I need advice.

Apologies if this isn't the right place for this. I know this forum is more for emotional support, but I'm not sure where else to post it.
I've been homeschooled my entire life by an overprotective mom (I'm currently 17) and I feel like it's ruined my life. She never put much effort into teaching me, so my "schooling" involved just sitting around in the house and doing nothing at least half of the time. Because of this my education is... not good, to say the least. I also have exactly 0 friends and no idea how to react in social situations.

So I want to move out when I turn 18 next year (preferrably to another state but that part can wait), but... how? I have no education, no one to go live with and no money. Trying to get a GED sounds terrifying to me. Can anyone give me advice on how to get through this situation? It's like I'm just stuck here.

Order a GED study manual (Amazon?) and start studying. Use a highlighter.

Apply to college. Tell them what you said here. Ask for help.

Without a GED no college will even look at a person....not even a junior college.

Getting a study guide for your GED is probably the best place to start. Moving out without a way to support yourself is impossible. Better to have your own internal drive to become independent than trying to find someone else & depend on them for your escape. People who are abusive tend to prey on people like that.

I don't know if your mental health status or if you have a therapist or psychiatrist but you might turn to them with this problem if you do & ask them what your best solution would be.

You need your GED before you can ever become healthily independent these days & not end up in a worse situation than you already are in.

Some junior colleges or even high schools have classed you can attend with others trying to get their GED. That would be a good possibility too. Can you get a drivers license & use the family car or use a bus to get yourself to the classes?

It is going to take your own internal drive to succeed at this point & just moving to another town or state won't solve your real problem.....it will just create more problems at this point in time. Probably a good idea when you finally are able to become independent. So I would start focusing on the best way possible to get your GED. That is what will start opening doors for you.

First of all, I'm sorry this happened to you. This happened to an ex-friend of mine (that's another story) because his parents believed public high school was "evil." As a result, they "homeschooled" him but (due to their laziness and not even being credentialed teachers) didn't teach him anything. They bought a few textbooks, sure, and told him to read them. And he did, at first. He tried teaching himself mathematics and concepts that are learned just so much better with an actual instructor. The result was he turned 18 with an elementary/early middle school education and felt completely robbed of a normal adolescent teen social life and high school experience. Unfortunately, he let it get the best of him but the way he reacted was justifiable considering the level of control they had on his life.

Now, onto you. You told us that you've been robbed of a basic education. I feel you on that one because taking away your education is like hitting you where it hurts. I understand you are feeling angry, frustrated, depressed because of a lack of opportunity BUT you can't let this define the rest of your life. From what you told us, it sounds like you also don't have much of a support system in place, if at all. This is where it is going to take that inner grit to overcome certain challenges you will face. It's always hard when nobody has your six.

You already know what you have to do. You have to study and pass your GED. For information or prep sites that can help you with this task, this website might help: GED Classes Near Me -2019 List

Despite your setbacks, you do seem ambitious to move out of state and start a life of your own. Remember this motivation when things get hard.

1. Study and pass your GED

2. Apply to college, community college. The reason I'm saying community college vs. a 4-year state university is because one is unlikely to accept you directly because of your background. Many young adults getting accepted to 4-year universities as freshmen come from high school where they did the whole rodeo of athletic activities, AP classes, national honor societies and scores of other clubs. Unfortunately, that's what a lot of colleges are looking for. I'm keeping it real with you. You will also have to study for the SAT or ACT, college entrance exams, if you want in as a freshman. If that's what you want, do it! If not, apply and get admitted to a community college and study a trade. These are things like vocational health programs - physical therapist assistant, radiologic technician, electrician, plumber, and more. OR, if you want to end up at a 4-year college, do your 2 years of general course work at the community college and apply to transfer to a university at that point. Throughout this time, remember to complete the FAFSA so you can be eligible for the pell grant.

3. Graduate with a hopefully employable major - what kind of things are you interested in, OP? If you select an in-demand major, you'll probably end up with a good job, and you can then move out of state.

Let us know how you end up. I have faith in you!

@TheReverse

That is amazing advice! It was nice of you to take the time to post such a well thought response. I definitely agree with your plan.

I recently read the book Educated by Tara Westover. She was also “home schooled” and had to struggle to catch up. She ended up going to Cambridge in the UK and also Harvard.