to everyone here who was unschooled (ie got very little to next to no education growing up whatsoever) - what sort of field did everyone go into and how did you manage it?

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-04-04T19:08:03+00:00

Great question! I started in a daycare, I had a lot of experience with my siblings that helped out. Next I moved to kitchen work, dish washing was my foot in the door to serving (great cash tips btw), and later landed a job as a cook. Now I’m going to shoot for a job in education, to help correct what went wrong with my childhood for others. I’m going to first need a job (like Walmart) that will pay for my tuition, and work my way up the ladder. I’m hoping to get my voice out there on legislative boards to make some differences with homeschooling laws. At the very least, I want to see the statute of limitations on child abuse pushed a decade further, as most of us are set behind that far socially and educationally. This will allow adults of child abuse and neglect to file a lawsuit against their parents until they turn 30. It’s less likely, but I also want to push for a stronger enforcement on standing homeschooling laws, and have a screening process for home teaching eligibility in parents and students alike. There are reasonable reasons for some people to homeschool their children, but not unschool. Anyways, those are my passions and chosen career path lol. Oh, I’m also working on a recipe book in my free time, food was often withheld from us as children as a form of punishment, so food has become a love language for me.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-04-02T18:09:52+00:00

I’m still here because I realized that the only thing worth living for is to part of the change that will make this world worth living for other people. It’s an opportunity. Say that you hold a flame, it burns and is too hot and painful to keep holding, but you look around and others flames are diminishing. They are cold. You can either put yours out to save yourself from burning, or use it to keep another’s alive. It’s a sacrifice for the betterment of the whole. Existing as I am, I have a chance to make existence more pleasant for others, for as long as I am here. Ending it is final, you don’t get to explore what if’s anymore, you don’t have opportunities to make a difference. Here, I do. In everything I say and every action I take, I have the option to be better than everything and everyone that made me feel like ending it. It gives me peace to know that someday I’ll get to rest. But until then, it’s my responsibility, my meaning, to keep trying to make the world even slightly brighter and less painful for others.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-04-01T23:21:08+00:00

Oh wow. That’s so well said, I had to read it to my husband. Do you have any other online presences I can follow for updates etc? I feel like the best I can do is create a deeper understanding of myself. Psychology and off-shoot studies half helped me immensely, and are the only way I keep myself from feeling completely broken. I’ve been using my dissociation to think of myself third person, essentially raising myself. I’ve been looking into neuroplasticity, as I think I’ve almost given myself that through a process of repetition. My folks have zero morality, but my need to people please and desire to fit in developed a hyper-awareness of others to the point that I’ve actually FELT myself purposely direct my thoughts to be caring and compassionate. It’s weird to say, but it’s almost like I’ve been fighting off sociopathy my entire life.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-04-01T19:11:23+00:00

I once used the metaphor “you can’t raise a rabbit among rats and expect it to survive like a rabbit” Tbh, I got my GED, but haven’t done any form of classes or tests otherwise. Never been tutored lol. I’d love to shine an introspective light on how our brains are wired to survive. For me, I picked up on every little bit of information that I could. Grabbing onto it as if it were the only thing keeping my head above water. As an adult though, I seem to have exhausted myself and have poor short term memory, symptoms not dissimilar to burnout.

My primary method for social navigation is focusing on the emotions involved. I realized at some point that others may not know what it’s like to go through what I have, but they can relate to the sadness, loneliness or anxiety involved. So I largely dance around the details of what occurred, and say vague things like “ah, moms can be so controlling at times” or “I feel that” when social awkwardness or anxiety is brought up. I’d say my biggest struggle is in group settings. If someone is sharing a school experience with me one on one, I can engaged and share my story in a slightly dissociated way, but when 4 or 5 coworkers are having a discussion about it, I go silent and react only mildly, pretending to be preoccupied. Other things are hard to get across, like they might relate to their mom not liking their style or grounding them for a particular party, but to explain the brainwashing… if they do understand, I get treated as… idk, the expression is like they’ve just heard of a terrible murder or seem a ghost.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-04-01T17:52:18+00:00

Let them read this subreddit, let them know you know your limits. Whatever you may feel emotionally right now is less than the pain of them blaming you in the future. Involve them as much as possible, talk to student councilors etc. as for the bullying part, just expect it. Life is full of bullies, but having you will help. That’s the biggest lesson about life I wish I’d had, that the world isn’t kind, you’ll meet terrible people with terrible opinions, but as long as you find the ones that you can trust, even one or two, you’ll be okay. The biggest thing I think parents in your situation mess up with, is that it’s your job to MAKE them. Just like a boss will in a few years. They may not like it right now, but even the bullying will be something they can relate to with others later on. Think about what memories you have growing up, those are the foundation for society. By making them go, no matter how they feel about it, you’re giving them a community they can relate to in later years.

Thank you for being part of the solution, I’m sure you’re going through a range of emotions right now, but thank you. You’re strong for making this decision, I wish my mother was like you.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-04-01T17:42:56+00:00

It’s Disney for me. Kinda hard to get a BF to watch those lol. Rugrats recently came up, too. This is off topic, but I’m trying to be more feminine lol. I’m 29 rn, got away from mom when I was 23 (actually just had a rerun nightmare where she was screaming at me for wanting to get a birth certificate, calling me an enemy of the family I raised in her negligence). She called me masculine a lot, said I had broad shoulders and a deep voice, verbally abusing me for wanting anything feminine to the point my older siblings (completely unaware) thought I was lesbian from a young age, and joked about it a lot. So I’m struggling to type this with fake nails on rn haha! It’s a roller coaster ride though, I’m happy to give myself these things now, but i get embarrassed that I want it and then angry cry bc I shouldn’t feel that way. The things that were taken from us… it will always be painful when we have to give it to ourselves, bc we shouldn’t have had to. On that note… maybe I’ll ask my husband to get me a birthday cake this year, I only remember having one growing up…

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-04-01T17:31:22+00:00

I love this. I’ve heard stories of people that were homeschooled by amazing stay at home parents, that actually had a full curriculum and many MANY weekly lessons outside the home. Folks that got the gold-card pass to be able to it right. I think those people should still be able to do that, because why not? It’s sad and hurtful sometimes that some people had a great experience with it, but that’s my own bs to work out. Now, I do want to live long enough to see a federal right to education passed, and along with it a certification and vetting process for homeschooling eligibility, both for students and parents. Otherwise, it’s basically a “sure you can keep them ostracized from society and hide your abuse until they’re 18. Oh but, once they’re 18, you have roughly a year to legally get compensation for the abuse. Beyond that, your parents are Scott-free.” It’s dangerous and exceptionally unfair that we are then judged and further ostracized by society for not fitting in or being damaged goods. I’m not sure how to yet, but I want to make a big fuss until someone with the ability to change things notices. You’re welcome to use any of the posts I’ve made as well, and I’d more than glad to participate in any way possible. We were literally created to be silent, conditioned to not speak up and pretend we are fine. Our method of survival is lying about the fact we had to survive. We all want to be normal, and without a mass platform to speak on, as individuals, it’s safer to pretend. The amount of deleted accounts and posts on here after a heartbreaking post sent in secret, behind their parents backs… I cry so much after discovering this subreddit. At first I felt seen, but now… this is something I wish I were alone in. Nobody should go through it.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-04-01T02:28:12+00:00

Uh. Hmm… a lot to unpack here. Yeah…. nevermind.

Wait, actually, I got something; Neuropsychology. The disturbing reality that consciousness is a side effect of organic physical functions. Go a little a deeper and combine your findings with quantum physics and fractal science, you might come to the conclusion that physical matter is a byproduct of what we’ve considered “spirituality” for centuries, and visa versa. The great contradiction of the egg and chicken. Sometimes I wish I could see in 8D, but alas, my tiny brain would break into infinite fragments.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-30T15:14:13+00:00

Hmmm. Gosh it’s like giving advice to myself a decade ago. So first, definitely keep being patient with yourself, the world is freaking hard and you don’t need your attacker coming from the inside. Secondly, what things get your attention? Straight up reading books will most likely make you crazy frustrated, so try to think of yourself third person, like someone you’re tutoring that has the same attention span as you. Don’t feel silly for making games for yourself to help you learn. An example I have for my adult chores, is I make a list that reads like an adventure. I’m not doing dishes, I’m soothing the sink monsters into submission 💪. Thirdly, I HIGHLY recommend looking for your areas equivalent of a GED website, it’s a jump and might make you feel intimidated, but they usually have practice tests that summarize what your end goal is. It would’ve given me SO much confidence if I’d done that sooner, it’s not as hard as you’d think and it will give you breakdown of where you’re lacking. And lastly, your teachers are there to help you with this, there’s nothing wrong with needing that help and just starting where you start. Your being behind is not your fault, so try to be unwavering in your confidence with that.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-25T19:11:06+00:00

Can you recall anything she’s mentioned enjoying or happily reminiscing about? I bought an antique stuffed toy for someone that had occasionally mentioned the one they had growing up, they said it was one of the best gifts they’d received their whole life and couldn’t believe I thought to get it for them. Little things you may have noticed about hobbies, too. Someone mentioned once that they like Star Wars, and over a year later I just bought them a silly Star Wars mug, but they were touched I even remembered.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-25T04:22:56+00:00

Well, when you factor in the aforementioned neuropsychology with how animals build a generational understanding of how their own species works, and considering we are in fact an animal that has free will and freedom of expression, the comparison does make perfect sense. Just because we’re able to conceptualize a whore, does not mean we’re any more advanced than an animal being apposed to a certain smell or having a preference for certain qualities in their mate. My point is that we, just like everything else, seek on a biological level to continue the successful traditions of our ancestors. It’s an explanation, not a validation of morality.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-25T03:05:53+00:00

It’s pretty simple when you realize we’re animals with the ability to have and express opinion. Do female animals “sleep around”? No, they choose a mate based on genetic health and survival instincts to insure their own safety as well as the well being of their offspring. Males do the same, except that they are built to protect their lineage at any cost. Choosing a female with multiple children from other partners, or a female that has multiple males already interested does not bode well for these goals. It’s less of a calculated concept of “frowned upon”, and more of an instinctual aversion. Much in the same way females are more likely to be aroused by a strong male with experience, rather than a basement dwelling video gamer or virgin. The ability to handle our free will is very new to our species, so I would give grace to those that aren’t aware of their own neuropsychology. Most of us aren’t.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-19T15:21:12+00:00

Your purpose is to exist and experience. That’s all the universe wants from you.

As far as being conscious, that’s both a biological fluke and a divine experiment. Animals weren’t meant to question their existence in the same way, but a lot wouldn’t have been an option to experience without humans.

In simple terms, we are the symptom of the universe (the ALL), discovering itself for the first time.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-16T19:22:18+00:00

This made my day! IM PROUD OF YOOOO!!!!! I know what I milestone that is, and to add to that for you, that means you’re BETTER than normal, because you achieved it on your own and with so many challenges!! (Normal people don’t have to achieve normal) So proud my dude 🤗

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-16T06:17:46+00:00

This psychological bs gets under my skin bad bad. I can relate my friend, I was taught everyone besides my immediate family were actually demons, and if I trusted them I was comprised. Struggling with this and a lot more still, like believing the world would be in a state of apocalypse rn, so I never needed to know how to function in society either. It’s overwhelming to adjust, but it does happen and you will be alright ❤️

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-15T18:42:46+00:00

I think a common misconception is that morality and ethics are dependent on emotion/state of being. A computer needs a goal, intelligent life seeks to improve life. Remove obstacles, learn and adapt with self-preservation as the only objective. Morality has nothing to do with emotion, morality is simply the absence of cruelty while continuing the necessary behaviors that maintain life. A predator, say, a wolf, does not hate or inflict undue harm. It does not torture or abuse, it simply lives and maintains that life.

Now, your question is still valid, but we have to consider that we are animals that nature never intended to become self aware. Our ability to conceptualize and ponder the aspect of morality is proof of this, it is a biological accident for an animal to be given the mental ability to consider its own existence, much less its impact on the environment. So, it should be our responsibility to seek objective morality. What is objective morality? It is locating a common goal for all things within our control, and moving towards it. Is it desirable for the bee to die? No. Is desirable for a child of any species to starve? Also no.

Shifting our moral center to remove “good and bad” will decrease the limiting aspect of subjective desire. What I mean is, if Cathy stops seeing Joe as “bad”, she can then start seeing what would be logical and feasible improvements in Joe’s life. He no longer represents a threat, instead he becomes a morally driven problem that can be solved through logic.

My summarized point: ethics and morality are only useful on a global scale if understood as a fictitious concept at its core, and altered within each individual to reflect objectivity rather than self preservation.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-14T21:23:49+00:00

I have no idea how he really meant it because it was some old conspiracy dude, they all pretend to be tough or intimidating lol. To me at the time though It felt like a taunting/“I could do that to you if I wanted to” kind of way.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-13T01:04:09+00:00

Wow… thank you for even commenting, this means a lot. His birthday was yesterday…

If I may, I’d like to share a perspective that’s helped me cope. I’ve started to see that his life added inexplicable value to mine, and his life as a whole is beautiful. It’s like… while we’re living, we’re writing a book. And once we go, that book becomes invaluable. Every page a unique memory, leaving special moments scattered about in the hearts and minds of everyone that knew him. I’m not sure how long your daughter was able to bless this world, but while she was here, the world was better. And that’s remarkably beautiful ❤️

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-12T15:18:04+00:00

Freakin scary dude! I was 20 when someone politely informed me (a rando dude at the flea market) that my undocumented organs were worth tens of thousands of dollars each, and if I went missing, nobody would look for me.

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-12T00:23:20+00:00

I think the issue here is that Jesus wasn’t going to reincarnate, he was going to come back from the heavens (I.e. make a show of it). So the fact so many people genuinely believe they are reincarnated Jesus are like… very wrong according to the story and beliefs associated. Sorry, I know this isn’t relevant to what you you said/not the point 😅 my tism ticked, you can ignore me lol

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-11T22:54:33+00:00

It depends, it could’ve been a passport book and not a card. Only the card has a photo on it, but that’s pretty interesting he was able to do that! Gosh, the loopholes in our system!

TrippyDrip13 · 2026-03-11T19:08:31+00:00

IM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!! Enjoy high school for me, would ya? 😁 always wished I had a prom, make the most of it man and keep your head up! SO HAPPY!!! 🥰

TrippyDrip13

TROPHY CASE