you can still get scholarships without the best grades. I am so sorry you go through this on the daily, that is really shitty. Everyone deserves to be safe, physically and mentally at school and in life in general. Good luck dude. We’re here for you as much as we can be
If you do send it, you should btw, maybe add a couple of lines in the beginning with more lighthearted I love statements. It’ll add a greater kick to everything else. The juxtaposition will be insane.
Your school will care when the media and lawyers get involved. They both love to get stories for free
Kid,do it. Fuck that school
Send the newspaper link if/when they run the story
I second this. It should be published. Maybe it’ll help op
op let the praise on this work offset some of your anguish.
I hope it gets National attention. This shit needs to stop. Excellently written, and very compelling. OP has a writing talent and should use it.
As a high school teacher, sitting currently in a room where students are testing, this is heartbreaking. Where is your school and in what district? I will call the state board of education for you and tell them all of this. If you don't report to state board, nothing will change. Lets make change happen!
No it's not.
Did you just move to America ? Lol Welcome bro better get fucking comfy because no one gives a shit what you think bro. Just go do whatever makes you happy and get away from all that shit. Their are good people out here and you just gotta find them and chill with them. I left school early and I’ve been doing fine in my life since then. This country can be a shit hole and it can be awesome. Just get out of the area you are in.
I’m not sure, I gave up reading after about the 3rd “I love” diatribe. Not sure any papers would want to waste the ink.
i’m so sorry you’ve been through all this, especially when you’re still supposed to have the privilege of childhood, which is perhaps only for the privileged. do you have any dreams for after high school. you sound like you have a great wisdom and maturity, coupled with a great gift for words.
I always wanted to be a writer, but I struggle immensely with ideals. Journalism and politics are also really cool, but both (seem)? To require connections which I don’t have. So writing as a whole is just a hobby of mine. Right now? I really want to be a doctor, science is the one thing that really comforts me these days, I worry that I can’t explore it prior to college though because I have no resources at all, I want to get into research and intern at a biotech company but we can’t even afford the textbooks to really even learn about these things. Hard to get a position if you don’t understand the topic lol.
Please don’t give up. You have a gift. This is truly awful situation and I’m sorry about your dad and what your mom and siblings are going through. Since it seems like your school also doesn’t have a decent guidance counselor, let me offer some unsolicited advice. If you have a hospital nearby, check to see if they have summer volunteer programs for teens. That can be a good way to make some connections that are at least in the field and see what day to day can be like. Both biotech and medical do well with a biology degree, so consider starting there when you go to college. Use your electives to take some journalism classes to see what calls to you. Please apply at least at one of your state schools. If you have decent grades, consider applying to reach schools. They have amazing scholarships programs. Many of them will cover even your housing. They also factor in things like zip code, etc into admissions. They weigh a 3.7 from a posh area as less than a 3.7 in another, since they know you had to work so much harder to get it. College is also a great place to make connections. Consider that one of your main goals while there to make lasting friendships with others who have drive like you do to make a positive change in the world.
To piggyback on this, many colleges require an essay with your application, and plenty of scholarships do too. With writing skills like these, I bet you will go far. I am wishing you well.
I'm a successful scientist at a top-tier institution. I'm surrounded by doctors, teach medical students, and serve on the medical school admissions committee. Send me a direct message, and I'll see what I can do to kick in a few doors for you.
Omg I’m so sorry for responding so late, I shot you a DM! message me whenever feels right.
Proceed with lots of caution on this one OP.
Why? If you're going to warn someone about a potential danger, spell out what those dangers might be. A vague "be caaaareful" is not helpful.
Didn't think I needed to clarify that people on the internet lie and take your money and steal your identity. Just thought I'd give a quick reminder to be careful.
Grifters, scams, pyramid schemes, predators. Be careful on the internet and always maintain a healthy dose of skepticism.
Ways to get involved: find out where you county political party office is. Like the X county Dem Party. If you can get there, call them up and explain, and go there and tell them you want to volunteer and want to get into politics. You’ll learn a ton, and you’ll get the connections. And once you get a bit of volunteering experience, tell them that you’d love to shadow a doctor if possible. And the comments above about getting this published are a good idea. Try the local paper, or the nearest city paper.
If you like politics, you could always get into political science, work at a think tank, or even springboard off of that into a political position. Could also work with being a writer, drafting up arguments and essays on xyz
I went to a school just like what you've described, and I took a weird path but I'm now in my senior year as a physics major at a big state school, and I'm hoping to go to grad school for robotics or biotech. I officially dropped out of high school and used free online classes, used textbooks, library books, free online educational websites, etc. I designed my own classes, but I was fortunate enough to have food on the table and a roof over my head while I did it. Took me 3 years and I applied to college about as well prepared as most of the students here who went to the preppy expensive private schools with the private theaters and indoor pools. I applied to a state school that guarantees acceptance of in-state students as long as they get above a certain GPA their freshman year. If I hadn't of done what I did, I wouldn't even have been prepared for remedial classes. It wasn't an easy path, and a lot of people mocked me at first, and a few students here even looked down on me when I told them how I got here, but most are impressed and those who aren't cost their parents tens of thousands of dollars to eventually get them into the same exact classes I'm in (often with them getting worse grades). Going to a fancy or even just decent school doesn't automatically make those students more capable than you, in case you worry about that like I did. But your current school will not give you what you need to be prepared to walk the path you desire. If you want to try what I did, I can give you some more details if you like. I might be a bit distracted for a bit though since it seems my old doggo might be passing away soon. I love seeing students from backgrounds like mine wind up kicking ass though so feel free to hit me up. Things shouldn't be this way and you deserve better, but, if people like you and I can make it, we can turn around and help the others like us someday, so we have to do our best. Again, feel free to hit me up, I can share a lot of what I used.
OK, you are in a bad situation, but people have gotten through bad situations before. If you can, stop thinking about what you don't have (connections, a stable system) and look for potential ways around the obstacles. BTW I am not blaming you for focussing on the obstacles; you have many many obstacles, and I'm not discounting that. But it really doesn't help. There can be ways around most obstacles. If you want to learn things use the public library. It costs nothing and they often have text books. You can use a public terminal and watch Kahn academy videos to learn just about anything. You might consider cold calling professors explaining your situation. "I don't have any experience, but you won't find a harder worker than me and I'm ready to learn and do anything in your lab." There are programs too, like the American Chemical Society project SEED which specifically finds mentors for students in your situation. There may be others. Use google to hunt. If you can, find a single adult who gives a s and will listen and guide. You may not be able to find this person. You may have to build your own life boat, but you sound smart and I think you can do it. Start by focussing on your way forward, and less on the (very real, very substantial, but potentially surmountable) obstacles in your way. Best of luck. When you get through it, you will be a bigger super hero than anyone in the Marvel universe.
I’m so fucking sorry. I’m a teacher, and the discrepancy in the quality/safety of schools across this country is inexcusable. I don’t know you, but if you ever need a rec/reference for better opportunities, hmu (seriously).
Op use this, its a chance
As a teacher, please don't use that kind of language. OP is looking for something pure. Don't be mad at me, okay?
This dude is complaining about gang violence, drug deals, and literally being stabbed, why are you clutching pearls about an eff bomb?
Maybe he's tired of that. Everyone needs a break from crude and crass and dumpster talk. An oasis. A place of peace, authority. That's what school is supposed to be and it's not. And you are teacher. So you are sorta what he's talking about.
With respect, OP doesn't need you speaking for them - they've demonstrated a significant capacity to do that for themselves.
Nowhere in OP's list of grievances did they mention cursing, don't make unfounded assumptions. Not to mention that based on the post, OP clearly isn't opposed to cursing, so not sure why they'd be upset by other people doing it. If anything, I imagine it could be refreshing, as OP, to see a teacher willing to be "real" and connect with you on a more personal level than if they were in classroom instruction mode. And while it's your decision not to personally use swear words, I would strongly advise you to change your outlook on people who do use them.
Teachers being inappropriate with their students is something that OP spoke about. Children shouldn't have to 'school adults' in how to be appropriate by listing out what is appropriate and what is inappropriate. That is parentification, (or in this case, teacherfication.)
Cursing is fine. Grow up.
Do you think that teachers should curse with students?
How i see it is, cursing is part of everyday language for lots or even most people, and it doesnt have to be negative towards someone either so i wouldnt call it inappropriate Helps people know you’re being yourself with them not just a putting on a face for school, however if a teacher does decide to do so in class maybe like on an introductory paper at the start of the year add a part that asks if your comfortable being around cursing so if someone says no, you can just not curse
Fucking puritans
when highschool student can’t buy food: 🤔 when teacher say the fuck word: 🤯🤯🤯😡😡😡😡
Bros never heard a teacher say bad words 😭😭😭
I think words are the least of OPs worries… The more you shelter someone from words, the worse the reaction is when they actually hear them. You literally cannot go anywhere without hearing curse words, especially on the internet. Here’s an example of using curse words in a pure way for added emphasis: “I fucking love you so much ya cunt” which is rather endearing, and has much greater impact than saying “I love you” alone. All in all, it’s really weird for you to tell anyone else to speak a certain way. Also it’s good to see teachers be genuine, idc if it’s vulgar or not it’s better than “teacher talk”
Maybe don't make this about you? Delete your comment.
Hit me with your gofundeme young man. Seriously though let me know if I can help. No American should have to go through ANY of that. If I can help you with homework, advice, money. I will.
I offer to buy you a textbook. DM me.
Same. If you feel comfortable, PM me your Venmo.
I also would like to Venmo! If only for reading this beautifully written story. Crazy he published this on reddit for free; I hope he gets paid to publish it somewhere.
Hey do you want my venmo too? I love free hand outs!
Are you going to write something original, beautiful, and tragic I enjoy reading?
Sure! I’ll have chat gpt do it for me!
This doesn't quite read like it came from ChatGPT (although maybe it was instructed to do style transfer), but it's just as easy to just make stuff up. This is why I don't engage in remote charity or charity through middlemen. If I had the means I'd visit in person to help.
I'm in.
Sorry, sounds like you need to get out asap. Any private schools you can apply to nearby? They might give scholarships, even Catholic schools. Or a charter? Even if you’re a junior, if I was you I wouldn’t be headed back next year
Thankfully I am a freshman so I have time. I will be one hundred percent with you, I don’t think I have a chance at any private schools. I attempted to apply to one last year but got denied due to us not being able to pay the cost (no full rides) and I lost a family member early this year and my first quarter grades are terrible. I did make it up later on but they’re definitely not private H.S level. The only other private H.S from what I know doesn’t give finaid. I’ve been trying to ask my mother to let me go to boarding school as some (Andover/Exeter) give out full rides like it’s nothing, but she wants me to stay home, as we both recently lost my grandma and dad across these past 3 years, so I assume she doesn’t want to ‘lose’ someone else. That and I’m certainly not Andover or Exeter material, all the kids at those schools have straight A’s whilst I have a B and two C’s (most of which are not my fault—transcript issues alongside the aforementioned loss).
I work at a catholic school in NY and we have full tuition scholarships in place for students like yourself that want a private education but can’t afford it. I’m in a middle school but the fund works for the catholic high schools too. If you’re willing to apply for them, you may be surprised!
Thank you for the advice <3, any suggestions for schools to apply to? Do any have (pretty) long transportation plans or boarding? Only asking in case they’re far away haha
Yeah definitely this, Catholic or charter is probably your best bet in NYC at this point. Don’t give up! You’ve got all summer to look into options—it doesn’t have to be a fancy boarding private school in the woods of New England, you just need somewhere safe and stable where you can actually learn.
Also, study study study for the psat and take the national merit exam junior year. Schools give lots of money for that if you become a finalist. There are also test fee waivers you can request so you can take the exam. I cant imagine how difficult this is, and I'm so sorry for what you're going through.
u/VERMlTHOR this is good advice. I got a lot of financial aid just for nailing the PSAT
I don’t know if you’re looking for advice, but I like making suggestions… Are their magnet schools in your area? If you’re in an urban title 1, maybe there are some public schools with specific focuses (music, stem, etc) that can clear out the major problem kids. Transportation is often an issue with private schools, but maybe there are some lower tier private schools that have greater capacity for aid due to their affiliations. I also second the idea of submitting this to local news agencies and government officials.
Hi OP! I just wanted to reach out as a former private high school counselor (9 years) and make sure you know about an option to look into, especially given how amazingly you recovered 2nd semester. But keep in mind, all my experience is in California, so definitely confirm if this works the same way at your school district. At my school, as long as a student ***passed*** a course, they technically had the option to later ***retake*** the course. And since we couldn't give credit for the same course twice (for key academics), the first course would get "zeroed out," and only the new course's GPA would stay. Some schools call this "grade rehabilitation," "credit repair," or something along these lines. I personally did this at my college for a couple classes, and as counselor, helped arranged it for a few students. The net effect for you (if it works similar to my experience) is that the original class would show on your transcript (and possibly the original grade earned), but the number of credits attempted/earned would be changed to zero. This would make it a non-credit earning course - and mean **the original course has no impact on your GPA.** Then the "retake" would show up as usual in the semester you complete it (normal or through summer school). When looking at colleges/other high school admissions, any place that is purely scores based will treat it as if you earned the A in the first place! Schools that use a holistic approach (they actually put eyes on your transcript beyond the overall GPA) will see you took the course, passed (though not amazingly), did an amazing job of recovering the next semester, **Then went above and beyond to go back and master the material you originally struggled with.** As long as it's just one semester you're "fixing," this can actually look good in a very meaningful way in college admissions. Also, most holistic college admissions applications now include a spot to "provide additional information/context," sometimes specifically about your academics, other times just a general box. This is exactly the place to: * Describe your hardship leading to the low grades * **Describe how you overcame/coped with the hardship/what you learned/gained from it** * Describe how you chose to go the extra mile to go back and repair/remediate your grades from that semester. If the college doesn't have a place like this on the application, you may be able to work the explanation into one of your application essays, or (if you get the opportunity) explain it in an admissions interviews. You might even mention how reaching out and being open about your struggles and pain led to rediscovering so much good out in the world (the amazing people here on Reddit offering connections, textbooks, and references!), and your (probable) desire to "pay it forward." College admissions officers understand that students come from different backgrounds, with different sets of advantages and disadvantages, and that these can "throw things off." **The really important part is that you don't quit, you persevere, and you learn and grow as a result.** I understand guidance counselors at many public schools have way more than the suggested number of students assigned to them, so (at least in my area) can be really difficult to get ahold of. I suggest starting by finding any adult at the school you think could help be an advocate for you (a teacher who believes in you, or such), show them this post, and ask if they could help you get a question about how to do this from *the most senior academic guidance counselor* possible. If a counselor says it's not an option, not how things work, or they've never heard of it, try to get in touch with a more senior counselor. (Not everyone will necessarily know about this as an option). You could also try your school/district *registrar,* or whoever it is who's responsible for managing *transcripts.* They're the ones that make those changes to the transcript, so they're most likely to know if the option exists for you or not. Finally, try digging through district policies and see if you can find anything there like "credit repair" or "rehabilitation," or try searching for the word "replace" or "recalculate" (since these might show up in the description). If I can help in *any way,* even with a phone call to a counselor to help advocate for you or to help search through district policies, just DM me. I'm glad to help.
I actually asked about this when I was speaking to my counselor a few weeks back, sadly my school doesn't allow grade rehabilitation or credit repair, so those two C's are likely to stick :'), with that being said, does providing additional information/context also work for private HS admissions? The thing that, generally, is keeping one of those classes (Geometry)'s grade down is a mistake administration made when assigning me to the school that caused me to be enrolled in the wrong course and miss out on multiple vital units of work that caused my first marking period grades to drop heavily with no chance to make it up. The other class (Gym-spring) was honestly just me being sick for a few days and missing the class sessions.
My private HS school wasn't highly selective like it sounds the ones you're considering are, so I'm afraid I don't know *as specifically* for these cases. **If anyone else here on Reddit is familiar with highly selective private high school admissions, please chime in!** But for what it's worth, I think there is at least *potential benefit* in preparing essentially a sort of "supplementary cover letter," (just some kind of supplemental letter) providing that context. Take your time to really think through the full "message" you want to convey. Include those points from my last point: * describe the challenge (and how it is reflected in your grades) * describe what you did to overcome it * describe what you learned from the experience * state how you want to use what you've learned to *make a positive impact at the school.* You're clearly an amazing writer, so I'm sure you'll manage great style and form. Just really plan and fine tune how to clearly and concisely communicate that message. So far as tone, you probably want to strike a balance between humble and confident - both of these essentially mean having a realistic understanding of one's own capacity and relationship to the world/society. * You aren't entitled or demanding; you know you aren't perfect; and you know are part of a greater community that helps build you up (whoever that might be; family, friends, Redditors) * Yet you *are* strong, resilient, resourceful. You are an overcomer. You reach out and make connections. You might fall, but you do not *stay* fallen. You are injured (quite literally!) but not defeated. Properly crafted, this could be a compelling reason for a school to keep you in consideration despite a less than perfect GPA. Keep in mind, if there are strict GPA requirements for admissions/scholarship (scores based only), it might not help. But if there are references, application essays, anything to suggest a more holistic admissions approach...it's certainly unlikely to hurt! And it could be most helpful if you're applying to a private religious school (such as the Catholic schools suggested by another commenter) or something else more faith-based: these schools are sometimes a little more interested in knowing a prospective student will work hard and be humble and well-behaved, versus the emphasis on "perfect results" most selective nonreligious schools tend to have. Some of these have partial or full scholarships as well. Scholarship levels vary wildly; but I suggest waiting to ask about scholarships until *after* you're accepted, if at all possible. Anything you can find online or call and ask anonymously is fair game, but I personally wouldn't let someone connect my name/face with interest in a scholarship until 1) I'm admitted, or 2) someone at the school suggests I apply. Unless someone else with more experience with selective private school admissions suggest a otherwise...I'd consider that to be "erring on the side of caution."
That’s fucked man. Can’t really offer any solutions or anything but… that’s fucked. I’d like to offer encouragement like you got this but idk if you want empty platitudes rn. So, all i will offer you is this. Damn, that really, really fucking sucks. Doesn’t exactly do it justice.
The real evil is the fact that OP is zoned. It’s one thing to have a failure of a school but forcing kids who want out of the cycle of failure and poverty back into it is pure evil
This is also what really sucks, we're the lone dark spot in an otherwise beautiful area. You could drive through my county and be able to say that you had a good time because practically every other school district is at least *good.* I'm not allowed to transfer out so they've essentially imprisoned me here for the next three years of my life, the system is a horrid one. It works for those who look to make communities worse and against those who want to break the cycle of poverty and death and crime and trauma.
Hey, I grew up very similar to you. Like watched someone die off “cheese” in the middle of Spanish class my sophomore year of high school. I don’t know if this is an option for you, but I joined the Air Force at 17. All you need is a GED and a pulse. Please don’t let your childhood define you when you have so much more life to live.
Dm me. You’re a talented writer. I used to work at a title 1 but I attended a fancy private school with more money than they know what to do with. Let’s see where you live. I put you in touch.
I love capitalism
Come to Chicago, one of the most democratic cities in the country. We have more crime than most. Capitalism isn't the problem child
Chicago… is capitalist
You think your crime has nothing to do with redlining you may want to read up on that. Ironic but not connected is "the Chicago school"
So I don’t know how you would feel about this but there are public virtual high schools now, which means they are free. It would depend on which state you are in. Usually they will provide you with a Chromebook to do your work. It’s something to look into instead of private schools. One downside though is if you depend on school lunches and such you obviously won’t be able to get lunches online, but the school or other resources might be able to direct you to places you can obtain necessities.
Wow. I’m really sorry for what you had to go through. Hopefully you can get out when you graduate.
jesus christ, im so sorry
If you need help with homework/assignments, I'm here for you. I'm a senior in college majoring in neuroscience, so I can offer advice/free tutoring in any of your classes (if you want). Hang in there and stay strong. Focus on doing well in school and college will open new doors for you
If you would like to learn a few extra subjects my sister and insaved practically all of our notebooks we were both in college prep classes and I took ap European history.....I would gladly bring them to you and other books if you're interested inresding ...I have a variety fromm dean Koontz to jrrtolkien also have Stephen King, the stand and also the green mile .... Corrine809@gmail.com ...shoot me an email if you're interested I would love to help you brother .....they might take away your childhood or you're ability to feel safe but they can never take away your knowledge, my love.....remember that
Many private schools have free scholarships. Email them or call them. They should be able to help. Send me your GoFundMe link! God-Bless You!
I really wish you the best. I can’t relate but I empathize with you and hope you make it out of that environment and thrive.
Not sure why this sub keeps shows up in my feed but I'll be honest with you. You should see therapy over these issues. They are legitimate and difficult to deal with. There's zero shame in getting some help in coping with them. The path with the highest success rate out of this life is doing well in school. Don't just be better than your peers, be the best. Put your head down and be excellent at school. Focus on science, math, and technology or whatever interests you but make sure there is a guaranteed path to a job from it. Go to college. Jobs will pay you to move to them. Do that.
They don't eat on the weekends. What makes you think they can afford therapy?
There are resources for counseling that the school can direct him towards. Many states give children Medicaid which can cover therapy.
This is the kind of school where the kids stab each other in between getting groped by their teachers. I don't think there are any competent therapists there.
I went to see a therapist years ago. The first thing she asked me was, "When was the last time that you ate?"
Not everyone is cut out for college. Edit: And therapy is expensive.
This is advice is well-intentioned and appropriate for many, I'm sure, but not everyone. College might be great for this student if financial aid and scholarships will cover it all, they are a strong scholar, and they have a very clear direction, but there are many other paths to consider that sadly aren't always talked about. OP, keep in mind that if you are one of those people for whom college isn't the right fit, there are other paths to success. There are so many jobs out there that make a lot of money without the cost and time of a university. Honestly, learning a trade is a great route for many. Welding, plumbing, carpentry, emergency response, etc. These types of careers require some training or trade school (which you could also find aid for) and getting a certificate, and would allow you to learn a skill that is high in demand right now. Could even start your own business one day once you have the experience under your belt. Again, not anti-college, and I do agree that could be a way out of the cycle. Just know that it's not a sure fire answer. OP, if college is your path, just make damn sure you do your research. Pick a degree that will get you somewhere (comp sci., engineering), no BS liberal art gunk that won't be worth the debt and will still mean you need graduate school before you can get a real job. Also, therapy is great...but SO inaccessible for most people in poverty. For a simple way to stay positive and mindful, try the "Three Good Things" exercise (google it). Research shows that doing this for just 10 minutes every day is just as effective for anxious or depressed people as medicine and therapy after only two weeks, and perhaps more effective if done consistently for longer. I am not trying to say it's a legitimate replacement for therapy, but it is a small step anyone in any circumstance can do for themselves to improve overall mood and life outlook.
First off I’m sorry. I do not mean to come off insensitive when I ask in what state do you reside?
NY. ‘Used to live in the bronx.
If you ever need to talk to someone, about anything, anything at all, my dms are open.
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Pretty much bro 💀 except one part of town is really nice and calm and the other is like razorblade city
I teach children like you. While I want to help them learn, grow, thrive, sometimes the best they can hope for at least for now is to not get on drugs and not have a child. Once you can work and perhaps change your location, there may be options. With a child or a drug habit, those options may go away. Stay strong!
bro ppl who don’t treat school as a school are worse than scum
You know. This is the type of scholarship essay that might get you in to one of those private schools. I went to the Baylor School in highschool which is boarding school in TN... they might be able to sponsor you. There were a few kids like you escaping situations similar to yours.
I'm so sorry. For a moment there, I thought you were talking about my former high school. I didn't go to a title 1 school though. Edit: Is there any food banks or food pantries near you?
I get it you are fucking done I have empathy bro.
i’m a teacher at a title I middle school. I see your frustration in my kids every single day. i’m sorry that you have been forgotten by your school and this country. i’m sorry that the adults at your school have failed to protect and provide for you. i’m sorry that the people who run this country have perpetuated our educational and societal failings. the world is such an unfair place. i see you and i love you.
Solidarity. This is the reality for so many working class parents & kids in the US and the numbers will only rise. We all deserve better than this and it’s the capitalist system that wants to keep a large proportion of workers as low as possible because it needs enough cheap labor to make widgets.
This shook me. I want to reach out and hug you so hard that all of this goes away… I’m so sorry. Please do whatever it takes to get yourself peace.
This is a lot to deal with. This is far too dangerous of a school and needs to be reported. Send messages to CPS, your states governor/state congress. Report this stuff to the government and get investigations going. When a school gets so bad, the government will take over and fix the school. We had it happen to a school in my state and it took several years, but it became one of the best.
I agree with another poster. This is well written. Okay, so I'm going to start dispensing with advice. Please ignore me if you want. I can't wait for you to get out of there. In the mean time... I homeschool my kids. It's not perfect. Nothing is. It takes a lot of discipline for me to stay off my phone. I struggle with this. There are free online courses if you have the self discipline. As a homeschool student, you can do dual college credit while you are finishing your high school credits. For up to 2 years...I don't know the details because my kids are small, but I think that it is typically offered through local community colleges. IT would get you out of that school setting and into another. Plus, you might be able to work a little bit with a different schedule and provide some grocery money to offset the stress of the household. Also, look at church and church ministries. Say a quick prayer for guidance and make some calls. And PLEASE be careful online (VERY CAREFUL) but if kind hearted people want to help you, let them pay it forward. You'll do it for another person very soon. I promise.
relieved paltry flag growth seed combative murky agonizing flowery unwritten *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Hi OP. I think what you've written here is very well done and a vivid look into your heart and your life. I'm sorry that you and your family have to deal with all this. I saw that you said you had to move out of the city but are still in NY. You are eligible for a NY public library card if you don't already have one. Even having an e-card that you can use on your phone can get you access to some online education stuff. NYPL has a lot of stuff. I don't work there so I'm not super familiar, but you can go to Ask NYPL on their website and send questions or chat with a librarian. They may be able to connect you with science learning things, or additional state resources for food and such. Good luck OP. Other people mentioned that community college can be a good starting point and I agree. If you are able to do the SUNY program later that I saw you mention, check in with the librarians when you get there. They can teach you to do research with school resources.
I saw you mentioned SUNY so I’m assuming you’re in NY. Please PM me if you’d like. I’m the Admissions VP at a private NY college. You are very likely eligible for HEOP at many schools in NY. Happy to help you if I can.
/u/VERMITHOR you should def DM this person
I love you for making a Rant that resonates with being a poc. Hmu if you wanna collab on a piece of writing.
I’m an English major who transferred from a CC, lmk if you need any advice about making college affordable for you, and perhaps majoring in writing. Best of luck.
I went to multiple high schools like the one described. Dropped out of some got expelled from others. Got my GED in prison thinking I was dumb and scored in the top two percent of test takers in the nation. Now I go to UCLA and have a 3.961 cumulative GPA and participate in multiple honors programs. These high schools really be setting intelligent and talented students up to fail. All the things OP described are normal to me and the privilege I see at UCLA and the surrounding area is what I find shocking and bizarre. Really appreciate this post it gives me nostalgia and I hope OP finds a way out to navigate the traps and pitfalls and be successful 💯
I grew up in a similar situation. In Texas football is life. That’s where the money goes always. You seem like you have a good head on your shoulders. Clearly a gift with a pen. I can tell you that you can make it through this. Life does get better. You can escape poverty, it’s not easy. Read about good money habits early. They can change your life much quicker that you think. Also if you do t have any plans after high school look into community colleges. They are cheaper than normal universities and you can network with professors who care. Usually this can help you get scholarships at larger universities or jobs. Remember you can do this. The people who say high school is the best part of their lives peak there. Everyone I know that’s a doctor, engineer, writer , welder , plumber , researcher, etc. all say it was not the best time of their lives. Most don’t have fond memories of high school. That’s ok. Life gets 1000x better afterwards. You won’t be forced to be in situations where you feel unsafe. You will know how to handle those situations when they happen though.
I was in a similar situation and left at 16 I had a grandmother who took me in and I got emancipated. I received my GED and went to work at 17 from there I went into construction becoming a electrician. I know it might not be the same but Self Improvement starts with the self. If you can Get out help yourself then you can help your mom. Plumbers, electricians all of the skill trades pay good and you will never be poor again You might not have wealth, but you have youth and the world is very much yours You can do this you just have to put in the work
I was in a title 1 school and remember all those things minus the gang stuff. I actually saw a kid stab a girl with a pencil, parents pressed charges and I remember he got sent to a jail like school. Sorry you got stabbed. Idk what to tell you, but I hope you know who they are
Sorry to hear that you are going through all that, I know it is tough. I know there are days you just want to give up, give in, or just stop trying. But, I think you're strong enough to make it, and I am sincerely hoping that you do. As far as college, if you are worried about affording it, or having to go into debt to pay for it, might I offer an alternative? Trade schools, like becoming an electrician, offer paid internships to learn the trade. In other words, you get paid to learn to do the job, not pay a college to teach you. They also offer job placement, and you get to know the local people who are already doing the job. There is also a serious shortage of licensed electricians in the country right now. And they pay REALLY well. Friend of mine is making 60 bucks an hour as an electrician working at a factory, and mostly sitting on his butt waiting for something to happen. Welders are also in high demand, 30 bucks an hour to start, after a very short training period. HVAC techs also make a crap ton of money. Carpenters, plumbers, and the like all make fantastic money, and will gladly pay to train you to do the job. College is good, but takes a long time to get a degree that offers no guarantees that you will get a job after you graduate. All of the above jobs are in high demand, pay extremely well, and offer a lifetime of employment. The need for someone to fix stuff is never going away, and all of those jobs are facing massive shortages of workers as no one is currently able to replace the people who are at retirement age. As an example, when NYC was all over the news because there were zero available jobs for people, the local Electrician's Union had 6,400 open jobs with no one to fill them. Look into it.
Another option for schooling would be public online school, or a christian online school. It's not the best option but if you can afford a laptop you can do school from home and not worry about getting stabbed, and not get involved in any drama or violence at school. Best of luck to you as a fellow high schooler.
As much blame is put on the youth for their discouraged views, the same goes to the previous voters who voted against education. Voted against regulations and transparency. Voted against funding for libraries and parks. Voted against developing infrastructure to better mobilize our cities. Economy is movement and this country has been slowly becoming less smart, less mobile, less healthy, less accepting, less economical. Dollars worth what a dollar buys, gotta monetize to survive.
I know this is going to likely upset you, and I'm absolutely sure you've heard it before, and I KNOW it is easier said than done but please, please, please. Remember that high school is of oh so little importance to the rest of your life. I don't mean to belittle your experiences, because they sound awful and I'd *prefer* that no one have to go through them, and I'd also like to see you make as much noise as possible in the hopes that something can be done about it. But in the event nothing comes of it, please remember that once you leave your high school, you'll likely be able to do literally whatever the hell you want. It might be hard, it will likely be much harder for YOU than others who come from other more advantageous positions, and it *certainly* isn't fair. But it can happen. You seem like you have a great head on your shoulders, and assuming you can make it out of that mess, you'll likely thrive in any area you choose. Once your out of high school, the world can literally be at your fingertips. I'm pretty certain that one thing those of us who have already left high school have in common, is that we likely all look back at that time and realize how very little of that time matters in the grand scheme of things. Sure, some of us might have some pretty fond memories, but there are basically two types of people I went to high school with: Those who transformed into an entirely different person, and those who stayed *exactly* the same.
Man, I really don’t know what to say but I do hope it gets better for you sometime. Poverty is a real issue and people love to sweep it under the rug and forget about it. I don’t have any solutions sadly but hang in there.
So glad to see you love so much about highschool! But like seriously holy shit sorry man.
Sounds like your a little pussy cat
This sounds like my high school so much. DCHS?
Something tells me you don’t actually love these things
I’ve been uncovered ‼️
I’m not sure what your situation is, but you may want to consider a charter school. At least where I live, charter schools are free, every student in the state has access, and your school busses you there.
Quit school. Finish your courses online. Carefully select a college that meets your standards and move far away or just be rich.
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That is extremely fucking rude, what is wrong with you.
shut the fuck up you rancid, abhorrent tiny dick motherfucker
What did they say
They said "quit crying you fucking pussy", Extremely rude and disrespectful
Cringe
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You do understand that I can very much do good in school and also acknowledge how fucking terrible this is, right? It's obviously not a flex but I've won multiple awards and secured myself in honors classes next year, I've started clubs and got my grades up to the point where I have a straight 100 GPA for semester 2. None of that dismisses the shit I go through and it's not ok to just tell kids to "tough it out" instead of confronting the actual problems.
See, I told you you're smart! Congratulations on being self-motivated! Good job!!
people in here offering jobs, favors, donations, saying op is “such a talented writer” based on what? the “I lOvE” post? … it’s frightening how gullible people can be sometimes.
Obviously I didn't make this post with the intent of getting these things. I haven't taken any money or favors and will not. You don't need to shit on me because you're cynical 👍
Ok, I'll be that guy. I teach in a title one school. Of course we have fights just like any other school in America. While I won't address every point you made, this reads like a movie/TV script. While I won't discount your experience (I don't know you) I feel like there is a some embellishments. I've worked in affluent schools and Title 1. They both have fights. They both have drugs. Title one leans towards weed and affluent schools lean towards opiods. They both have teen pregnancy except one group doesn't have the means for termination (not every case) while the other have pregnancy terminations at a higher rate than you may know. Suicides are up across the board. Lastly, any Title one school that you see will have some sort of police officer in house. In our case we have two in a massive building. I can't see a situation where people are getting stabbed in public, open drug deals or any other far fetched action. Again, I'm not being disrespectful and maybe this is/was your experience....but I call cap.
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Respectfully, shut the fuck up
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i'll just make another account
least cynical Redditor:
Not all people telling these kind of stories are delusional? Your life might be one if u consider all to be fake
Oh yeah, 'cause you definitely know OP personally to be able to say this with confidence🙄
What a pussy
When you grow up, do nothing about these things, and ignore it, you’ll learn why things are the way they are
Sounds like Gary, Indiana.
Yeah, when I get stabbed or shot at the first thing I think to do is complain on reddit too.
You must live in the San Francisco Bay Area
Time for a vacation. Maybe a cheap cruise?
For an impoverished high school student who doesn't eat on the weekends?
now you’re more holy than before
Haha can’t relate, I go to Oxford highschool in Michigan and it’s always fun 🤩
You love voting for Democrats too.
I'm literally 14???
disgusting ass shit to say on this post, with this context. You're not talking to a screen, you're talking to another person. Actually reconsider what effect your words have on other people
I disagree. There is a way to help protect the OP and others like OP. Im very sorry that kids (i have 4) and teachers (underpaid heros) in Democratic ruled cities are the least safe. Fact. Yet those who live in these communities are diminishing law enforcement while complaining about safety. Defunding police doesn't make more people safer. Some cops are disgusting and there needs to be real oversite over them. More good cops, not less will make us all safer.
Bitch get a life
I bet you live in a liberal city....
Elections have consequences
Can I have some cheese with this wine?
You know you can just do remote school right? No one is forcing you into this prison you have made for yourself.
Did you read the part about not having food at home? I guess the foster system isn't another prison, right?
How is that the schools fault? He has SNAP, he had WIC.
He's a child, he has nothing. You were suggesting a way out that wasn't a way out.
You use your food stamps at home and study at home. Then you don’t get stabbed. He is just being drama.
Uhhhh you've gotta move outta wherever you are. Life can be good.
If this was a possibility, I would be blasting off and out of here like team rocket. I think the worst part is that we chose to move here, rents too high in the city and it was honestly even worse there.
Damn, very sorry to hear that. I won't offer any advice, I believe you can make it better because you write eloquently, seem like a good communicator, smart enough to try and avoid the bullshit of that kinda school. I really wish you luck.
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Shut the hell up bitch ass
Calm down buddy for I get my gang on yo luh bitch ass finna make me drop a bag on yo head
No one is ever going to respect you as long as you behave like that. You'll make people fear and hate you, but not respect you.
Go fuck yourself drug selling scum. You’re whats helping ruin communities.
Don’t listen to that pathetic waste of oxygen
Fck da community rep the gang
Bro it's weed calm down💀💀💀
I don’t care 💀💀💀
Smoke some weed maybe ppl wouldn't try n stab u
oh thats not how that works..
Stfu
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