I'm scared

[Pyro]

Of real life. I'm 17 and this is my last semester in high school. I'm not ready to be an adult though. Let's face it, I've wasted these past 5 years sitting at home playing an MMO. I've lost my social skills, and I am just "not all there" when it comes to real life. Sure, I am academically smart, but I am a social retard and I have no "street smarts." I don't even drive yet (because I am scared shitless that I'll crash and die because I don't believe I will be a good driver. I even opted to not get my picture in the senior yearbook since I didn't really feel that I am very memorable, and on top of that I am not going to walk on graduation day. I'll just take my diploma and be done with it. I don't know how to have a relationship because I am not attracted to a woman's personality (this doesn't mean I am gay, just that I am mentally asexual). I only like a woman's body. I just enrolled at the community college to take American Sign Language, and just getting a glimpse of "college" life scares me. I'll have to start being responsible, which I am just not ready for. I never learned the same life skills the other kids learned since I wasted my life away during the years you are supposed to learn them.

I just don't know what I am going to do. Just needed to write this down somewhere since it has been hitting me hard and I can't really push the reality of things under the rug anymore.

[Andy]

Don't worry. I'm freaking out too.
I don't know where I'm going to go for college, when to get a car, job, how to pay where I will live and for college. ._.

My parents can't possibly pay for a simple Cal State because next year, my brother is getting enrolled in a university. I can't expect them to pay for both of our colleges. |: And fuck community college. I don't like it and that is totally my last option.

It sucks really, it just crushes my dream because of all this shit. ;; D:::::

[Tay]

LET ME JOIN THE GROUP.

Father can barely afford to pay rent, mother does have a rich new husband but he's got 2 kids to put through college at Ivy League schools. I'm just a simple wanna be asian language major, and Texas has nothing that I (with my fail gPA) can get into. The best schools for my major are out of state, that shit is like impossible to pay. I play on the computer to much, I'm a fag that has never had a boyfriend, and I don't drive at all because my hopes and dreams tell me when I get to Asia having a car will be pointless if I live in the city.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

:dizzy:

[Imitazion]

I was once social. I actually knew people. I was attending alot of parties, meeting up with friends and such.

Now? Have a laugh, please.
I rarely attend parties now, I'm rarely with my friends - I see Peter quite alot though, compared to my other "friends". The friends I had back then... I don't feel like I know them anymore. I feel like they disregard me, because I have online friends. It's "nerdy".
I play Guitar Hero. I play to smother others in general. 5 or 6 months ago, I went to the biggest Nintendo Wii event in Denmark - I beat the champion of 4 years in Guitar Hero with over 200.000 points in Number of the Beast on Expert.
I have a basic education, but it will "expire" soon, so I will have to redo it. I got kicked out of the extended education branch, becuase I had too much abcense due to me taking my drivers license, and the lessons could only take place while I was at school.
I've been doing nothing since October, and I hate myself for it, but I just can't tell how I am going to get "back on my feet" again.

[Steve]

Everyone's scared of going to college. I know I once was, but it's really not that bad. If you're in a freshman group (which you probably will be), most people will be in the situation as you, with many things in common, and it's usually easy to keep a conversation going. The first few weeks of school are about getting to know each other. Driving is not a big issue at all; most people don't even have cars and/or have no reason to drive. Buses are all over campus and take you virtually anywhere and everywhere.

Everyone's scared of entering the real world at one point or another, but you'll have to face it sooner or later. Once you do, you'll realize it's not that bad at all.

[Andy]

Everyone's scared of going to college. I know I once was, but it's really not that bad. If you're in a freshman group (which you probably will be), most people will be in the situation as you, with many things in common, and it's usually easy to keep a conversation going. The first few weeks of school are about getting to know each other. Driving is not a big issue at all; most people don't even have cars and/or have no reason to drive. Buses are all over campus and take you virtually anywhere and everywhere.

Everyone's scared of entering the real world at one point or another, but you'll have to face it sooner or later. Once you do, you'll realize it's not that bad at all.

The thing is, I'm not afraid of college itself. I'm totally fine with meeting people, living with another person,etc. But it's just the whole paying and where to live crap. Starting out. you know? :s

[Foolinaround]

Best advice i can give you. Dive in and see if you can swim,there really isnt a way to prep someone. I was just like okay lets do this. Make as many friends as you can fast,its easy with facebook. Then just chill up and stuff. you rarely meet people in your classes that you keep in contact with,living on campus is where its at to meet people

[Orange]

Best advice i can give you. Dive in and see if you can swim,there really isnt a way to prep someone. I was just like okay lets do this. Make as many friends as you can fast,its easy with facebook. Then just chill up and stuff. you rarely meet people in your classes that you keep in contact with,living on campus is where its at to meet people
Win advice right there.

Pro-tip: Stop playing MMOs. Go outside and talk with other people. You don't have to say much and sooner or later you'll develop those social skills by living on campus.
Also, find people on your floor that have the same classes as you and make friends with them.

As for the living on your own and managing your finances, I can't really help you there. I get $200/week from my dad. Whenever I'm owing a shitload to the bursar, I take out loans and get more work. Example: over last summer I owed $3000 to the bursar. I couldn't get loans, so I worked nights at Wal-mart. Got about $2500 paid off, $500 loan from bank to finish it off.
I'm the type of person that sometimes "squeaks by" on finances, only barely making it because of my own horrid spending habits.

[Haiku]

Everyone's scared of going to college. I know I once was, but it's really not that bad. If you're in a freshman group (which you probably will be), most people will be in the situation as you, with many things in common, and it's usually easy to keep a conversation going. The first few weeks of school are about getting to know each other. Driving is not a big issue at all; most people don't even have cars and/or have no reason to drive. Buses are all over campus and take you virtually anywhere and everywhere.

Everyone's scared of entering the real world at one point or another, but you'll have to face it sooner or later. Once you do, you'll realize it's not that bad at all.

Agreed with Steve! Most of the things you are worried about are minor things that are easily gotten around or coped with until they get the chance to improve, and believe me, they will improve. You've just got to try, that's all.

You'll find that once you're there and settled in, you'll be wondering why you thought some of those things were even worth worrying about.

Don't worry. I'm freaking out too.
I don't know where I'm going to go for college, when to get a car, job, how to pay where I will live and for college. ._.

My parents can't possibly pay for a simple Cal State because next year, my brother is getting enrolled in a university. I can't expect them to pay for both of our colleges. |: And fuck community college. I don't like it and that is totally my last option.

It sucks really, it just crushes my dream because of all this shit. ;; D:::::

The thing is, I'm not afraid of college itself. I'm totally fine with meeting people, living with another person,etc. But it's just the whole paying and where to live crap. Starting out. you know? :s

Community college is the smartest thing you could ever possibly do if you are concerned about finances and learning about living on your own.

Go there and get an AA degree (knock out all of your basic classes like math, science, english, etc), then carry it over to a university of your choice. It's a shitload cheaper (it's so cheap that a simple pell grant can cover it, any additional scholarships you get = money in your pocket for finishing at a uni), there are a lot of scholarships for holding an AA, and the AA easily turns into a BA when you're finished. You're even more likely to get better rates on student loans.

It's also a great way to slowly approach all of the things you're shaky about, because most comm colleges have excellent counselors to help you figure out exactly what you want to do and how you want to do it.

[Rigumaro]

Wow, seriously, I didn't know you feel like that Matt. I understand you totally. All I can say is... I felt almost exactly like that, but with the difference that college isn't going very well for me. I hope you have more luck than me.

[Foolinaround]

I get $200/week from my dad.

:shy: Holy shit

[Daniel]

Best advice i can give you. Dive in and see if you can swim,there really isnt a way to prep someone. I was just like okay lets do this. Make as many friends as you can fast,its easy with facebook. Then just chill up and stuff. you rarely meet people in your classes that you keep in contact with,living on campus is where its at to meet people

Best advice so far. Matt, I was the same as you until February last year. Well, basically you could say until June last year, since during the time from February until I joined Nintendo in June nothing much changed for me on the social side. At Nintendo I just dived in and noticed I could swim. Not perfectly, for example I was afraid ppl would pull shit on me like during the time before I found maple to get away from rl and also I was afraid ppl would hate me cause of my past in general. So I didn't talk much in the beginning. Which was wrong though, because once people are out of their teenager years they're a lot more open to others, so I still made some friends 8) After some weeks I was pretty much buddy with everyone in the company and still am, 1, maybe 2 persons dislike me, but I couldn't care less about those wankers.

My social skills aren't even remotely back at were they used to be 5 years ago, but it's only going up and up.

In short, dive in without any preparation (unless you can make of facebook to meet your colleagues there before you meet them irl, something I sadly couldn't do when I went to Germany for Nintendo :P), it's the best thing you can do. I will never regret doing it.

Btw, if hookers are legal in your state, once you're 18 you can always visit them until you learn to know a interesting woman (and if you have the money, although it's not expensive these days anymore).

[Pyro]

Best advice so far. Matt, I was the same as you until February last year. Well, basically you could say until June last year, since during the time from February until I joined Nintendo in June nothing much changed for me on the social side. At Nintendo I just dived in and noticed I could swim. Not perfectly, for example I was afraid ppl would pull shit on me like during the time before I found maple to get away from rl and also I was afraid ppl would hate me cause of my past in general. So I didn't talk much in the beginning. Which was wrong though, because once people are out of their teenager years they're a lot more open to others, so I still made some friends 8) After some weeks I was pretty much buddy with everyone in the company and still am, 1, maybe 2 persons dislike me, but I couldn't care less about those wankers.

My social skills aren't even remotely back at were they used to be 5 years ago, but it's only going up and up.

In short, dive in without any preparation (unless you can make of facebook to meet your colleagues there before you meet them irl, something I sadly couldn't do when I went to Germany for Nintendo :P), it's the best thing you can do. I will never regret doing it.

Btw, if hookers are legal in your state, once you're 18 you can always visit them until you learn to know a interesting woman (and if you have the money, although it's not expensive these days anymore).

Hookers are only legal in Nevada, as far as I know. I guess I'll just have to see if I can swim when I am thrust into real life though.

[Orange]

:shy: Holy shit
Yup, he feels kinda guilty for (sorta) ruining my chances at most available scholarships (he makes ~$70k/year). Sorta because I was too lazy to apply for more :|

[Foolinaround]

Im not knocking,im jealous. I wish my parents would give me money hell good for you man.

[Orange]

Im not knocking,im jealous. I wish my parents would give me money hell good for you man.
Thanks, that's what I thought you meant. Worst part about having this money is my spending habits. Since after my first semester, I have not finished a semester without a negative balance on my bursar account.
Summer 09 = -$3100 (paid off working nights at wal-mart, $500 additional bank loan)
Fall 09 = -$1800~ (paid off with last minute student loan)

Lesson for everyone entering college who are about to manage your own money: LEARN2BUDGET.

[Foolinaround]

How do you run up a bill with bursar?

[Pomernade]

So you're scared of being social. Thats a minor thing that can be fixed if you do this...

DON'T BE SCARED. People wont bite. 95% of people out there that you are going to meet are not ass holes. Simply look for other people that are new and are looking scared and join up with them. Become freinds with them, then be your friends-friends. The person I met on the first day of high school I dont really hang out with much but me and her friend are tight. We hang out like 24/7. But anyways thats not the point so dont be scared, walk with your shoulders up high your face upward, and you'll be sure to run into people. Its all about attitude and personality.

[Orange]

How do you run up a bill with bursar?
Don't pay it. lolol
Also
PRO-TIP: Avoid impulsive buying. Not just in college, in general.
I suck at that. Example: I went to Gamestop tonight just to preorder HeartGold and get pikachu-colored Pichu, I leave with a new Xbox 360 Arcade and Dante's Inferno (because it's fucking awesome!). Also note this Xbox 360 is to replace my banned one :(

[Foolinaround]

i understand that,but what do you do to even get a bill

[Orange]

i understand that,but what do you do to even get a bill
Uh....huh? They send me monthly statements saying how much I owe them that month and if I don't pay it off they place holds on my account to prevent enrollment or additional spending.

[Foolinaround]

yeah,but we have to pay it off either at the start or at the end

[Coolio145]

Best advice i can give you. Dive in and see if you can swim,there really isnt a way to prep someone. I was just like okay lets do this. Make as many friends as you can fast,its easy with facebook. Then just chill up and stuff. you rarely meet people in your classes that you keep in contact with,living on campus is where its at to meet people
Facebook does really help, because I am pretty bad at socializing at times cuz I was in a private school with like 70 people most of my time in middle school and 9th grade.. I also had lots of family issues that kept me from socializing too. I am in a regular school with about 2000 students now in 10th grade and it was pretty hard to get started because i went in not knowing ANYBODY.. but i met somebody on facebook who introduced me to alot of people and i started making alot of friends xD

[rachel]

I didn't go to college.

Now I have a good job with benefits (albeit low promotion ability), a nice apartment, a great workplace with great friends, the ability to go to swanky manhattan bars every day, paid vacations and other job perks.

If you don't want to go to college, you don't have to. Life is what you make of it, and you have to choose whether or not to make college a part of yours.


PS+ because EF can never get too serious, I'm having a hard time choosing. Chinese New Year's party or Valentine's party?

[Andy]

My parents would kill me if I didn't go. Literally.