I want advice // I have this really crazy idea and want feedback on it

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

<p>I used to go to a really good school. It was the only place I ever felt like I fit in and people saw me as a human being, not just a genius. Then I had to leave and now I'm taking graduate classes at a much worse school close to home. I'm 18 and taking classes with a bunch of 30-year-olds. So far I've met a bunch of "class" friends but no real friends who want to hang out with me outside of class. After all, who would want to hang out with a little kid?</p>

<p>I've thought of a couple ways to evade my situation.
1) Take easier classes. I tried this and it sucks because every time I sit through another lecture on how to take logarithms using paper folding, I am reminded of how I don't belong here, and then I feel more isolated than ever.</p>

<p>2) Join a club. This would be nice except all the clubs here are religious and I'm an atheist. I did join the Catholic club. But I go to a commuter school now so it has none of the warmth of my previous residential college.</p>

<p>3) Transfer. This is my current plan, but it's kind of taking the easy way out. If I can only get along with people as smart as me, what's going to happen after college? I'm going to be a really lonely person. Already I'm kind of prejudiced against people who are bad at math, which I think is something I really need to get over, and if all my friends are really smart that's not going to help me overcome that prejudice.</p>

<p>4) Kill myself. This is kind of a last resort, but it's been growing on my mind lately and sounds marginally easier than resigning myself to a life of loneliness. (Un)fortunately, this is not a reliable strategy because I keep trying and it never works.</p>

<p>And now the unveiling of my really crazy plan:</p>

<p>5) Abandon my academic past and join a hippy commune! That way I can live in a close-knit social community, but without the elitist trappings of intellectual life. I already have a</a> specific one in mind, and it sounds really welcoming and friendly (but of course I will never know that until I visit). The idea is if I get to know a bunch of non-academic people I will stop being prejudiced against them. And since there isn't school there, I can be smart without that being my dominant characteristic. I feel like I really ought to share my life with a diverse group of people so I can grow to accept all of humanity (and in return, earn their acceptance).</p>

<p>The downside is transfer apps are due really soon and I have to decide if I want to go to college or not. Plus I would be abandoning my research projects and any semblance of community I have back home.</p>

<p>Now is this really, really crazy, or does it actually make sense? Also, if you have any other ideas, please tell me - any suggestions are appreciated! Thank you :)</p>

2

<p>um,</p>

<p>go to school and get a degree.</p>

<p>you need a margin of safety in this economic climate. </p>

<p>and stay alive-dont kill urself!</p>

<p>Lemon</p>

3

<p>Wait, why are there 30 year olds in high school? Why did you have to leave?</p>

<p>I would transfer to a different school. That school sounds horrible.</p>

<p>Please don’t get too upset about this. Stay rational.</p>

4

<p>I don’t think you’d fit in at that commune, dude. It seems pretty religious.</p>

5

<p>well by school I meant college</p>

6

<p>Dude, I’ve gotten into those moods where I want to just throw everything away.</p>

<p>It’s because I want to do something and live in a way that will make me happy.</p>

<p>I don’t think going to this commune will make you happy, but to each his own. I think you need to work hard and search for those things/ that thing in life that will really make you happy and make life worth living. It is out there, trust me.</p>

7

<p>Hm why are you prejudiced against non-academic people?</p>

<p>Academic intelligence is something that is developed through hard work. Some people definitely have more potential, but no one becomes an academic genius through pure talent.</p>

<p>It follows that some people aren’t very academically-oriented. This doesn’t mean that they are not intelligent or bad people. From the way you describe it, your school is pretty bad though. I don’t see why there should be 30 year olds in your classes.</p>

<p>My advice is to work hard and actively seek out people who you can relate to. If you cannot find clubs in real life that interest you, join websites online. There are many “intellectual communities” on the web. Don’t give up. Part of academic intelligence is integrity and your ability to use your intelligence effectively. You have to believe that you will eventually end up where you belong (even if that sounds corny).</p>

8

<p>Hey guys. I’d like to tell you a story about a mythical CC creature. She went to caltech on a full ride at an age where most people would be just entering high school or somewhere around there. She was published in Science at age 16? She unfortunately got kicked out. She had attempted suicide before. She liked math. I wonder where she is now?</p>

<p>I doubt she exists though. : ]</p>

9

<p>I am sorry but you are the weirdest creature I have encountered on CC and no offense.</p>

10

<p>I’d say you need to transfer to a residential college. Even if the people aren’t as smart as they were at your old school, living on campus should give you more of an opportunity to connect to people. That way, you could probably learn to be more accepting and still get a degree. I can only speak for myself, but as a “math nerd” I wouldn’t be happy singing kumbaya with a bunch of hippies.</p>

<p>Oh, and DON’T KILL YOURSELF.</p>

11

<p>Why did this mythical CC creature get kicked out, advanced lawlz?</p>

<p>Though I think option five would be cool I agree with those above and transfer.</p>

12

<p>bah, that’s not real. It’s not in scripture lol</p>

13

<p>^Scripture is bogus, though.</p>

14

<p>I’m going on the assumption you’re bored and this is a joke post. Seriously, have you read that commune site - “You might work with us on getting our little garden planted, or fixing the fence the goats are always trying to knock down.” They hate tv so don’t expect any possibility of having access to a computer to post on CC in the future and you’ve already said you’re an atheist so you’ll not fit in with their “Jesus Movement.” </p>

<p>My advice, stay in school. In your off hours, get a dog walking service started. The more cute and cuddly dogs you take to the park, the more cute and cuddly humans you’ll meet. End of loneliness and a college education.</p>

15

<p>If you take challenging classes and spend time with intellectual people, I don’t see how that can be viewed as a negative. Generally people who are intellectual and succeed in school will be able to acquire better jobs. With those better paying jobs comes a higher degree of intellect to conduct those jobs, which means that you will be associated with more intellectual individuals. Therefore, if you enjoy spending time with more educated people, challenge youself. </p>

<p>I’d recommend that you transfer. If you can get a full ride at Caltech, there are other prestigious colleges willing to accept you.</p>

16

<p>Thanks for all the advice and support I’ve gotten in this thread and others :slight_smile: I’ve realized that lately I’ve been so caught up in my own sorrows, I haven’t been able to care about or take a real interest in other people. Which is probably why I haven’t had much success with friends over here. We are all human beings - nothing more, nothing less - and if I am sincerely interested in others, I am confident I will make friends here just as well as I did in college. I just have to get over college first, which has been really hard for me. Even today I had the irresistible impulse to screw finals week and take the next flight over to California.</p>

<p>But overall I’m doing a lot better than I was a couple days ago, and I don’t feel the need to go off and join a hippy commune anymore. So yay :)</p>