HS is def the thing to do, if possible..
one option you may want to check out is if there are alternative methods to completing it, or earning your GED in the same time frame.
i know about The Walk Out The Door, but if you do it, make sure your family is still with you, unless they are complete & utter fucks..
you have a car, it seems,, i might mightily suggest doing an intersession road trip.. there are probably more than a few StP anarchonomads within 6 hours drive.. see who has a good rep & then light up your wheels for a couple of weeks.. might help keep you sane, in the last stretch..
see if you can:
- get HS credit for community service, such as biology for helping at an animal shelter or hospital..
- do 'continuing education', where you attend college & get your GED (this is what i did, very fortunately)
- commute to a different school..
the US HS system is a fucking pain/punishment institutional construct, unless an individual is *predisposed* to fit into the regimentation necessary to complete it with as little conflict as possible..
you need to know what you love & are passionate about & believe you could do to make a way for yourself.
at 17, those answers may not be present..
quite honestly, however, i have seen little difference between anarcho HS grads & non-grads, in terms of income or job quality, until about the age of 22..
a HS diploma qualifies you for nothing, intrinsically, except, perhaps, job corp services..
as an idea, i would search for job resources for HS dropouts, because you may actually be able to get some sort of assistance..
a HS grad who hates fucking western corporate civilization typically gets a service job.. fast food, barista, cleaning service, etc..
you may not get anything handling cash in social situations; toll collector, parking meter officer, etc., as well as any kind of civil service being off limits, but as far as the adventures of our youth go, that seems to be exactly what we try to stay away from..
i dunno, but maybe walmart & dollar stores require one, but generally low wage jobs are just looking for warm bodies to move shit around..
the chances are that unless you find a profession you can actually *tolerate*, you'll go no further than eventually finding a farm to live on..
soo... if getting a HS diploma means being able to get a job, it may be better to evaluate if you *want* a job..
people should work, when they can, but the traveler is a special case..
be carefull of *everyone*..
find trustable old timers, like Kim Chee, who can teach you serious stuff about staying independent..
let neither desire nor emotion rule you, because one child is all it takes to thrust you into another universe, entirely...
do what you can to get your diploma, because it may wind up you find something you love, & want to learn more of, and you can more forward on the path of it's knowledge..
& if you ever go to europe & have an opportunity to study, without at *least* a GED (& pref the HS dip), they will just shake their heads & be sorry..
& you know.. if you ever decide to do something, like, perhaps, try your hand at being a travel agent, you will *definitely* need the sheepskin..
but.. all of us hear you..
most likely you'll be ok..
the main thing is to have the strength to be fair to yourself..
consider your situation & how bad it actually may or may not be..
sounds like maybe the ex bf guy is still around.. well.. i dunno what went down, but you sound devoted & compassionate, so make sure you learn enough to let those traits be placed. later on, where they do the world the most good..
avoid any squats too rangey or impermanent..
avoid the streets, also..
go to communities that publish & organize...
look for local chapters of radical groups, like bread not bombs, or local food pantries & offer to voulenteer, before hitting the road.. get to know people, make a few connections, find other people actively involved in the things that make a difference to you...
good luck, sis, & peace,
c