<p>Here is his reply at the end of a string of emails: “As I said in my previous e-mail we are at capacity with a long waitlist at every grade level. I appreciate you sending the information. I will contact you on Monday if I see any possibility of putting you on the waitlist.”
So basically, unless I find a really great reason to be put at the top of the waiting list in the next few days, I’m not going to get in. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>I am thinking of strategies, but in the mean time…</p>
<p>Some of these places offer free, anonymous counseling by phone for what you have described. From my heart I suggest that you utilize whatever free counseling services you can get. For you today, and for your relationships in the future - do this in order to take care of yourself in the best way possible.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.pamf.org/teen/TeenHotlineHelplinebroch.pdf[/url]”>http://www.pamf.org/teen/TeenHotlineHelplinebroch.pdf</a></p>
<p>[Network</a> of Care - Behavioral Health San Diego](<a href=“http://www.sandiego.networkofcare.org/mh/resource/tax_list.cfm?sw=RP-1500.8000-750&ageGrp=&cat=41]Network”>http://www.sandiego.networkofcare.org/mh/resource/tax_list.cfm?sw=RP-1500.8000-750&ageGrp=&cat=41)</p>
<p>Lastly, if substance abuse led to consequences, this is something you also need to shine a bright spotlight on in order to increase your chances for a beautiful future (which you deserve). </p>
<p>There are also free resources in the community where you could anonymously get evaluated and receive treatment (the disease of addiction, like an eating disorder, requires lifelong vigilance). Even if you think you have it under control (or don’t have it at all), a history of use at a young age in combination with a propensity for anxiety, a history of sexual abuse, and an eating disorder…All of this together puts you in a high risk group. That doesn’t not mean you have the disease, but I believe it does mean that you need to have a trained professional in your corner to evaluate and counsel you. </p>
<p>Trust me on one thing. If there is any chance whatsoever that this has been a problem, or could be in the future, you want to become so damn educated on it that you know more than anyone else on how to keep yourself healthy. You are worth it.</p>
<p>As for that principal who is standing between you (and all of us) and what you want…</p>
<p>A first thought is that an advocate, such as a counselor or social worker who knows your situation, could speak privately with the principal and try to persuade him. However, there may be other kids on the list who have compelling stories as well (and they are ahead of you). This also involves losing some privacy, for even though details may not be revealed, something has to be alluded to in order for the conversation to be persuasive.</p>
<p>So I am still thinking…</p>
<p>Here is a list of all the other IB diploma schools in California. Are any of them close enough to try?:</p>
<p>[Find</a> an IB World School](<a href=“http://www.ibo.org/school/search/index.cfm?nextStart=1]Find”>http://www.ibo.org/school/search/index.cfm?nextStart=1)</p>
<p>The high school you are trying to get into is Top 100/highly acclaimed. Is there any way you could choose an alternative (you can still be amazing there, and get into the school of your dreams).</p>
<p>Frankly, as long as you stay healthy and safe, and really take care of yourself, you will do well anywhere.</p>
<p>Advice for you:</p>
<p>Start to move away from negative influences. When you hang around with people with corrupting mindsets, they will infect you and you will be corrupted. Be aware of your enivronment and surround yourself with positive resources.</p>
<p>Right now, you dont have an environment full super successful people guiding you (who does?).
For that you need to look to other resources: books, audio programs, etc.
Learn from these resources, let them be your mastermind group of experts who guide you.
Flood yourself with these positive resources continually, all the time.</p>
<p>YOU NEED TO GET THE RIGHT SOFTWARE IN YOUR BRAIN.</p>
<p>In fact, if I were you, I would immediately download a bunch of Eckhart Tolle on your ipod and listen to it constantly during all the free time that you have. It might sound weird at first, but keep bombarding yourself with it. I can’t recommend this enough.</p>
<p>Use the library too, its free!</p>
<p>I am here googling the SD area, trying to find a school for a very bright person who doesn’t need to pile on the stress. I think a lot of people, especially on CC (not on this thread but in general) have the misperception that you have to do things one way only in order to be successful (and that way has to be stressful and hard). That is SO wrong! A bright person can do things a little differently, perhaps taking a more individual path that is a bit more chilled out, and still score an amazing education and career.</p>
<p>I am a little worried about you taking the full IB load, and being in a typical high school classroom every day filled with all the pressure it brings. Be careful, if this is what you choose to do. Nothing is more important than making sure that you take care of yourself, and manage the stress. You might want to, for example, take a little lighter course load.</p>
<p>These eleven schools were among the 14 in San Diego listed on the 2009 Newsweek top high school list. </p>
<p>FYI…One of my kids went to a school on the Newsweek list, and was able to get into it AFTER a lot of families moved away (thinking that too many apartment houses and immigrants had ruined their nice suburban enclave) and BEFORE word got out that this school and community was truly outstanding. We were much happier there, in a diverse community with all sorts of people and backgrounds, and actually left a school where everyone was scrambling to be (and all the upper middle class pressure that went with it). </p>
<ol>
<li>Westview<br></li>
<li>University City<br></li>
<li>Mira Mesa<br></li>
<li>Rancho Bernardo</li>
<li>Mount Carmel<br></li>
<li>Clairemont<br></li>
<li>James Madison<br></li>
</ol>
<p>Have you already contacted the SUSD to see if there is space available at another school? (Enrollment Options
4100 Normal Street, Annex 7B
San Diego, California 92103 (619) 725-5672
(619) 725-7311 – Fax
<a href="mailto:eoptions@sandi.net">eoptions@sandi.net</a> )
8. Scripps Ranch<br>
9. Henry<br>
10. Point Loma<br>
11. San Diego School of Creative & Performing Arts</p>
<p>I’m sorry that the stress level is so high, through the roof. Please keep us posted. Especially, please let us know if, for wahtever reason, San Diego is not going to work out.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Was this in response to my:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If so, please do feel free to speak when you are ready; people here are interested and care.</p>
<p>**Or: **</p>
<p>I’d like to emphasize again, with spideygirl, the value of anonymous help lines such as were mentioned earlier. You could call such lines and reach trained, empathetic, nonjudgmental listeners, often 24/7. You could well feel comfortable, at first or after a few calls, to speak to them.</p>
<p>I am a volunteer listener on such a line (not in California), and I’d like to share a little with you. Our service has a significant number of people who call in regularly–some roughly weekly, some a few times a week, some daily. We listeners get to know these callers pretty well, and the callers get to know many of us individually (first names only). The people who call in regularly tell us, often over and over, how much they appreciate someone being there, the empathetic listening. We also can help people find in-person resources in the community.</p>
<p>If you feel the need to talk, if the anxiety is so high, if you are so very stressed, if you aren’t sure what to do, certainly if you get suicidal thoughts: I really would encourage you to try calling a listening service or hotline. If you do, perhaps try calling a few of them over time, each may have a slightly different feel, find the one that feels best to you.</p>
<p>Here they are again, together, with some other resources:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.pamf.org/teen/TeenHotlineHelplinebroch.pdf[/url]”>http://www.pamf.org/teen/TeenHotlineHelplinebroch.pdf</a></p>
<p>[Network</a> of Care - Behavioral Health San Diego](<a href=“http://www.sandiego.networkofcare.org/mh/resource/tax_list.cfm?sw=RP-1500.8000-750&ageGrp=&cat=41]Network”>http://www.sandiego.networkofcare.org/mh/resource/tax_list.cfm?sw=RP-1500.8000-750&ageGrp=&cat=41)</p>
<p>[California</a> Youth Crisis Line](<a href=“http://www.youthcrisisline.org/]California”>http://www.youthcrisisline.org/)</p>
<p>[TEENLINE</a> -:- Youth Yellow Pages -:- Hotlines, Info and Referrals](<a href=“http://teenlineonline.org/teens/youth-yellow-pages/hotlines-info-referrals]TEENLINE”>http://teenlineonline.org/teens/youth-yellow-pages/hotlines-info-referrals)</p>
<p>[Need</a> Resources in California?](<a href=“http://www.thebailbondstore.com/State-Cities/state_resources.php?cat_id=12&st=CA]Need”>http://www.thebailbondstore.com/State-Cities/state_resources.php?cat_id=12&st=CA)</p>
<p>1-800-273-TALK ([National</a> Suicide Prevention Lifeline - With Help Comes Hope](<a href=“http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/]National”>http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/))</p>
<p>Yoohoooo Alexandra,</p>
<p>How are you doing sweetie? Please let us know how you are doing.</p>
<p>XOXO</p>
<p>Hi guys, sorry about the late reply. I’m now in San Diego, but I pretty much moved down the first day of school so it’s been a really stressful week for me. (The usual no supplies except with the added no transportation no library card no friends no nothing) I’m taking a full pretty heavy courseload, but it seems that everywhere I might go there isn’t a whole lot of classes available to me. It seems my choices are to go to Simon’s Rock or a college that will accept me early OR stay and take a full load of electives.
I’m super anxious now, and depressed in a lot of ways as well. I don’t really know where I’m going with all this but at the moment I can really see my life going either way. What choices I make now are crucial to where I go but i don’t really know where I want to go anyhow. I’m going to Point Loma, by the way, spideygirl- thanks for the list. It’s actually my resident school, and SDUSD has very scant transportation services.</p>
<p>Thrilled to hear back from you!</p>
<p>So, you have a fresh start in a new situation - thank God for that.</p>
<p>Beginnings like yours are tough, always. Making friends takes a while. Stay patient.</p>
<p>I know you are super smart, but taking care of yourself is way, way more important right now than being challenged. Take only as many hard classes as you can and still stay chilled out (tune out those type A kids who are overloading themselves - you need to respect your own situation). Err on the side of an easy schedule. Don’t buy into the myth that there is only one way to be successful. You will have a gazillion options and chances, if only you stay on track and healthy. </p>
<p>I would not worry about what comes next too much. It will all work out, more so if you take it one day at a time.</p>
<p>Look into clubs and activities your school has which might be populated by kind kids. Stay away from social pressure as well. Nobody needs it, but especially someone who is trying to find their footing.</p>
<p>Here is an out-of-school option for activities, but tread very carefully to avoid creepy adults and inappropriate environments. See if there are any groups for young people.</p>
<p><a href=“Error! | Meetup”>Error! | Meetup;
<p>Church groups are also a good way to meet young people in a more healthy, safe setting.</p>
<p>It is great to hear from you! :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is perfectly fine and normal. I agree with spideygirl. Take gentle care of yourself. One day at a time.</p>
<p>Where you want to go will become clearer over time. Just allow that shoot the gentle space to grow.</p>
<p>AF:
I endorse everything Spideygirl says. Take care of yourself, take one day at a time; don’t push yourself hard either in academics or social life. Friendships that are worthwhile take time to cultivate.
We have a young friend who’s just come from Asia. She lost her dad a little over a year ago. Her English isn’t bad but she is not yet fluent. At home she was used to be at the very top of her class; she is having a hard time getting to grip with the fact that because of her somewhat limited English and her unfamiliarity with the US and American education, she probably won’t be; her classmates have been studying the same foreign language for three years. She is just starting now. She is unused to the weather. And on and on… But I know she will adjust and even thrive and do well.
So will you. Give yourself time, pat yourself on the back for every little achievement and know that you can achieve. You don’t know in which direction you are headed? That is very normal. Don’t worry over it. Good luck and come back to CC when you need a cyberhug.</p>
<p>So right now I really feel terrible about everything. I’m in a better situation, but I’m always on the edge- I always feel really scared that I’m doing the wrong thing</p>
<p>I had an interview with SRC of Bard and I actually was able to get my interview from the admissions officer who will read my application. It was perfect. The place is perfect. But from what I’ve heard, the aid won’t be enough. And I need enough aid, desperately. He also recommended that i apply for January admission, so that I can start sooner rather than later (also, I would be slightly older that everyone if I entered in the fall- not so good). I pretty much know that I’m in; the real issue lies in me making it through this ordeal first. </p>
<p>Oh…so that aid thing. There are no scholarships available for me, pretty much period, because they all require you to be officially graduating this year, and non-traditional student ones are entirely crafted for the over 25 crowd. Am I really this screwed?</p>
<p>Also, am I even eligible for the NMSQT if I am going to college in January or September?</p>
<p>I’m at a low point right now. I’m really holding on by the tips of my fingers, and it’s so difficult knowing this is how I feel even when things are going well (relatively). SRC sounds like it might just happen, so I’m crossing my fingers but I’m more worried that I’ll commit suicide before that happens.</p>
<p>I’m sorry and terribly worried about your suicidal feelings. Please talk to a responsible adult about them. If you can’t talk to anyone in person, please refer to post #68 for phone numbers or simply call</p>
<p>1-800-843-5200. (California Youth Crisis Line)</p>
<p>Please post again tonight and let us know how you are doing.</p>
<p>A lurker here but I am thinking of you and wishing you all the best.</p>
<p>C’mon on Alex, are you okay?</p>
<p>Alex,
Many of us are worried that you haven’t been posting.
please keep yourself safe</p>