Unschooled 15-year-old didn't learn how to read until she was 12, claims she's dumb and doesn't know how to fix it: 'I’ve never attended any school or educational institution.'

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Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
May 19, 2026 7:45 AM EDT

The adults in her life failed her. 

I have always been a little suspicious of alternative schooling methods. I know that there are some parents out there who are completely competent at teaching their kids from Kindergarten to 12th grade, but I highly doubt that's the majority of homeschoolers. Most of the time, kids who do their schooling at home would be better off in the hands of an online teacher who can hold them accountable for their work because they're not their mom or dad. 

Unschooling is one of the worst offenders in terms of educational neglect. Unschooling is "an informal learning method that prioritizes learner-chosen activities as a primary means for learning." Now, it might sound utopian for kids to learn what they choose rather than having a curriculum forced on them, but without any real structure, kids' basic educational needs can easily slip through the cracks. Kids aren't going to intuit exactly what they need to learn unless someone presents them with a curriculum. There are some kids who are more advanced and want more information than what the standard 3rd-grade curriculum provides, but they are the exception to the rule. They still need the standard curriculum as a foundation of knowledge, as does everyone. 

The teen in this story has been failed by her parents, who taught her how to read at age 12, and haven't done much since. They want her to be the one directing her learning, but she can't do that because she lacks discipline, and who could blame her? Nobody has done anything to educate her for her entire life.

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  • A woman laying in bed looking at her phone
    via Annie Spratt

    A teenage girl with no education asks people online how she can contribute to society without one. 

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I was raised “unschooled” now I’m dumb

    i know that nobody reads these or cares but anyway, i (15F) was raised "unschooled" which basically meant my parents taught me how to read at 12 then "let me learn as i grow" which didn't work, i've never attended any sort of school or educational institution, now i'm 15 and
    via u/PigeonJuice22
  • severally uneducated and because of that i seriously don't know what to do, i have never talked about this problem with anyone because it is embarrassing to admit i AM "stupid"but i can't ignore this growing problem. i have no discipline in myself
    via u/PigeonJuice22
  • whatsoever so i don't get anything done and i brush stuff off, like how i've been too scared to try drivers ed. i've thought about what i'm gonna do in the future but i seriously don't know, i have no dream jobs or plans. with how
    via u/PigeonJuice22
  • expensive everything is now i genuinely doubt i'm ever gonna have my own life, and that's scaring me. i'm just having a crisis on what i'm gonna possibly contribute to the world in the next 10 years. what do i do?
    via u/PigeonJuice22
  • mickturner96 Good news! You still have a time and you are still You also know what the issue is. young. You aren't stupid, you have just had an unfortunate start. People will sympathize with that. Contact your local government, let them know that you would like to participate in a formal education and explain the situation. (Don't worry this won't get anyone is trouble)
    via u/mickturner96
  • You also have access to the internet... There are amazing tools available. The Educational side of YouTube is actually amazing. BBC Bitesize is generally a great resource that isn't just limited to the UK. Don't be embarrassed to tell people... You need people to know so they can help you help yourself!
    via u/mickturner96
  • Brookie Monster504 Yes you can always educate yourself especially while still being young
    via u/BrookieMonster504
  • Find_another_whey Just piggybacking that there's a realistic chance OP is highly intelligent, with low knowledge, and high ability (to be able to get here given their probably limited instruction, and to reach out at they did).
    via u/Find_another_whey
  • PurplishPlatypus Hey, you're going to be ok! I promise. You're best path is to get a GED and go into community College. Take a career technical course, healthcare is a really good choice, always jobs. You can start with something that's quick, like Phlebotomy (that's a certificate course for drawing people's bl_d, I think like 3 months). That will get you a job in a lab at a hospital or doctors office.
    via u/PurplishPlatypus
  • While you work, you can continue your education and get into nursing or business, you can also get into computer IT work, or if you're really physical you can do a trade like HVAC or plumbing. Just take it one step at a time, keep looking into learning and advancing..start with the GED. You can use Khan Academy for free online to catch up too.
    via u/PurplishPlatypus
  • Woman fixing kitchen sink
    via Curated Lifestyle (Unsplash+)

    A plumber, who is able to make a lot of money, despite forgoing college for trade school. 

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Sweaty-Battle2556 I would argue you are not uneducated. You survived 15 years and know how to use quotation marks and write a paragraph. At 15 everything felt stupid to me too, including myself. You will probably end up smarter than lots of us as you grow up. The important thing for driving a car/truck is to always watch your surroundings and learn the laws. Reading will be important. You at least have that! I wish you the best of luck!
    via u/Sweaty-Battle2556
  • artCsmartC There are plenty of people who don't have a plan or a clue, and they're much older than you are. You aren't dumb. You're ignorant because you're uneducated. That's not your fault and that is going to change. The best advice I can give you is to read. Find the nearest public library. Depending on where you live, there are free programs available to help you. Don't ever be ashamed of wanting to learn! You should learn something new every day. I live by this philosophy and I'm as old as
    via u/artCsmartC
  • Stacked books in the library
    via Casey Marie

    A public library with endless resources for anyone looking to improve and educate themselves on their own time.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • You don't have to have a plan or know what job path you're going to take. As you read and learn, you'll find out what interests you and take it from there. Try to connect with other people who also have a genuine interest in learning. There are many folks out there who can teach you a skill or a subject, and are willing to do it for free. After college, I spent some traveling around, and I found some really talented people in small rural towns. They taught me things like rock painting and woodwo
    via u/artCsmartC
  • Lunar_M1nds You're actually very smart and brave for asking for help. And you talking about this issue actually helps educate ppl on something that's a growing crisis— it's not just you out there! The biggest thing is gaining the discipline to stay on something- all of adult life requires that. Whether it's your license, showing up for work, making your doctors appointments etc. And it doesn't have to be hard. Think to yourself what you want your day to look like, what you would like to accompli
    via u/Lunar_M1nds
  • And as for your future, many ppl are right there's still time. You just need to be "smart" enough to go a trade school and pass. I personally think the better option bcuz I hated earning a 4 year degree, the debt ain't moving anytime soon, and nobody gives af about my degree anyways. It could be any trade you like ( I'm considering a program called BOCES in my area that can teach all sorts of stuff, you might have this if not something similar) and those are usually not only the "easier" (it dep
    via u/Lunar_M1nds
  • RequirementRound25 I have a neighbor. He is 80 years old. He never went to college. Yet the local University brings Botonny students and Geologist students to his home to see his rock collection and the tropical greenhouse garden he has built over the last 50 years. He learned how to do most of it by reading any book he could get his hands on. Go to your local school district and explain the situation. They may help you out or already have programs set up for people such as yourself.
    via u/RequirementRound25

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unschooling school reading teenagers bad parenting driving library education dumb college
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