How important is social interaction with your fellow LGBT peers?

Question

I've just had my first session with my psychologist, and it was certainly interesting.

I haven't been going to school lately, been suffering from depression, but my psychologist thinks that I don't have depression and that I'm confused. Basically I was given the impression that she said that I should go back to school and ignore my sexuality.

My family think I should take the rest of the year off (I live in australia) and to enrol in tafe next year (only 1 sister knows i'm g*y).

I'm having trouble deciding what I should do, but I think that I should finish my last year of schooling on the condition that I participate in a LGBT support group.

Should I leave school or continue?

Would it be worth it to participate in the LGBT support group, even though it is an hour away? Will it lift my mood and make me feel better?

Thanks for your time! :D

Answer 1

I'm an LGBT person from Australia who is currently undertaking year 12. I have been 'in the closet' to all of my friends, teachers and peers at school.  It's an incredibly hard thing to do. I hear people being homophobic all the time, especially since I go to school in a low socio-economic area (everyone thinks they're gangsta here, lol) where there aren't many LGBT people.

If you don't enjoy school, then TAFE doesn't sound like a bad option. Mind you, when I say 'don't enjoy school' I don't mean the social aspect of it. I'm talking about the intellectual stimulation and actual classroom learning. From the way you have worded your question I have gathered that you're rather intelligent. Why sacrifice your education because school is tough?

Would you be doing HSC (or your state's equivalent of the HSC) at TAFE? If so, it might be a good option. There are many more adults at TAFE who, due to life experiences, may be more accepting than your peers. The only thing about doing the HSC at TAFE is that it's much, much easier to fail. You wouldn't have teachers on your back all of the time to hand in that lasted assignment, not as much encouragement and the education you gain will all be on your shoulders. If you're an independent learner who is very disciplined in your studies, this may be  the way to go for you.

I think you should stay at school. If going to a support group would make you feel better about it, I see no reason why you shouldn't go. Explore all avenues. I didn't even know there were LGBT support groups out there =]

Today was the first time I talked to another g*y person at school. We managed to work out each others sexual preferences in code (talking about yuri!) while in front of a bunch of other people, who probably thought we were crazy! It felt so incredibly good to know that I wasn't alone. He, who is openly g*y, was excited to know that there was another LGBT person at school that he could talk to. I feel so much more relieved now that I have someone my own age to talk to, who is going through a similar situation to me. If you don't have any other LGBT people at your school then I would DEFINITELY recommend going to a support group. You will feel SO much better about yourself.

If you ever need somebody to listen to your problems feel free to email me.