h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have been home educated by my mother since I left school when I was 12.
I left my primary school 5 months early due to extreme bullying and we had to find a home tutor for me until I went to high school. I was due to go to a King Edwards grammar school as I passed all 3 tests that I took but I threw away that opportunity to go to a local comprehensive school because my friends were going there. That was the worst desicion I have ever made.
I was looking forward to going to high school and starting a new thing. When I got there, I had been put in some of the same classes as the boys that were bullying me and, in one case, they even sat me next to one of the main boys.
The bullying continued, not only from them, but many other people too. I remember passing out in lessons because of worry, running to the tolilets in breaks to cry but I couldn't stay in there for the smell of various drugs was too great.
So I left. My mother took me to a psychiatrist as I'd now become very suicidal and my self harm had got even worse (I was using self harm when I was being bullied to calm myself down so that I didn't tell anyone in fear that they'd find out). After around 4 sessions, they found me a part time school. This school was for people who had been thrown out of school, people who didn't want to learn, people who bullied people like me. Why did they put me there? I'd still love to know the answer. I was the only girl and was left to read dull, teenage books. It was there that I had the worst experience of my life.
So I left there.
That's when home-education started. I can honestly say that I have learnt more this way than if I had stayed at that school. Home education also has it's down sides though. Many college's don't like enrolling home educated children and many companies feel the same way about employing home educated people.
I'm 17 now and looking for a job. When I was in primary school I always dreamed of going to university. There's hardly any way that can happen now. I design clothes (that I sell), write poetry and I am currently working on my 5th fanzine.
If anyone would like to talk with me about home education, email [email protected]
Livvy xxx

I've been very lucky. I too left school because of horrendous bullying to be home educated, but I missed the banter you get with a class. So I went and enrolled at college, doing maths and english GCSE's and AS English Lit and Drama. My exams are coming up soon and I'm predicted to do well, having already been enrolled in a performing Arts course for next year. But most importantly, I have loads of friends from both sexes, and I feel so much happier and popular. The teachers at my old school tried to make out that the problem was with me and I've finally been able to prove them wrong. I was at the top of my classes at school but the teachers started to down grade me to lower my esteem. Now, I want to be an actress and whenever I find it tough, I remember what happened so I can turn round one day and say, I made it!

Thanks very much for reading this, it's so helpful to hear that others have been there, although it's disgusting that this problem is allowed to continue.

Pearl

I hope it all goes well for you...
I am going to enrol at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design in September as I want to take photography and design...

I was going to go into fashion design, but then kinda fell into drama. I always think that photography looks quite expensive, is it? What sort of things do you photograph?

Oh my word, just saw you'd added me to your friends! that's made my day, you sound very interesting

Thank you! You sound very cool! Please forgive me but I am a digibox user so I will have to start a new post when we get to 11 in here as the box runs out of memory...
I photograph dolls, cherry blossoms, lakes, dark woods, household objects that have been dumped in fields etc... I like to use my 1960's camera with black and white film when I do that photography... I also take live photgraphs at gigs i go to for my fanzine...
Livvi xxx

Ooh, right, I'll bear that in mind about your digi.

So, what sort of things do you write about in your fanzine?