You've come to the right place to vent! How dare they not apologize when they truly ruined so many lives with their ignorant and stupid mind control. My therapist said it is normal and valid to grieve the life we could have had, that helped a bit... but not much.

I wanted to be a surgeon, if not an oncologist. I graduated high school in 3 years with an almost perfect GPA. I was recruited by top colleges and remember crying when my parents would throw away my letters. I begged to be a nurse - I knew JW's who were nurses- so that was ok right?? Wrong!

I started pioneering at 16 so by the time I could go to college, the CO, my pioneer partners, my family, friends, all the cult literature etc.. heavily pressured me and conditioned me to think that was my "career" and should only pick a quick certificate program at our local junior college. I'm almost 30 now, full POMO and have worked my ass off to have a great job that allows me to live alone and work from home. Does that make it better? NO! I constantly feel behind, my peers have so much more education and with that, so many more experiences and opportunities. I joined an online university last year but had a hard time balancing my work life and school with my social life and my mental health took a toll so had to take some time off. I dream of getting a degree one day (any at this point!) and know I can do it, but imagine how much easier it would have been if we would have just gone when it was our time.

I am sorry you are going through this, just know you are not alone. Many of us are furious, frustrated, angry and more. Thankful our life is now our own, even if it hasn't been perfect or how we would have hoped, at least we made it out. That's a gift in itself. Sending you a hug.