I never knew that I was smart. I lived life in a bubble. I have diverse beliefs, and for that I was ridiculed. I felt oppressed and consequently did not even try to learn. My parents tried everything to get me to learn. I switched schools, tried the alternative high school route, home study. Nothing worked, and slowly I became lethargic. School was such a chore and for years I planned to drop out when I turned 16, the day it was legal. Now I am 16, pushing 17. I find myself telling my friends that I like school, and the words almost knock me over. I have discovered so much about myself in the time I have attended Realms. For instance, I am smart. I have learned a lot about the world and how it works, and I have learned about interaction with other human beings, how to communicate and compromise. Without Realms, I would be just another adolescent adding to today’s problems, not learning to find solutions, as I am now.