Scared Of Going To College/University! Partying!?
Question:
I'm In My Second Last Year Of High School... And, For This Year My Parents Decided To Homeschool Me For Once... I've Always Gone To Public Schools Since Forever!!
Anyway... They Got Me Out Of The High School System Because Of All Of The Bad Things Going On During School (Drugs, Fights...) I Was So Scared To Go To School Each Day!
Anyway... Next Year I Have To Start Applying To Colleges/Universities... And, Acutally My Parents Dont Want Me To Stay Be Homeschooled For That...
They Want Me To Go And Enjoy The "College Life" - Like, With Partying & Stuff... They Think It'll Be Good For Me, But - I'm Really Scared!!
I Don't Want To Go School With Other People Who Party & Drink & Stuff... And, Plus I'm Really Young For My Age (About A Year Younger Than All The Kids In My Class) - I Don't Want To Be Going To School With Adults!
I Would Really Rather Stay Home & Do My Schooling Online Like I Am This Year!!
Does Anyone - Or Did Anyone Else Feel The Same Was As I Do?
Answer:
Hey, Here is some back ground about myself homeschooled through 6th grade, private 7-8, public all of high school. My parents are deeply religous. I mean am pretty conservative. My first year of college i went to religious school and I loved it. It was really fun i meet great people and i learned to venture out but still be true to myself and my beliefs. Your first year you should live at on campus you'll meet so many people . I lived in an all girls dorm it was like a 4 night a week slumber party. but because it was a christian school we had a curfew for the building (it really helped my grades).
Atleast give it a shot. when you visit a campus see if you can spend the night becaues it will give you a much better feel for things.
wat r u thinking. college is sik. especially if u live there. trust me if u scared of the whole party scene ull meet other people too. plus if u think about it, its better if u try like parties and drinking (responsibly of course) (not drugs, bad **** happens) now, cuz if u dont ull regret it, trust me. as long as u do it wit people u trust its ok. and once u go to college and u live there for a month ull have a bunch of new best friends. parents r right on this one.
From your question it appears that you have some social anxiety and/or strong religious leanings.
There are a few things about college you should know.
1. You make your own social group! You don't have to hang out with people who party and you don't have to go to parties to have fun. On any given college campus there is a religious group for every religion you can imagine.
2. From my experience, there are so many people who may not lean towards religious groups but just aren't into partying. You can find them!
3. There are colleges out there that still enforce such strict rules that there are even curfews for students. Check out Liberty University in VA! It seems to me that you might be more comfortable in a structured setting like that.
As for your social anxiety, I'm wondering if you have any close friends with whom you do "regular" teenage things like go shopping or to the movies or talk on the phone. If you have friends like that, I'm not so worried.
If you don't, please talk to your parents about your worries and fears. I don't think they're realistic and you may need to talk to a counselor.
Just because you go to college won't mean you'll end up partying and drinking. It's true that sometime that you can be lonely and isolated if your whole floor wants to get dead drunk, but more often than not it's a matter of finding your niche. I went to a private school in a city that is known for it's nightlife attractions, clubs, etc. I didn't drink, smoke or do any sort of drugs. I still don't.
You do not have to be friends with just drinkers/partyers. College students come from a wide cross-section. Some people prefer to read, have quiet nights with friends, watch movies, go to church, etc. etc.
I don't believe you can be homeschooled for college. Online programs are more for post-graduate certifications or are complete jokes.
You won't be able to be able to avoid the adult world forever. College does provide a place for learning social cues and job opportunities.
And if you really don't like what school you are attending, you can always transfer or take time off and go back to school later..
College is where you will experience many diverse people. This should be a positive thing, because you will have the opportunity to be socialized in a safe environment. The solution to your problem is simple. You will want to go to a faith-based college. There are schools like Baylor, Dallas Baptist University, Brigham Young University, Notre Dame, and many others who were founded on religious principals. The party atmosphere is strictly prohibited, and therefore not a part of the lifestyle.
Also, you shouldn't worry about going to school with adults. There's not a school in America that doesn't have older adults attending. You will have to interact with older people anyway, so you may as well do it in the safe confines of college. You don't have to socialize with anyone you don't want to, but in no time, you will be comfortable with all of the people you come in contact with.
Remember, this is a time for you to grow. College is meant to enrich you in many ways. Even if you go to a 'party' school, you decide how you will participate.
Good luck.
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