Nate, 15 – Hartford CT

My name is Nate and I am 15.

I go to a public school in Hartford, CT. I hate my school.

Besides having to wear a uniform which stinks there are daily fights and gang activity. I have had my share of life’s challenges. I had leukemia at age 5 which I am in remission from and over the years dealt with the loss of my baby brother along with getting a lot of other health issues.

This new reality of not going to school was great at first. I didn’t have to deal with all the drama at school. But as time went on things started to get really boring and aggravating. I have an IEP for special education at school because my memory doesn’t work since going through chemotherapy. I can study or read something and immediately forget. I wake up very early (4-5am) everyday due to my narcolepsy meds wearing off so I log into my chromebook to see if the teachers put work so I can get an early start. Usually there isn’t any work there and so I just watch some shows or movies.

When I do get assigned work I don’t understand 90% of it. There isn’t any instruction and this is work I was never taught before. Usually I have to google the answers or ask for help from my mom or sister. I am not learning a thing. I worry when I go back to school how much I will be behind since I am already behind so much. At school I have special ed teachers who help me and I understand the work but at home when I email a teacher they respond with, “Keep going you are already ahead.” But I am not ahead I didn’t do anything.

In a way I would rather be at school at this point. I am only able to talk to my friends on video. It gets boring and we end up having nothing to talk about. I sit around a lot since I can’t go play at the park and I have gained some weight which is making my back pain worse. The times when it is nice out and not raining we take walks and ride our bikes but it’s not the same. I am stuck in the house everyday with my 3 sisters and brother. We have no privacy and everyone gets under each others skin.

Trying to keep calm and deal with all this chaos is challenging. I have a great psychologist I zoom with who helps me. I am also part of a youth group where we get to zoom with the group every couple weeks. I have also been sketching anime pictures which is something I started to watch. Listening to music is also helpful. I don’t know what to expect in the near future but all we can do is wait and see. 

Nate, 15 – Hartford, CT

My name is Nate and I am 15.

I go to a public school in Hartford, CT. I hate my school.

Besides having to wear a uniform which stinks there are daily fights and gang activity. I have had my share of life’s challenges. I had leukemia at age 5 which I am in remission from and over the years dealt with the loss of my baby brother along with getting a lot of other health issues.

This new reality of not going to school was great at first. I didn’t have to deal with all the drama at school. But as time went on things started to get really boring and aggravating. I have an IEP for special education at school because my memory doesn’t work since going through chemotherapy. I can study or read something and immediately forget. I wake up very early (4-5am) everyday due to my narcolepsy meds wearing off so I log into my chromebook to see if the teachers put work so I can get an early start. Usually there isn’t any work there and so I just watch some shows or movies.

When I do get assigned work I don’t understand 90% of it. There isn’t any instruction and this is work I was never taught before. Usually I have to google the answers or ask for help from my mom or sister. I am not learning a thing. I worry when I go back to school how much I will be behind since I am already behind so much. At school I have special ed teachers who help me and I understand the work but at home when I email a teacher they respond with, “Keep going you are already ahead.” But I am not ahead I didn’t do anything.

In a way I would rather be at school at this point. I am only able to talk to my friends on video. It gets boring and we end up having nothing to talk about. I sit around a lot since I can’t go play at the park and I have gained some weight which is making my back pain worse. The times when it is nice out and not raining we take walks and ride our bikes but it’s not the same. I am stuck in the house everyday with my 3 sisters and brother. We have no privacy and everyone gets under each others skin.

Trying to keep calm and deal with all this chaos is challenging. I have a great psychologist I zoom with who helps me. I am also part of a youth group where we get to zoom with the group every couple weeks. I have also been sketching anime pictures which is something I started to watch. Listening to music is also helpful. I don’t know what to expect in the near future but all we can do is wait and see.