I failed school horrifically and the last year I had a decent attendance rate was 5th grade and the last year I attended at all was 9th grade. I was always so anxious and I was bullying, had a fear of failure, was extremely depressed and had likelihood ADHD (it's not diagnosed but everyone I know with ADHD has told me I probably have it, and I have just about every symptom of it).

I'm 18, working and its so much fucking nicer. Granted I have a super chill boss and a forgiving job all beit hard job and it's a million times better. I don't have any panic attacks before going to work and everyone's a mature adult, not petty or slightly psychopathic like a lot of teenagers.

Huge plus is when work is done it is fucking done, I don't need to stay up all night finishing shit for work too, or have crushing anxiety about upcoming assignments. I still cannot fathom how some prefer school over adult life, school made me want to blow my fucking brains out

Same. Being undiagnosed autistic is horrifying in high school. I was chronically depressed and suicidal and everyone avoided me like the plague because I was weird as fuck and had no social skills. I did drop out at 17, then delivered mail for a few years, then after I got diagnosed and put on proper meds went and got my diploma in adult education at 24, which was super chill. Ironically I decided to become a teacher, in part because I want to contribute to making school a little less horrifying to kids like I was. And the 7 years of delay ended up being a huge benefit, because I can stand in front 25 13 year-olds confidently at 28, but I could never have done that at 21.

Same but I'm not convinced community college would've been better.