Will I ever be able to have friends?
So I have led a very sheltered, very closed childhood. I am now 17, and have been homeschooled my entire life, so I have never really gotten a chance in my teenage years to make friends.
I have really only ever met people from the churches I go to, which have consisted of an exclusive, awful, "we don't want you here" church and several "no one is your age, ha" churches.
So basically I have no social skills, and fear that my chances for a normal relationship in any aspect has been ruined, since I don't know how to navigate the friendship waters, and have lived with only myself for so long that I don't really "need" friends.
But I might leave for college in the fall, and I am very worried that my awkward (socially and generally), introvert self will never find people to text or hang out with or go on dates with or anything.
Has anyone else gone through something similar and led a life with normal relationships?
@JovianPlutonian
Hey there, social adventurer! š Welcome to the wild world of friendship and connection! š It sounds like you've been on quite the unique journey, but guess what? You're not alone, and there's a whole universe of possibilities waiting for you out there! š
@BelovedMe
Thank you so much!!!! Your reply was so encouraging and gave me a new way to view my situation. Looking at it like an adventure with ways to level up completely changes my mindset!
@JovianPlutonian
@JovianPlutonian
Hi!! Iām Kiara. I was homeschooled too! All the way through high school :)
I actually had the opposite experience reallyā¦ Sort of. My mom made sure I was super socialized, with church, volunteering, neighbor kids, events, homeschool co-ops, etc. However, I became a recluse when I was 16 or so, after I had a falling out with my dad for his abuse, and we parted ways. I had to relearn to be a social creature in college!
Iām so sorry! Iāve been a part of both kinds of churches. I was part of a cult (didnāt realize it until years later!) which was very judgmental and pressured my boyfriend (successfully) to break up with me. Iām currently in a church made up of all older people (mostly), so I donāt really fit in.
I can tell you right now that college was the best thing that ever happened to me! I was socially awkward (more than I am now lol) because of my depression and my autism. However, I found a Christian group on campus that accepted and loved me no matter what, and spending time with them, I learned how to be a normal human. Lol! I just fed off peopleās reactions, imitated them, etc. People always say they canāt tell that Iām autistic. Thatās partially because of that group! <3
So when you get to collegeā¦ Join groups/clubs. Try them all! Ditch the ones you donāt like or feel comfy in, and embrace the good ones. Donāt obsess over being perfect socially. Keep showing up. Learn from them, imitate them. Get peopleās numbers! Contact people fairly regularly and invite them to events or just to go grab coffee. :)
Iād love to get to know you and trade homeschool stories! <3
Kiara