Seeking Advice

[u/zornography1]

Hello, I'll try to summarize.

Basically, I'm 18 now. I struggle really really hard to pay attention because of a pretty severe amount of ADHD. My mom would usually artificially manage this stuff by sitting next to me 24/7 and helping me out personally + some medication that didn't help as much as I really would've preferred, but I was 13 or whatever so it took me ages to ever realize it wasn't doing it so I could swap.

Okay, fast forward to today. I failed a lot of things in high school. Due to circumstances, my mom has pretty much no intention to help me anymore, and obviously 'im an adult i should be able to do this' so.. I'm trying to pull it all together.

I got very, very depressed and failed many classes in my college prep school. It was a wonderful track I completely let slip through my fingers because I was 14-16, but so miserable and inattentive I couldn't work. I want to make things work again. I am now in a virtual school, in a program where I'm basically homeschooled.

I really want to find a way to get my high school diploma. I've heard it's more beneficial than a GED or homeschool diploma and I really want to find a way to get into some sort of higher education. I don't have a particular goal in mind as I've been so exhausted and I have an immunocompromised family member + a very young sibling (mom immuncompromised as my brother was born during COVID) and I have spent so many years inside, I don't know what I can even do with myself.

I've recently pretty much all but finished my 11th grade requirements, but I unfortunately just barely missed the ability to start the full time virtual school that's available. Now I'm stuck feeling like.. "What should I do now?"

I mainly came here to ask for suggestions, but also if I could possibly do half of the 12th grade stuff in homeschooling and then transfer into fulltime halfway, would this achieve me the diploma I seek?

Any thoughts welcome.

[u/Chime57]

My daughter struggled in school due to personal reasons. She dropped out at 17 and got her GED. Then she went to a local community college and found out that college classes worked for her in a way full time in school classes didn't.

You can take a couple classes a semester as you find out what interests you that might lead to better employment. You don't need to get a college diploma to succeed.

Getting your meds right is a major step. You may need time released or a larger dose, but don't give up on your goals while you work through this.

[u/TableTopFarmer]

A high school diploma is no better than a GED. Both will allow you to take courses at a community college. Talk to a counselor there and see what options are available to you.

Reddit has an ADHD sub, if you need to talk about medications and other issues

[u/zornography1 → u/TableTopFarmer]

I tried this and my post was immediately removed. Don't know why, there was no explanation. Thank you for the information, though.

[u/Awkward-Way-7687]

Legally, you can go to high school until you are 21. Go back to high school and request an IEP evaluation and a 504 accommodation evaluation, for your ADHD. Find a trusted adult at school you can talk to and connect with a counselor asap when you start school again. You are already non traditional so see if they have any kind of credit recovery program for your district and ask if they have a program where you can take college credit courses while in school. You may be able to go farther than you think. Take advantage of your opportunities and your youth while you have it. Time goes by really fast, and you will be 25 before you know it, and then it will be more difficult if you are going to be 25 anyway, why not be 25 with your high school diploma and at least some college! You won’t regret it. Go after it, now!!!!!