Hey! This is such a great idea for a thread, i love it. Mostly lately I've just been stressed, going through junior high and all. I would love some book reccommendations. Lately I've been looking for fun/funny stories, as well as fantasy. (Alwayssss fantasy xD) Thank You soooo much!!!

There's been a lot going on with me that's just giving me gard-to-deal-with-feelings. For one, marching band and Autumn theatre just ended, so now I feel super empty and miss all my friends. My mum said I can't do drumline(baically winter marching band) and honestly it's probably for the best, but I suspect it's less for my own wellbeing and more because I have a really close friend who I met this year in marching band, and we've recently gotten so close there are rumours we're dating (we're not, although we have talked about it and both wouldn't mind doing so in a couple of years when things are a little bit less chaotic). It really sucks because my mum told me I can't ever talk to/meet with him again, help him in any way (which is a blow to my mental health, because I could see myself in him, was actually forming a healthy connection, and felt like I was actually contributing to the world in some way), told me to block his number, and threatened to get a restraining order because she disapproves of any relationship we have (yes I tried to explain, and she said we couldn't even be friends), specifically since he is trans. Which sucks because so am I. And just the other day she blew up at me about 'why did you choose to be and announce to the world you're this made-up thing that like half the world will hate you for' which... Just, wow. Sorry for 'choosing' to be non-binary and letting my close friends know that I would prefer to be referred to with gender-neutral language...

Then school has been a lot, as always. I worry that it isn't enough, especially seeing how I can't seem to get everything in on time, or done at all sometimes. Just how am I gonna survive in the 'real world?' I hardly see my friends anymore, 'cause no one's in my classes, and they've got their own jobs and friends and uni prep and other stuff to do, so I feel like they're all slipping away and I'm kinda getting re-isolated. I've had university preparations looming over me and I finally got to writing an admissions essay, and my mum demanded to see it, then told me it sucked, sounded too pretentious, and I should just give up on going to university altogether. She also keeps on saying that since I'm not obedient enough she's not gonna waste her money on me, trying to send me away, even if I do get in, which... I mean, my father doesn't value higher-education and is currently unemployed (although he's married to my working stepmum, who mostly sends her money back to her family in the Philippines, but still makes enough where financial aid is not going to cover most of the cost) and likely won't help. I could ask my stepmum, but she's working her butt off for her own family and I don't want to leach off of her more, and it just kinda feels wrong asking her to finance someone who has so much more privilege. It's... Idk. I can try for some scholarships, and I have an internship I'm working on, but it can only do so much, even if I do only go local. Plus, my main dream for a long time has been to be a Forensic Pathologist/some kind of Forensic worker. However, I'm not sure I can follow a STEM path through University, and lately I've been having my own serious doubts about law enforcement and the justice system. With all of its flaws and documented, undeniable works of oppression, do I really want to partake in said system? To be just another cog in the machine of pushing others down? Yeah, so it's tough. 

I've also been struggling with my mental health, probably at least in part due to all this stuff. I've been teetering in a really dark place, which of course only invites more criticism and ridicule from my mum, and that only contributes to the cycle. More recently I've been prescribed even more meds to regulate my mental health, and have been diagnosed with a couple more issues (just lovely). Physically, a lot has been just generally difficult. I get sick tons, am tired and constantly in pain (thanks a lot, chronic illness!), but have to push through for the sake of some distant-feeling future. It's just tough. Really tough. One of the few redeeming places for me is being on here, and encouraging other CBers, seeing you guys flourish and grow creatively. It's my lifeboat.

Hey all, I'm so sorry it's been taking me a while to do these! I want to do them all and help you, but I've been quite busy and tired :/ It was unfair of me to say I could do this when it is becoming clear I cannot do it in a timely manner, and I apologize. I have a busy weekend, but Thanksgiving break is approaching and hopefully I'll be able to get a few more of these done in the next few weeks. Thank you all for your patience and again, you have my apologies.