I have been reading this thread and laughing a lot. Maybe i can add something, and not detract from what has already been said.
When i was in school, way back in the 90's english and litterature were about the easiest classes form me to pass. I have always had a more creative than analytical mind, and math; man i just could not understand
algebra two. Now i am actualy trying to write this right but the internet has courrupted me.
Spelling is very easy for me, hitting the right keys on the keyboard with only six fingers is very very frustrating.
So yes i have adopted chat speak, because it does not make my wrist and hands hurt.
Well anyway back to school, i was one of those very inteligent but not trying kids. i was very depresed throughout high school so bad that it got to the point i wanted to die.
I now realized that i settled for F#%&ing my future.
My junior year was the worst, i was trying to work two jobs, and go to school. That's no excuse though; because i was also trying to get laid, smoked up on some good weed, drunk and anything else teenagers do.
So anyway they worked it so that i was not held back. iI just went into easy classes like senior math and home ec. I had two classes that I had to pass, even with a full schedule. So I stupidly went home everyday after second period and managed to kill what little gpa i had.
i "graduated" in 1999, got a girl pregnant (who eventualy lost the child) and just this year went back into school. I still don't know what i want to do but at least I'm doing something. I'm 27 now and still live with my mom, all I do is work, school and play on the computer; I've not spoken with a female in six months, I just do not have the time to waste.
I know that you younger people know everything already, i did.
I'm just trying to give you an example of my own expereinces.
But i will tell you this, even after all that i am a much more happy person than i was in high school.
I am still antisocial but slightlt more "well adjusted".
It took me all these years to deal with my personal problems, and even though im in good shape now i still wish i hadn't been such a f##K up in high shcool and my early 20's.
Sorry for the long preaching post, if i do it again you have permision to stone me.
p.s. that took about 15 minutes to write and ten to fix.
I am very capable of writing readable english (not perfect)
i just perfer not to put myself to the trouble and pain of doing it all the time.
And if anyone thinks this typing is too bad please do not ask me to write anything by hand which i can not do.