I’m 18, rebuilding my life, and want to travel – what are your suggestions?

Hi-

This may sound like an absurd question (or a number of questions), but I’ve reached the point in my life in which a drastic change is needed and I must begin working, my education, and fulfilling my dreams. I’m eighteen years old, living in California, and struggle with clinical depression. For the past several years of my life, I’ve been horribly depressed, I’ve wanted to stay in bed all the time, I’ve missed a lot of school, and I’ve slowly let my grades deteriorate into D’s and F’s. I left school halfway through my junior year, with the intention of taking the CHSPE exam, which grants a high school diploma (NOT a GED) once passed. I’ve taken the CHSPE twice and was off the charts in English and writing, but fell flat in math… thus, I still do not have my diploma. I’ve spent the past six months sleeping and trying to ignore the reality of the situation – that I’m living off of my father’s money and doing absolutely nothing with myself.

I was recently put on a new antidepressant that has worked wonders for me. I’m out of bed, ambitious, and desperate to make a big change. My dream is to travel – to go abroad (preferably to Europe – Britain, France, or Italy) and study fashion. I’m a writer, musician and actor, and I’d also like to continue to pursue these hobbies. My father, however, tells me that I have my head in the clouds, that I’m living in a fantasy world, and either need to "get a job at a gas station" (a direct quote) or "go to school." As he says, "everyone wants to travel, that’s like saying you want to die and go to heaven." I disagree. I know there MUST be options other than taking the CHSPE for a third time, going to a junior college, working nights and weekends as a waiter, and being miserable with my life. I really would like to know what others think – what kind of programs are available in Europe for attaining the proper credits and going to college? What is the best city or country to visit? (At this point, I’m thinking Italy, although the language barrier would be very difficult.) Are my goals truly unrealistic?

I just have that feeling, maybe you know it, where I need to get the hell out of here as soon as possible. If I had it my way, I’d be on a plane tonight. To anywhere. Anywhere but here.

I’m sorry that this is such a long, heavy-handed, and obscure question. Who knows, maybe someone on here will be responsible for changing my life!

Thank you so much in advance!!!

Visit all the recruiting stations, and see who has the best deal for you. Commit four or five years to the military. That’ll give you some travel and at the end of your enlistment, you’ll be a lot more mature, will have traveled and will also have an education due you at the government’s expense. The military has absolutely the most fun and interesting jobs on the planet.