u/Mysterious-Big-9510

Hello! I am an incoming first year, and I have a few questions about frosh and orientation in general. Due to some family circumstances, I'll be out of town until September 8th- however orientation weeks begins on the 6th. Are the first two days of frosh at all important in terms of activities or collecting our swag kits?

In terms of actual academics, when are we to purchase our textbooks? Online, it says we can see what books we need on the syllabus accessible via Brightspace- but I'm not very sure how to access it?

Sorry if these questions are silly, thanks in advance!

Hello,

Ive been an accountless lurker here for a few months now, but I mever bothered to post anything, since my parents dont like reddit. But, Im rebelling now in order to speak a bit. This is a throwaway account, ill be deleting it either today or tomorrow.

Where do i start?

I was pulled out of school in 2020 with the pandemic. Ive never gone back to school. I feel a bit of an outcast since technically i exist within a school sustem? Though all my courses are online and i dont speak with people face to face (there have only been a few co-op events and it was only this past year I was allowed to go). Ive experienced all the hall markers of homeschool; the parentification (being made to act as a tutor and caretake for my lite brother though he is perfectly capable, its just rooted in some sexist beliefs that I am naturally nuturing as the only daughter), acting as a therapist and mediator for parents, constant fighting, being called names when i dont comply with chores or rules, pseudo Christian faith that is more based on snubbing those who are different rather than loving everyone like Jesus said to and ive never really been allowed independance. I cant see friends, talk on the phone with them or go to events that are not related to my work or otherwise chaperoned by adults. Ive managed to make a few friends during the pandemic who, in their kindness and genuine love for me, have stuck around despite only beint able to speak with my through email. These past 6 years have been very very difficult. So often do I just space out, theres whole months that i dont remember. Just a few days ago I realized that Spring was over, it passed away without notice since I wasnt allowed out for unsupervised walks. This last year has been especially bad, as i feel really bitter seeing my peers graduate properly, go to prom, go on dates etc etc. My mother told me that "prom isnt even worth it anyways you just go there to drink, you cant even trust teenagers your age because all they do is have sex if youd like you can go see movie with your brothers if you pay for it and clean the house beforehand ". So. Yeah. I did manage to go to this one co-op event that had music; i got dresses up and i had a friend there. Immediately after though, my mother and father got into a screaming match. For a long time, i felt extremely hopeless and numb- i thought i was the only person who went through these moments of volatility (most of the people in my online program arent full yime students, they take one or two online courses alongside their in person curriculum). A few months ago I discovered this subreddit, and i cried.

The stories, advice and success stories made me feel part of a community. It made me realize that my home life is not normal and that i did not deserve to be treated this way by my parents. To all of you, thank you. Im 17 and ill be turning 18 within the next two weeks, ill be attending a REAL university in the autumn and i secured a summer job.

But im also scared that ill never catch up to my peers or that my parents will continue to control me since ill be living with them- but im also so excited to finally start life. Without this community, i dont know if i would be so determined to live and succeed; but reading stories of your own successes (CONGRATS TO EVERYONE WHOS GOTTEN THEIR GED RECENTLY).

This post is really rambly and i did not go into depth about the home aspect of things but....whatever!!! Its my first time rebelling like this. I am sorry if I did not flair(?) This post right.

To anyone reading this: you are wonderful, you deserve to feel the sun on your skin and have friends to laugh with and all that was taken from you. I look forward to experiencing these things myself at university. So lets live, together!