Low income senior housing rockford il

Are you planning on moving to Ohio soon? Whether you’re relocating for work, family, or just a change of scenery, moving can be both exciting and stressful. Luckily, with some planning and preparation, you can make the transition as smooth as possible. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about moving to Ohio.

Reasons to Move to Ohio

Ohio is an attractive destination for individuals and families looking to relocate for a variety of reasons. This state boasts a low cost of living compared to many other states, making it an ideal option for those looking to save money. Additionally, Ohio is home to many top employers in industries such as healthcare, finance, and technology, providing job opportunities for those looking to start a new career or advance their current one.
Ohio also has a rich history and culture that is reflected in its many museums and landmarks. As the birthplace of many famous Americans, such as Thomas Edison, Neil Armstrong, and LeBron James, Ohio has a deep sense of pride in its contributions to American history and culture. Whether it’s visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland or the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, there’s no shortage of cultural and historical experiences to be had in Ohio.
For those who enjoy the outdoors, Ohio is an excellent destination for nature lovers. The state has several state parks, lakes, and forests, providing ample opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, and boating. Some popular destinations include Hocking Hills State Park, which offers scenic hikes, waterfalls, and rock formations, and Lake Erie Islands, just off the coast of Ohio, which are a popular destination for boating, fishing, and relaxing.
Ohio is also home to several great cities, each with its own unique character and attractions. Columbus, the state capital, has a vibrant arts and culture scene, including the Columbus Museum of Art and the Ohio Theater. Cincinnati, located on the Ohio River, is known for its beautiful architecture and world-renowned zoo. Cleveland, on the shore of Lake Erie, has a thriving music and food scene, as well as the aforementioned Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Whether you’re looking for a low cost of living, job opportunities, cultural experiences, outdoor adventures, or all of the above, Ohio has something to offer.

Local Attractions in Ohio

Ohio is a state that is rich in history and culture, with a plethora of attractions to explore. From museums to amusement parks, there’s something for everyone in Ohio.
For history buffs, Ohio offers numerous museums and landmarks that highlight the state’s role in American history. The National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton is the largest and oldest military aviation museum in the world, showcasing the history of American aviation from the Wright Brothers to modern times. The Ohio History Center is another must-visit attraction, with exhibits on everything from Ohio’s prehistoric past to its contributions to the Civil War and beyond.
For those who love the arts, Ohio has a thriving cultural scene. The Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world, with a collection that spans over 6,000 years of art history. The Cincinnati Art Museum is another notable attraction, with a collection that includes works by Rembrandt, Picasso, and other renowned artists.
Ohio is also home to some of the country’s most exciting amusement parks. Cedar Point, located on the shores of Lake Erie, is known as the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World” and features over 70 rides, including 18 roller coasters. Kings Island, located just outside of Cincinnati, is another popular amusement park, featuring a variety of thrill rides, water attractions, and live shows.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Ohio has plenty to offer as well. Hocking Hills State Park is a beautiful natural area located in southeastern Ohio, featuring rugged cliffs, waterfalls, and miles of hiking trails. Lake Erie Islands, just off the coast of Ohio, are a popular destination for boating, fishing, and relaxing.
Finally, Ohio has several unique and quirky attractions that are worth checking out. The “A Christmas Story” House in Cleveland is a museum dedicated to the classic holiday film, while the “American Sign Museum” in Cincinnati is a one-of-a-kind museum showcasing vintage signs and advertisements.

Advice for Planning Your Move

Planning a move can be a daunting task, but with some careful planning and organization, it can be a stress-free experience. Here are some tips to help you plan your move to Ohio:

1. Start early: Moving takes time, so it’s important to start planning as early as possible. Give yourself at least 6-8 weeks to plan and prepare for your move.
2. Make a checklist: Create a checklist of everything you need to do before, during, and after your move. This will help you stay organized and ensure that nothing is forgotten.
3. Declutter: Moving is the perfect opportunity to declutter and get rid of anything you no longer need or want. Go through your belongings and decide what to keep, donate, or sell.
4. Hire a moving service: Consider hiring a moving service like Moving Truck Driver, which specializes in driving U-Haul and Penske rental trucks for people looking to move. They can handle the logistics of moving, freeing up your time and reducing stress.
5. Research housing options: If you’re not familiar with Ohio, do some research on the different neighborhoods and housing options available. Look for areas that are close to your work or have good schools if you have children.
6. Set a budget: Moving can be expensive, so it’s important to set a budget and stick to it. Consider the cost of packing supplies, moving services, and any deposits or fees for your new home.
7. Notify important parties: Be sure to notify important parties, such as your bank, utility companies, and the post office, of your change of address. This will ensure that you receive your mail and bills at your new address.
8. Pack efficiently: Pack your belongings efficiently to save space and reduce the risk of damage. Use sturdy boxes and packing materials, and label each box with its contents and destination room.

By following these tips, you can make your move to Ohio a smooth and stress-free experience. Remember to plan ahead, stay organized, and ask for help when you need it.

Advice for Finding Housing

Finding the right housing in Ohio can be a challenging task, especially if you’re not familiar with the area. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect place to call home:

1. Determine your budget: Before you start your search, determine how much you can afford to spend on housing. Take into account your monthly income, expenses, and other financial obligations.
2. Decide on your must-haves: Make a list of your must-haves in a home, such as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and amenities like a garage or outdoor space.
3. Research neighborhoods: Research the different neighborhoods in Ohio to find an area that fits your lifestyle and preferences. Consider factors like proximity to work or schools, safety, and access to public transportation.
4. Utilize online resources: There are many online resources available to help you find housing in Ohio, including real estate websites, apartment listing sites, and rental search engines. These tools can help you narrow down your search and find housing that meets your criteria.
5. Work with a real estate agent: Consider working with a local real estate agent who can help you navigate the housing market in Ohio. An experienced agent can show you properties that fit your budget and preferences, negotiate with landlords or sellers, and provide valuable advice and guidance throughout the process.
6. Check out the property in person: Before signing a lease or purchasing a property, be sure to visit it in person to get a sense of the neighborhood, the condition of the property, and whether it meets your needs and expectations.
7. Read the lease or purchase agreement carefully: Before signing any legal documents, read them carefully to ensure that you understand the terms and conditions of the agreement. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or negotiate terms if necessary.

By following these tips, you can find housing in Ohio that meets your needs and budget. Remember to do your research, work with professionals when necessary, and take your time to find the right home for you.

Working through Logistics of Moving

Here are some tips to help you navigate the logistics of moving:

1. Create a timeline: Creating a timeline will help you stay organized and ensure that you don’t forget any important tasks. Start by creating a timeline that includes key dates like the move-out date from your current home, the move-in date at your new home, and any deadlines for completing tasks like canceling utilities.
2. Arrange for transportation: If you’re moving to Ohio from out of state, you’ll need to arrange for transportation. Consider renting a moving truck, hiring a moving service, or shipping your belongings.
3. Pack efficiently: Packing efficiently is key to making the move smoother. Use sturdy boxes, packing materials like bubble wrap or packing peanuts, and label each box with its contents and destination room. Don’t forget to keep important documents and valuables with you during the move.
4. Cancel utilities: Cancel your utilities at your old home and arrange for them to be turned on at your new home. This includes electricity, gas, water, and any other services you use.
5. Change your address: Change your address with the post office and notify other important parties, such as your bank, credit card companies, and employer, of your new address.
6. Transfer or close accounts: Transfer or close any accounts that can’t be moved to Ohio, such as gym memberships or subscriptions. Be sure to settle any outstanding bills or fees before you move.
7. Check Ohio’s rules and regulations: Check Ohio’s rules and regulations for moving, including any permits or licenses you may need. Also, research local regulations for parking, recycling, and waste disposal.

By following these tips, you can work through the logistics of moving to Ohio and ensure a smoother transition. Remember to plan ahead, stay organized, and ask for help when you need it.

Conclusion

Moving to a new place can be an exciting and challenging adventure, and Ohio offers a unique blend of urban and rural environments, a rich cultural history, and an abundance of natural beauty. Whether you’re moving to Ohio for work, school, or a change of scenery, taking the time to research the area, plan your move, and find the right housing can help make the transition smoother and more enjoyable.
Remember to take advantage of online resources and work with professionals like real estate agents and moving services when necessary. Keep a positive attitude and stay organized throughout the process, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice when you need it.
Overall, moving to Ohio can be a rewarding and exciting experience. With careful planning, preparation, and a positive attitude, you can make your move a success and start enjoying all that Ohio has to offer.

Hi everyone! I don't even know where to start! First of all sorry for bad grammar English is not my native language. I'm (43 m) my girlfriend (48 f) We are together for 5 years and we love each other. We are from a European country. We worked in an other country for over a year as an order picker, packer in a big warehouse. Everything was fine until 2021 December when she started feeling tired,dizzy she had no energy so we went to see a doctor. It turned out she has a big tumor in her uterus and the blood iron level was dangerously low we had to go to the hospital immediately. As she don't speak English I tried my best to translate so I had to go with her to the appointments . They tried medicine it didn't work after spiral still nothing she was loosing so much blood she needed surgery but the waiting list was 6 months. I was with her helping her out with everything. In the meantime our agency has enough for missing 2-3 days a week because of the appointments so we got fired se we lost our income plus accommodation as well. We decided to come back to our home country for surgery, It was 2022 February. We had some savings so we thought we will survive the surgery and recovery period and we will go back to work. We rented a cheap apartment for this period. Thank god the surgery went well and she slowly started healing. I was cooking baking cleaning done the clothes shopping etc. I have to mention this small cheap apartment was my first "home" in my life and I felt so happy , imagine your girlfriend your love is healing you can take care of her and you don't have to share the kitchen and the bathroom with others, it was like haven ❤️ Yes I didn't rush to find job when she was okay ( it was around August) yes it was my fault to not pushing go back to work but first time in my life I felt I have a home I was enjoying the freedom I can cook I can bake cakes cookies without asking others. Around October I realised I messed up, our saving almost disappeared rent and bills are coming and we don't have job. I immediately started to look for jobs but as I mentioned before my girlfriend don't speak English, she understands a lot but not really speak. In our country I can't get any proper paying job because I don't have any profession. December come and we still don't have any opportunity and we new we have to give up our little haven because we couldn't afford the rent.In January 2023 I contacted my sister for help, we loaned 2000€ to her and her husband early 2020 they promised they will pay it back in 6 months but after I transferred the money they don't even answered the phone, not replying for messages. Anyway I wrote to her to please help us, as we are in big trouble and just lend some money for me and I will pay it back as soon as I can. I don't care about the 2000€ just help us . Few days later she called me ,she said she is sorry but they don't have any spare money to borrow but we can have 1 room in their house and the can help with food. As we don't have other options we moved across the country we left a our little one bedroom apartment and come here and this my dear reader this was one of my biggest mistake in my life! This is a small village like 400 people middle of nowhere. We offered to cook, bake help with cleaning cutting wood for heating etc. Since we arrived they treating us like slaves, we have to make the food and cleaning washing clothes as they like. they just sitting smoking cigarette and giving us orders to do.. We have nothing for sale we have no money we have no job and even if I find something we don't have the money for travel or food we have no one for help and we don't know what to do to escape from this situation.we know we made a huge mistake We are probably depressed but we have each other we hold each other hand .we will never give up.i don't even know how reddit work , probably no one will read but I feel a bit better to write it down.

Here are some specific historical examples,
After Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) implemented regulations and social programs to address the economic and social challenges of the Great Depression, there were subsequent efforts by capitalists to undo his reforms. Such as:

1. Post-WWII conservative resurgence: In the post-World War II era, there was a resurgence of conservative and pro-business ideologies, which sought to roll back some of the regulatory and social welfare measures put in place during FDR's presidency such as the dismantling of New Deal regulations, among them:

The Glass-Steagall Act: The Glass-Steagall Act, enacted in 1933, aimed to separate commercial banking activities from riskier investment banking activities to prevent conflicts of interest and reduce the risk of another financial crisis. However, the Act's provisions were gradually weakened and ultimately repealed in 1999 under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which removed the barriers between commercial and investment banking. The Act was heavily influenced by wealthy interests and corporate lobbying efforts, particularly from large financial institutions. Including Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Merrill Lynch, and insurance companies including American International Group (AIG), and Travelers Insurance, as well as other corporate entities. They pushed for the repeal of Glass-Steagall, as it restricted their ability to engage in certain financial activities and aimed to expand their profit-making potential in the financial sector. This deregulatory move contributed to the buildup of risky practices that culminated in the 2008 financial crisis.

1. Reaganomics: In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan implemented a series of policies known as "Reaganomics" that aimed to reduce government regulation, lower taxes, and promote free-market principles. These policies sought to undo some of the regulatory measures and social programs instituted during the New Deal era. While not all New Deal-era regulatory measures and social programs were completely undone, there were efforts to roll back or weaken certain initiatives. Here are some specific examples:

Financial deregulation: The Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980 and the Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 were enacted to relax regulations on the financial sector. These acts expanded the powers of savings and loan associations, lifted interest rate controls, and eased restrictions on bank activities, contributing to increased risk-taking and ultimately the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s.
Reduction of social spending: Reagan pursued cuts to social spending, including reductions in funding for programs such as food stamps, low-income housing assistance, and job training programs. These cuts aimed to reduce the size and scope of the federal government's involvement in social welfare initiatives.
Welfare reform: While welfare reform efforts gained momentum under President Bill Clinton, Reagan laid the groundwork by shifting public discourse around social programs. His critique of welfare dependency influenced subsequent reform measures, leading to the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act in 1996. This act introduced stricter work requirements, time limits on benefits, and devolved greater control to the states. Critics argue that the reform resulted in increased poverty rates and hardship for vulnerable populations.
Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, there were various efforts to roll back regulations enacted during the New Deal and subsequent years. For instance, the deregulation of industries such as telecommunications, airlines, and financial services aimed to promote competition but also resulted in the concentration of power, as seen in the case of the financial sector leading up to the 2008 financial crisis.

1. National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA): FDR's administration passed the NIRA in 1933, which aimed to promote fair competition and set industry standards through the creation of codes of conduct. However, the Act faced opposition from some businesses who believed it impeded their ability to operate freely. In 1935, the Supreme Court declared the NIRA unconstitutional in the landmark case of Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States. The Court ruled that the NIRA violated the separation of powers and granted excessive authority to the executive branch. This decision effectively struck down a key piece of FDR's regulatory framework, leading to the dismantling of NIRA.
   
2. Attacks on the New Deal: Following FDR's New Deal policies, which included programs like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Social Security, there was opposition from business interests and conservative politicians who perceived these programs as government overreach.
   
3. American Liberty League: Formed in 1934, the American Liberty League was a conservative organization composed of prominent businessmen and political figures who opposed the expansion of government power under the New Deal. They criticized FDR's policies as encroachments on individual liberty and free-market capitalism, and actively campaigned against his re-election.
   
4. Opposition to labor rights and unionization:
   

Anti-union legislation: In recent years, there have been various efforts to undermine labor rights and unionization. Examples include the passage of right-to-work laws in several states, which prohibit mandatory union membership or payment of union fees as a condition of employment. These laws weaken the collective bargaining power of unions and reduce their ability to advocate for workers' rights and benefits. The Wagner Act, also known as the National Labor Relations Act, was passed in 1935 to protect workers' rights to unionize and engage in collective bargaining. However, conservative opponents criticized the Act as granting excessive power to labor unions and infringing on businesses' rights. The Supreme Court faced challenges to these policies. Notably, in the case of National Labor Relations Board v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. in 1937, the Court upheld the constitutionality of the Wagner Act, but it also struck down certain provisions of the Act and limited its scope.

1. Conclusion and Possible Solution: When pitted at odds with the democratic system and majority will, capital fights vehemently to pass anything in its favor, and oppose anything at odds. The evidence shows It has far too much undue influence on the political and decision-making process in the United States. Where the voice of a small minority can outweigh the voice of millions. Shifting to a Direct Democracy can be a solution to an unjust political system by directly involving individuals in decision-making processes leading to more informed and democratic outcomes that better serve the interests and needs of the country. By ensuring that power is distributed more evenly the interests of the majority are directly reflected in policy and economic decisions. By ensuring that every citizen has an equal voice, Direct Democracy can foster a more equitable and accountable system where the priorities and needs of the people are truly represented, guaranteeing that decisions reflect the collective will of the people.

Deen Dayal Plots: The Perfect Choice for Affordable Housing in Gurgaon
Gurgaon, known for its rapid urbanization and remarkable growth in the real estate sector, continues to attract individuals looking for their dream homes. The city's strategic location, excellent infrastructure, and emerging business Deen Dayal Plots opportunities make it a preferred destination for homebuyers. To cater to the increasing demand for affordable housing, the government has introduced a unique initiative called Deen Dayal Jan Awas Yojana (DDJAY), which offers affordable housing plots to the citizens of Gurgaon.
Deen Dayal Plots, also known as DDJAY plots, are government-approved plots available in Gurgaon. These plots provide an excellent opportunity for individuals to build their own homes at affordable prices in well-planned residential areas. The scheme aims to address the housing needs of the economically weaker sections (EWS), low-income groups (LIG), and middle-income groups (MIG).
One of the significant advantages of Deen Dayal Plots is their affordability. The prices of these plots are relatively lower than those in other residential projects, making them an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers. The scheme ensures that a certain percentage of the total land area in a residential sector is reserved for affordable housing, creating an inclusive environment where people from different economic backgrounds can reside.
Gurgaon, being a city of opportunities, offers immense potential for growth and development. By investing in a Deen Dayal Plot, individuals not only secure their future but also become part of a thriving community. These plots are located in well-connected areas with access to essential amenities like schools, hospitals, shopping centers, and transportation facilities. Residents can enjoy a comfortable lifestyle while also benefiting from the city's rapid development.
The Government of Haryana has laid down specific guidelines for the development of Deen Dayal Plots. The plots are available in various sizes, ranging from smaller plots suitable for EWS and LIG categories to larger plots for MIG categories. The guidelines ensure that the plots adhere to certain construction norms, thereby maintaining the overall quality and aesthetic appeal of the residential areas.
To make the process more convenient for potential buyers, the government has also introduced an online portal where individuals can register and apply for Deen Dayal Plots. This digitized system allows for transparency, reduces paperwork, and ensures a fair allocation process. Interested buyers can check the availability, location, and other details of the plots through the online portal, making it easier for them to make informed decisions.
Furthermore, the government has partnered with reputed developers to provide additional benefits to the buyers of Deen Dayal Plots. These benefits may include financial assistance, construction support, and simplified procedures for obtaining necessary approvals and clearances. Such collaborations help buyers navigate the complexities of home construction and provide them with a hassle-free experience.
In conclusion, Deen Dayal Plots or DDJAY plots in Gurgaon are an excellent choice for individuals seeking affordable housing options. The government-approved plots offer an opportunity to build a dream home in a well-planned residential sector with access to essential amenities. The affordability, transparency, and growth potential make Deen Dayal Plots an attractive investment option. By investing in these plots, buyers not only secure their future but also contribute to the development of a vibrant and inclusive community.

My husband and I would love some impartial input on the situation that we are now facing. Long story short, my FIL is a drug addict and has been one since he was young. In late 2020, he had a small windfall of money and decided to buy a small electric golf cart that looks like a car for himself to get around in. In 2021, he was evicted from his low-income apartment complex. We offered to park his little cart in front of our house for a week until he got new housing set up since we live in safe neighborhood around 30 minutes away. Unfortunately, FIL has been homeless by choice almost the entire time we have had the car and it has been tucked away safely on our property.
This is where the question comes in. Over the two years that the car has been taking up space on our property. My husband got new batteries for it (husband used money from FIL's special needs trust that husband manages) and installed them. A serious buyer approached us about taking the car off of our hands. Husband took time off of work to get the car into a shop to get it up and running again for the buyer, who his dad had agreed to sell the car to. Husband also was in the process of negotiating a fair sale price for the car. But then his dad (my FIL), who was in the hospital at this point, said he wanted to come and get the car and not sell it.
FIL comes and gets the car and drives it about 7 miles down the road. We get calls from the cops in the middle of the night about the situation with FIL and this car. He then gets an ambulance and abandons the car, taking the keys with him in the process and losing them. The gas station he was parked at told us we had until 5pm of the next day to tow the car or it would be impounded. My husband was able to secure the buyer who was interested even if the car didn't have keys. We ended up getting $3,000 for the car, which is a huge win IMO since the car would never have been seen again if it had been towed.
My husband is uneasy about taking a portion of the money as this is likely the last money that his dad will have to put in the previously mentioned trust. Also, the previous discussions about selling the car that my husband had with my FIL had the understanding that all of the sale money would go in the car. He feels changing the terms now might be unfair to his Dad.
In my opinion, my husband should take some of the money from the sale of this stupid car for all the work that went into it. He stored it, fixed it up, negotiated the sale, towed it, and received the check. It has been a huge hassle to take care of this property that FIL just abandoned at a gas station.
Note: The money given to my FIL will be stored in the trust and not given to him directly.
Please Reddit, give us some unbiased advice in this situation.

GEORGIA DEALS
Kingsland, Georgia Residential Home Development $3,000,000
91 SFR Homes Shovel Ready Ready New Home Development seeking Equitable partner /Investor to fund the development project to completion. Interested in syndication, crowdfunding, or Equity Partner. $3,000,000
Acworth, Georgia Residential Home Development $17,000,000
170 SFR HomesLuxury new residential 77.35-acre development, barely 30 miles outside of downtown Atlanta. Planned in 3 Phases, Phase 1 had 22 of 73 homes built, and all are owner-occupied. The balance of the Phase 1 lots are shovel-ready after grading, with full utilities and water sewer in place, as well as the streets and curbs. Community clubhouse, pool, and 4 lighted tennis courts which were completed but not maintained. We have engaged with some of the original construction and engineering teams, however, all the plans and permits will have to be re-submitted and re-approved. There are community restrictions in place, and DR Horton has been purchasing a lot of land in the area. $17,000,000
Bloomingdale, Georgia Multifamily 48 Units Contact for Pricing
Magnolia Lane is a 48-unit low-income housing complex built in 1990 with a unit mix of 32 two-bedroom/1-bathroom and 16 one-bedroom/one-bathroom units. The Property is 92% occupied with 48% of the tenant receiving Section 8 or other housing subsidy vouchers. Although rent increases are restricted and must comply with HUD limits, this project can hedge against inflation with secure, guaranteed income. The property is also eligible for refinancing at pre-inflation interest rates through Hud & USDA Section 515 Loan Program, and there are added Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and property tax abatements available, which coupled with bonus depreciation credits can really create a tax-sheltered investment for those with high income. There is a charitable housing fund that may fund the purchase of this property to a well-qualified charitable organization.
Newnan, Georgia Multifamily 50 Units Contact for Pricing
Chestnut Lane is a 50-unit low-income housing complex built in 1989 with a mix of 32 two-bedroom/one-bathroom and 18 one-bedroom/one-bathroom units, running at a 100% occupancy rate with 52% of the residents receiving Section 8 or other housing subsidy vouchers. Although rent increases are restricted and must comply with HUD limits, this project can hedge against inflation with secure, guaranteed income. The property is also eligible for refinancing at pre-inflation interest rates through Hud & USDA Section 515 Loan Program, and there are added Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and property tax abatements available, which coupled with bonus depreciation credits can really create a tax-sheltered investment for those with high income. There is a charitable housing fund that may fund the purchase of this property to a well-qualified charitable organization.

!
Demographics: asian and Caribbean
Hooks: first gen(mom is single mother if that counts and no dad in picture), low income
Uw: 3.7 W: idk
Tests: Test optional
Trend upwards (freshman year was horrendous)
Senior workload:
JROTC AP psychology Ap physics Ap lit Ap comp gov Calc honors
Awards:
JROTC promotion award for community service 10&11th grade honor roll Ec’s:
Cooking Family responsibilities(taking care of grandma) Aviation club Jrotc 120+ cs hours Invent2Prevent( project where we find a issue in the community and work to solve it with a thousand dollar budget) police cadets Aerospace passion project working at Uncles business for multiple summers ever since middle school
other colleges:
Rutgers NJIT

Demographics: Male, white, gay, rural Pennsylvania, small uncompetitive high school (No big hooks other than location and sexuality?)
Income Bracket: 70K-110K
Intended Major(s): Psychology (intent to declare pre-med for psychiatry)
ACT/SAT/SAT II: 1450 (760 EBRW, 690 Math) -- Retaking in June after intensive Math study -- hoping for at least a 740 Math for 1500 superscore at least
UW/W GPA and Rank: 4.0 UW, 4.44 W
Coursework: 16 Honors Classes, AP Lang (expect to get a 5 in July) There are only 8 APs offered in my school, and only two are offered prior to senior year.
Senior Year Courseload: AP Lit, AP Euro, DE Statistics (uPitt), Honors German 3, several other low-level classes related to my major where AP isn't offered + Media and Chambers (Which is honors credit --- see ECs) Could not do AP Calc due to schedule conflicts
Awards:
Eagle Scout with two Eagle Palms
Regional Musical Theater Award (nominated and won) -- first individual winner in school history
PMEA All-State Musician (Choir) -- First to make it from my school in 8 years
PSPA Student Journalism State Champion -- again, first ever from my school
College Board Rural and Small Town Recognition
National Commended Scholar (only one in my class to be commended)
​
Extracurriculars: Leader of Boy Scout Troop, one year; president of my school's chamber singers, two years; president of my school's media team, two years; member of NHS, two years; member of Tri-M honor society, two years; varsity cross country runner, 3 years; musical cast member (principal roles), 3 years; choir, 7 years; Week-long scholarship and leadership camp by invitation, gardening, novel writing, music production (song on spotify)
Essays/LORs/Other: My personal essay isn't going to be formatted very traditionally, but it comes straight from the heart, discussing why my intended major doesn't correlate to my ECs. I will emphasize the opportunities my area gives and what I made of it. My long-time desire to solve the mental health crisis in our country will also be discussed, seeing how I've witnessed its effects on my friends, family, and myself. I'll also touch on community impact through boy scouts, working with only partially supportive family and friends, and staying humble even though I was being put on a pedestal.
LORs are going to be 9/10. Deep connections to all three, including my guidance counselor.
Additional Question: Should I try self-studying for AP Psych?
Schools:
Bowdoin (ED)
Northwestern
Amherst College
Case Western
Syracuse
Westminster College (safety in PA)
Johns Hopkins
Ithaca College
Stanford
Tufts
Brown
Dartmouth
UMiami
Colorado College
Cornell
Penn State
Vandy
Bucknell
Yale
Bates
Colby

I live in a major city and work in E-comm & digital marketing. Used to be content with my salary, but being surrounded by wealthy friends & family members got to me. My dad is going on a European trip again and I’ve never stepped foot on that continent. Meanwhile I’m living paycheck to paycheck (rent is ridiculous here), unable to eat out or accumulate any savings. Feeling like a dishonor to my family and rethinking life choices.
Is there any professions/industries that has a high starting salary, low threshold of entry and requires minimal amount of training? I’m thinking of joining a coding bootcamp or doing paralegal stuff.
Would it be wise to leave my current marketing career track? I’ve heard so many good things about this industry but all the mid/senior positions require agency experience. I’ve never done agency and doing that would reduce my income. I’m also at a point where I’m done with marketing in-house.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, thank you. xx - Your shallow, money hungry, stressed out fellow redditor.

Hello Autists,
Today I am presenting Redfin (RDFN) and why it can and will be a 200% play over the next two years. Yes, I did say 200%. Just on stock, not even counting options. Let's jump in.
Investment Thesis: Redfin a super cyclical stock will be rebounding with great strength due to Online Real Estate Market Growth, AI investments, diverse Revenue Streams, and most importantly shrinking interest rate environment to kick it all off. They also got rid of their Buying program and implemented for the first time now the Redfin Premier Nationwide service to homebuyers.
What is Redfin?
Redfin is a residential online real estate brokerage. The company uses technologies such as map search and virtual house showings to increase exposure, improve the quality of the customer experience, all while delivering efficiencies and saving the consumer costs. Redfin also provides the ability to do digital and online document management making it a one stop shop for one’s real estate needs.
They also use the same combination of technology and local service to originate mortgage loans and offer title and settlement services. They also offer digital platforms to connect consumers with available apartments and houses for rent.
Their mission is to redefine real estate in favor of the consumer. To change an industry that has had little disruption. Redfin's business model to undercut competition is based on sellers paying Redfin a discounted fee, either 1 or 1.5% to list the seller's home.
Real Estate agents have to be the biggest thieves taking 6% commission being a realtor. Every $1,000,000 home sold equals $60,000 in fees for a license that can be earned in 75 classroom hours. And requires no technical skills or degree. Nothing against real estate agents, but after watching Selling Sunset on Netflix and working in real estate investments myself, I am ready to see the real estate market adapt, and move past agents who don’t provide more than $20 of value and headaches saying “Location, location, location” so I can buy more FD and OTD’s in my brokerage.
Investment Thesis Catalysts:
Online Real Estate Market Growth and Market Share: There is ongoing shift towards online platforms in the real estate industry that present an opportunity for Redfin to capture a larger share of the market. As more homebuyers and sellers embrace digital solutions, Redfin's technology-driven approach and user-friendly platform could lead to increased adoption and market penetration.
If any of you autists have ever used RDFN then you know first hand that there is a smooth process with limited conflict of interest since their agents are not commission based. People are becoming tired of the fees posed by traditional agents. Even though there has been a slow down in revenues across the real estate brokerage industry, going forward in a digital world I expect this to continue to grow.
Redfin currently only has .78% of the entire market share in the US….there is room for growth for this billion dollar market cap company where they are actually not being thieves for 6%.
The company's growth initiatives, such as geographic expansion and strategic partnerships, will contribute to its market dominance and attract more customers. They just initiated Redfin Premier Nationwide.
Redfin Premier is a specialized service that caters to high-end and luxury properties. It is designed to provide enhanced marketing and representation for luxury homes in select markets.Redfin Premier offers a range of features and services to sellers and buyers of luxury properties. These may include professional photography and video tours, custom marketing materials, targeted online advertising, and exposure on high-traffic websites and publications. And you know what they say…luxury products bring luxury margins.
Redfin also launched in 2022 their acquisition from 2021 RentPath, because lets be honest owning a home for many people right now is a pipedream and now has a rental search. This creates a new pipeline of consumers in different phases of life and I don’t know how many of y’all have been apartment shopping recently but damn these rents just keep going up. While Redfin is known for home buying and selling services… apartment rentals is a new slice of the pie to grow into. And most of the time M&A is a waste of time but this I think added value to Redfin.
AI Investments: I knew by putting AI in this, some of yall would make your keyboard sticky. They are making continued investments in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analysis to make sure they provide personalized recommendations, improve user experience, and streamline the home buying and selling process to take consumer money and make us tendies.
Industry Trends:
Real Estate transactions have gotten wrecked. Interest rates affect this industry a fuck ton. Redfin’s share price has plummeted since 2022. Interest rates and recessionary environments have made homebuyers less of a rush to close deals.
Many experts in the mortgage industry see rates going down especially with the government preventing a US debt default. As the banking sector calms down. Economic data points towards a strong economy, and inflation eases, rates hopefully will go downward through the end of 2023. Fed tightening may put some upward pressure on mortgage rates in the near term, but ultimately more certainty about the Fed’s actions will help to smooth out some of the volatility we have seen with mortgage rates. It is likely that the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates for the tenth consecutive time in May, which may represent the peak for the current round of policy tightening. Also if inflation surprises to the downside or recession fears intensify, mortgage rates could fall.
Risks/The Dirty: Why this Stock has fallen 90% from its peak.
Real Estate market got fucked worse than an episode of Brazzers. Interest rates got hiked worse than Johnny Sins morning wood and a recession made people less likely to move. This combination wrecked REITs, brokerages, growth stocks, every autists portfolios, even those losers in dividends with their measly .69 cents quarterly payments.
Risks include

• Interest Rates
• Financial Health (They need to crank out some earnings, they are using preferred stock, stock based comp, and senior notes to get through rough times)
• Housing Market (Back to interest rates, houses need to be being bought.)

The good news is, I see that the stock has been wrecked by the risks above. And as the light at the end of tunnel gets closer the stock should derisk itself assuming real estate armageddon does not hit and the stock price should go up. I do not think it will get anywhere near the former all time high stock price in the next couple years, but think it will bring great gains that outpace the general market.
Future Outlook from Q1 2023 Earnings:

• Reduced staff and made organizational changes, making support staff ratios to agents better
• Focused on mortgage cross selling business, concierge services, expanding Redfin Preimer Nationwide
• Exited the home buying business that again, fucked earnings like a scene out of brazzers.
• Aim to return to the traditional broker model, increasing monetization.
• Projected real Estate Service back to growth in Q2 2023 and strong double digit growth in rental and mortgage businesses.
• They expected adjusted EBITDA to be breakeven or better for 2023, $190 million better than 2022.

Valuation Notes:
The stock has been hammered…look at the stock chart. A lot of worst case nightmare scenarios came true for RDFN. Now RDFN is not a real estate company or REIT, it is a brokerage but also a tech stock. One of the biggest surprises when analyzing RDFN is their price to sales ratio.
RDFN has a P/S ratio of .51 which is incredibly low and before covid traded anywhere from 1.25 to 1.8 regularly. Because the company is not currently profitable it is a great ratio to do a quick comp. Meanwhile stocks like PLTR have a 14.6x P/S ratio. I know they aren’t the same company or growth or macro factors. But as this stock continues to have a great 2023 and market cap grows, more and more institutional investors will enter this heavily cyclical stock that has the most to gain in a great economic cycle.
As revenues rebound and grow, hopefully becoming profitable, see no reason this stock cannot hit over $30 in 30 months.
Conclusion:
Good stock. Fucked from tough times past 2 years. Innovative product that actually provides value at much more of a discount then some 6% sucking vampire real estate agent. Buy for tendies. I like it as interest rates go down, house buying environment picks back up, continued expansion, and better margins. Hopefully the worst is behind us and as earnings grow and the stock derisks, stock price will spike.
Positions:
1600 Shares at $10.16, looking to add more. And looking to add leaps for 2024/2025.

i’m new to reddit, so apologies if anything is formatted weird. i’ve already graduated high school (class of ‘23) and am currently taking a gap year for mental health reasons (i plan to discuss this, as it affected my academics and inability to participate in ecs for a while)
demographic: - 2nd gen korean, queer, upper-middle class, public hs
stats: - cumulative gpa: 4.57 weighted, 3.9 unweighted (will decrease a bit as final senior grades have yet to be updated. i got 2 B’s but other than that, there shouldn’t be any drastic decrease) - class rank: 35/535 weighted, 92/535 unweighted (again, will change a bit) - 10 APs: bio (3) freshman covid year; chem (2) and world (3) sophomore covid year; calc ab (4), apush (4), lang (5), and psych (5) junior year, and gov, econ, and apes senior year (did not take exams) - 7 honors/college-level courses - i have not taken the sat/act (i don’t plan on submitting scores) - i’ve only taken 2 years of foreign language (spanish) because i dropped out of spanish 3 my senior year for mental health. but i hope to compensate for this with the fact that i’m proficient in korean
ecs & awards: - ap scholar with distinction - honor student (achieved over 4.0) - choir (7 years, on choir council for 3 years as photographer, president, and stage manager respectively); performed at carnegie hall and many other locations and placed high in many choral competitions - speech & debate team (4 years, was social media director for a year and speech captain for 2 years; semi-finalist in 2020, placed 5th at 2021 stanford invitational, placed 9th in 2021) - placed 3rd in an essay contest on environmentalism - participated in student-run, zero-cost pandemic relief supply to unhoused and low-income communities - teacher’s assistant to teach korean language and culture to kids through hands-on activities (4 years); also had a year where i also taught basic coding to them - created website for accurate, accessible, and inclusive queer resources - local activism (such as joining local protests for blm, gun control, reproductive rights, etc.) - have secured an internship as teacher’s assistant at an elementary school for after summer break - planning on maybe traveling to do a work-away if i can? otherwise I’ll probably spend my time on some other project
interests: human rights/social justice, gender & sexuality studies, sociology
schools (I plan to cut the list down a bit): allegheny, amherst, bard college (ny), barnard, bryn mawr, conn college, dickinson, franklin & marshall, gettysburg, goucher, grinnell, macalester, mount holyoke, oxy, pitzer, scripps, smith, trinity college, union college (ny), uni of puget sound, wesleyan, and the uc’s (i live in cali)
any advice? i also welcome new school recs. thank you in advance!!

i’m new to reddit, so apologies if anything is formatted weird. i’ve already graduated high school (class of ‘23) and am currently taking a gap year for mental health reasons (i plan to discuss this, as it affected my academics and inability to participate in ecs for a while)
demographic: - 2nd gen korean, queer, upper-middle class, public hs
stats: - cumulative gpa: 4.57 weighted, 3.9 unweighted (will decrease a bit as final senior grades have yet to be updated. i got 2 B’s but other than that, there shouldn’t be any drastic decrease) - class rank: 35/535 weighted, 92/535 unweighted (again, will change a bit) - 10 APs: bio (3) freshman covid year; chem (2) and world (3) sophomore covid year; calc ab (4), apush (4), lang (5), and psych (5) junior year, and gov, econ, and apes senior year (did not take exams); when i say “covid year,” that means we were in quarantine and AP exams were online - 7 honors/college-level courses - i have not taken the sat/act (i don’t plan on submitting scores) - i’ve only taken 2 years of foreign language (spanish) because i dropped out of spanish 3 my senior year for mental health. but i hope to compensate for this with the fact that i’m proficient in korean
ecs & awards: - ap scholar with distinction - honor student (achieved over 4.0) - choir (7 years, on choir council for 3 years as photographer, president, and stage manager respectively); performed at carnegie hall and many other locations and placed high in many choral competitions - speech & debate team (4 years, was social media director for a year and speech captain for 2 years; semi-finalist in 2020, placed 5th at 2021 stanford invitational, placed 9th in 2021) - placed 3rd in an essay contest on environmentalism - participated in student-run, zero-cost pandemic relief supply to unhoused and low-income communities (we were able to get almost 2k donations!) - teacher’s assistant to teach korean language and culture to kids through hands-on activities (4 years); also had a year where i taught basic coding to them - created website for accurate, accessible, and inclusive queer resources - local activism (such as joining local protests for blm, gun control, reproductive rights, etc.) - have secured an internship as teacher’s assistant at an elementary school for after summer break - planning on maybe traveling to do a work-away if i can? otherwise I’ll probably spend my time on some other project
interests: human rights/social justice, gender & sexuality studies, sociology
schools (I plan to cut the list down a bit): allegheny, amherst, bard college (ny), barnard, bryn mawr, conn college, dickinson, franklin & marshall, gettysburg, goucher, grinnell, macalester, mount holyoke, oxy, pitzer, scripps, smith, trinity college, union college (ny), uni of puget sound, wesleyan, and the uc’s (i live in cali)
any advice? i also welcome new school recs. thank you in advance!!

I work with low income kids but unfortunately we don't have any budget when it comes to taking them places this summer. I'd appreciate any ideas that aren't well known like the zoo and aren't alcohol related like brewery tours just because I'm not allowed to take them there.
Places like Grant's farm aren't really free because you have to pay to park. Don't want to take kids to say Fitzs to watch things and then tell them we can't eat there anyway.
Also does anyone know if there is still a safe place to watch the planes take off and land by Lambert? I have some younger clients who might like that. There used to be a lot close to one of the runways but I believe its been taken over by the airport.
I'm open to places over in IL too if its not too much of a drive.
TIA.

Excellent, detailed article from Tony Richards about the barriers to building more medium density in Sydney. It's paywalled in the AFR, so you will need to subscribe or install a Chrome extension such as Bypass Paywalls Clean. https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/how-to-solve-australia-s-housing-crisis-20230502-p5d4w9

"There are of course some in the community who oppose any suggestion about building more medium-density housing in our inner- and middle-ring suburbs. Any time that an article along these lines is published in a major newspaper there are all sorts of outraged responses.
Many of these are essentially people trying to impose their own views or tastes on others. There are the incorrect assertions about housing demand (e.g. “no-one wants to live in apartments”) or about supply (e.g. “all apartments are poky and small”). And there are also the let-them-eat-cake responses.
We should reject these responses. Australian cities have much lower density than large cities in most other higher-income economies. For example, most of the attractive European cities that Australians – including those living in our affluent, well-located and low-density suburbs – love to visit have much more medium-density housing than Australian cities."

Hi, friends, I'm (50m) looking for advice. Since last September, after a great paying career, then a divorce, and a struggle with many low-income week-to-week jobs, I've been back working in a great position, making 73k, and in less than a year have built up 13k in cash, 25k in investments (6k is HSA, the rest is old and new TIAA), and an 825 credit score.
I have no loans and no property but my 2006 Toyota Corolla. I have owned and sold two houses in the past with no significant remnant of either sale. I have had credit debt in the past, but avoid it now. I use my credit card but pay it in full whenever it hits 1k, about a month's worth of everyday food, gas, and other purchases. I avoid paying interest. I rent for $975 a month for a one bedroom apartment in VA. I live alone by choice and would never reconsider marriage or coupled financials. I pay child support of $600/mo, taken directly from my check.
My total expenses for the month are $2500, give or take. I net an income of ~3.5k each month after taxes, child support, and benefits. Therefore, I gain about $1k a month in cash savings. If you wanted a small (100-200k) house on a large lot (50k), what would you do? If you wanted to invest, what would you do? If you wanted to build savings, what would you do? If you had general advice, what would you say? Things are looking up, and thanks in advance!

I own a home since late July 2022, so not quite a year yet.
We keep on going from bad health insurance to no health insurance to Medicaid to no health insurance. My Medicaid is ending on 6/1. My wife and I both have medical issues. If we want insurance it is close to $2k a month, SUBSIDIZED! That is for a crappy plan. To get a name brand like Blue Cross, it is even more money. So we can drown in medical bills, don't seek medical care and possibly die, or pay for insurance and probably lose our house.
My taxes have went up about 50% since I moved in, also they removed some kind of credit because this house was owned by a senior citizen before us. I just paid back about $500 for that credit. If I don't pay my taxes without the credit and tremendous increase, the government will take my house.
Lastly, I have mentioned before I got help getting this house. The loan I got isn't a traditional mortgage. The interest rate is higher, but the payments were supposed to be lower. It isn't a 30 year mortgage like most people. There is no set time. It is sort of like an interest only collateral loan. Literally it was supposed to be if I can cover like $400 a month, I could stay here indefinitely. That got blown out the window. The minimum amounts are all over the place. It hasn't been as low as $400 in months. Miss a few payments, and of course I can lose this house.
I feel I am set up to fail. I have endless repairs in this house too. Estimates of $25k for electrical (most of the house's electric doesn't work), $20k in carpentry (structural issues) and about $6k in plumbing (every pipe in the garage is broken).
We are doing all we can to survive. We rent out the largest bedroom. My wife and I sleep in what is supposed to be a covered porch. It has walls and its own heater. The walls have no insulation. I lived in a trailer home and it is similar to it. Anyway, so that is extra money. I work for myself. I teach online classes and I am trying to add to what I teach + I am trying to get disability. My wife got a job that pays more than her previous job.
Do they want us to fail?
.

Demographics
Gender: Male
Race/Ethnicity: Latino (Peruvian Descant)
Residence: Northern California (but not the bay area, its the Sacramento area)
Income Bracket: >50k
Type of School: very average public school (only a few [around 10-15] go to top schools like ucla, uc san diego, uc berkeley)
Hooks: First-Gen, Low income LOL
Intended Major(s): Computer Science/Data Science for UC schools; sociology for most of the private schools on the Common Application
Academics
GPA (UW/W): 3.84 UW and 4.19 W at the end of my junior year (this was the GPA I applied as to the UC schools). 3.78 and a 4.16W on my mid-year report sent to the private schools.
Rank (or percentile): 49/585 (although I lost my rank in the second semester of my senior year to a 65/601 and didn't even make the top 10%).
# of Honors/AP/IB/Dual Enrollment/etc.: 4 Honors, 11 AP courses, 7 Dual Enrollment courses.
Senior Year Course Load: AP Spanish Literature, AP English Literature, Computer Programming, AP Microeconomics, AP Government, AP Physics 2, Pre-Calculus Honors (I know, its bad) and Art 1.
Standardized Testing
SAT I: Didn't take the SAT Or the ACT test; Applied test-optional.
AP/IB: 3's on four AP Exams and 4's on two AP Exams. Failed AP Physics 1.
Extracurriculars/Activities
List all extracurricular involvements, including leadership roles, time commitments, major achievements, etc.
#1 National History Day Competition (State Competitor, 11th-12th grade, 4 hours a week, 23 weeks, won local county competition).
#2 City Hall Internship (intern, 10th grade, 23 hours a week, 4 weeks a year, made changes to city website)
#3 Elementary School Internship (Teacher's Assistant/Intern, 11th grade, 20 hours a week during the summer, helped support first-grade students with learning curriculum.
#4 Family Housekeeping Assistant (helper, 8 hours per week for around 34 weeks a year from 9th-12th grade, helped clean homes).
#5 Academic Decathlon Co-Founder (team member, 11th grade, 3 hours per week for 21 weeks, helped initiate after covid-19.
#6 Web Developer for my school's technology academy (11th to 12th grade, 2 hours a week for 20 weeks, informed 100+ people of club and community events & info).
#7 Robotics Team (coder, 2 hours a week for 20 weeks, 9th to 12th grade, made state competitions for the first time ye)
#8 MESA team (9th to 12th grade, 1 hour per week for 30 weeks, learned useful technical skills like python, inventor, fusion 360 and more).
#9 Web Developer for Key Club (11th to 12th grade, 2 hours a week for 15 weeks, no major accomplishments)
#10 Cashier and fast food worker (11th grade, 10 hours a week for 8 weeks, understaffed in many case).
Awards/Honors
List all awards and honors submitted on your application.
#1 History Day Special Award for Chinese American History (State Level Recognition)
#2 Sacramento County History Day (Local, regional recognition).
#3 School's Technology Academy Leadership Service Award
#4 AP Scholar (LOL)
#5 Honor Roll with Distinction (school recognition).
Letters of Recommendation
APUSH teacher recommendation (8/10): I think I got to know her pretty well and that she was really able to get to know me as a student. She told me she tried to really showcase the strong qualities of myself that really shined through and would serve me best. She also told me she liked how I overcame challenges on the history day competition and how I was persistent/a grit student. I also did try my best in APUSH class and i feel like she probably wrote a lot about that, including about my character.
​
AP Psychology teacher (6/10): Wrote it in a couple of days, so not sure how strong it was. I feel like she somewhat got to know me in AP Psych class but nothing outside of the classroom. She also didn't know what COMMON APP when I asked her so this was probably a first for her, which is kinda a red flag lol but not anything bad. I feel like it was probably average to above average, but who knows it could have been well-written.
City employee internship advisor (5/10): I got the letter of recommendation after my internship and it was very generic, but i still asked her to fill it out for the community recommender part of the Common app recommendation section. I think she wrote like an extra sentence or two but people have told me it was very generic and didn't really demonstrate extra qualities about myself.
Interviews
Had 1 alumni interview with Dartmouth College. I would rate it a 7/10. I got along with her pretty well but I did have some hick ups but I really was able to express myself well. I did prepare for it but it wasn't anything extraordinary.
Essays
UC PIQ Essays (8.5/10): I spent a lot of time writing/editing my UC personal insight questions. I went to both my AP English literature and AP English language teachers, my counselor, one of my close friends, my APUSH teacher, and online "advisors" who somewhat helped although I did pay them upwards of $400 in total to review/edit. I started writing them on November 1st, but I went through so many drafts. I had like 40 pages of just drafts on the google doc. I did have lots of people go over it (which may have been a bad thing due to an overwhelming amount of different advice/feedback/edits they had). I also did pay for online college advisory services to look over my essays, which wasn't too helpful because they gave very minimal edits/feedback. I think three of my PIQ essays were pretty strong at the point . The fourth PIQ essay I started writing the week of the deadline and it turned out pretty good, but not super strong. I feel like one of my UC essays was especially strong for how well-written it was, how unique it was, and how much it demonstrated my personal values/challenges. I truly do feel like my essays on leadership, overcoming a challenge, favorite academic subject, and community essay shined through on me as an applicant and demonstrated who I was as well as my potential.
Common APP PS essay (7/10): As for my Common App Personal Statement Essay, I started on December 16th (one day after my birthday LOL). I tried being different and writing about an inanimate object I've had since I was young. I wrote about this and basically mixed in one of my strongest UC Essays from above into one really well-written essay. I think it was an alright essay but now looking back on it, it wasn't that well-written LOL. I didn't have a winter break and I remember editing one of my supplemental essays like 10 minutes before New Years LOL. I had like 20 supplemental essays to write and I think some of them were really well-written and insightful, while some were written as if it was written last-minute (because it was). But I really liked my community essay, at that point, it was really polished and well-written so I had that as my basis for all the community supplemental essays. For my common app personal statement and supplemental essays, i spent upwards of $600 for online college essay editing services, which was absolutely not worth it because I feel like i could just relied on my personal feedback and not others. However, I did spend all my winter break applying to like 16 private schools, including writing the supplemental essays and common app personal statement that winter break. The topic of my PS statement was more of a grit story and what I learned after working with my mom a lot with house cleaning and how it has changed my outlook on life.
​
Decisions: I only applied Regular Decision for all of them.
Rejections:
Amherst College (social sciences major).
Bowdoin College (social sciences major).
Brown University (social sciences major).
Colby College (social sciences major).
Dartmouth College (social sciences major).
Duke University (cs major)
Northwestern University (social sciences major).
Pomona College (social sciences major).
California State University - San Diego (cs major)
Swarthmore College (social sciences major).
UC Santa Barbara (cs major)
University of Southern California (cs major)
Washington University in St. Louis (cs major)
Yale University. (cs major).
Waitlists:
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SWE major, still waiting to hear back although I don't think i want to commit there ).
Grinnell College (humanities major) declined waitlist offer
Middlebury College (humanities major) declined waitlist offer
UC Davis (cs major) declined waitlist offer
UC Santa Cruz (cs major) declined waitlist offer
UCLA (cs + engineering major) I'm still waiting to hear back; might commit if i get admitted).
Acceptances:
California State University - Sacramento (computer science major)
California State University - Long Beach (computer science major)
Pepperdine University (computer science major)
UC Irvine (software engineering major)!
UC San Diego (data science major)!
Vanderbilt University (College of arts and sciences)!!!!
UC Berkeley (Committed!!!) Although I am a data science major and not comp sci, I really do feel like I can learn a lot at Cal!!
​
Additional Information: Although I only got I would get into mid-tier schools like UC Irvine or something, I am really happy about my results! Despite being rejected from almost all the private schools besides Vanderbilt and Pepperdine, I really did like how Vanderbilt chose me. It was a super difficult decision picking between Vanderbilt CS (intention to switch to college of engineering) and Berkeley Data Science, I ultimately chose Berkeley because of how prestigious it was for the technology sector and how close it was from home (around 2 hour drive). Although Vanderbilt truly did appeal to me with its student social life scene, academic and social life balance, good food, new location, happy student body, and rigorous academics, it was a bit too far from home. However, although I only got into 7 out of 27 colleges I applied for, I am happy that top universities did pick me and that I was able to choose from such excellent universities. Cal is where my next four years will be! Now, that's only if UCLA doesn't get me off their waitlist, but even then I might still choose Cal if I get off the waitlist. go bears!

I've asked this before in personalfinance, but I've never gotten any actual advice. Just downvotes and a couple posts saying, "never use collateral on your house for unsecured debt"...."get a second job"...."get a better job"....etc.
Long story short, I have about 24k in credit card. 98% of it from about two years ago.
I've always had spending issues in the past, never this severe.
Basically after this happened I realized I had an issue, and at 34 was diagnosed with adhd and bipolar disorder. Almost all of that debt came through a couple of the worst manic periods I had ever had.
For the last TWO YEARS, I have been on medication and receiving therapy. I have not had an episode, and I have not gone on spending sprees, I have kept everything under control for TWO YEARS now.
But I'm fucking suffering. I make decent money for where I live. I've been at my job for a decade. I've owned my home for six years.
The personalfinance sub just seems completely out of touch with the reality of people in my income level and position, so maybe I can get some real advice here.
I gross just over $60k per year. With OT I can make between $65-70k.
I don't think I'll lose my job anytime soon. You just have to trust me on this. I don't see it being outsources or automated before I retire. My grandfather worked here, my father worked here, I work here. They are a well known brand and one of their biggest selling points besides quality is being American made.
After taxes, 401k, and insurance, I net $3200 a month if I work NO OT.
My mortgage is $675 a month, plus a $385 escrow payment.
Gas, electric, water, internet, and phone come to $520 a month.
Car insurance is $85 a month. No car payments.
The problem is my credit car payments come to $887 a month.
So I am only left with $648 a month for food, gas, cat food/supplies, clothes, any "extras"....which means I am barely skimping by and have no savings anymore (minus what I put in my 401k which is WAY less than it should be right now).
I only owe $147k on my mortgage. My home is valued at $355k (that's on the low end).
My mortgage is with my local credit union, and even with my debt and low credit score, I think I'd have no problem getting a $25k fixed equity loan with them based on my LTV.
Their fixed equity loans are at 6%.
So I could pay off my debt and shrink my monthly payments from $887 to $278.
That's a huge help. That's an extra $609 a month freed up.
Right now, it's impossible for me to get out of debt. I'm basically only paying the interest on these cards with only a few bucks going to the principle.
At this rate, I'm still going to owe a majority of the balance on them 10 years from now.
I know one of the biggest issues with doing something like this is racking up new debt on the cards.
But it's been two years now with the issues I've had being taken care of/fixed.
At the end of the day, the home equity loan seems like the best solution to me.

Long story short I know a family who both work (but low income) that smoke and drink all of their money and have been evicted one place after another. They have a child and I have a feeling I am going to end up having to take this child in, but there's no way I'm taking the parents in - not my problem. They are going to be homeless. Even if they didn't have a terrible track record, rentals are scarce and competitive.
Don't bother mentioning what I could or should have done about their alcoholism, there's nothing anyone could say or do to change them in the slightest. I'm just worried for this poor child.
Is there any financial support or housing support for people who are in this situation? I know it is all 100% self inflicted but surely there's some housing that can take their money straight from their pay or something? Some sort of commission housing for people battling with addiction? They'd need to essentially be forced to pay before they have access to their money.

I think sometimes people ask the same questions over and over again and the answers tend to go round in circles. Hopefully this will be at least a little unique. I will try and be specific without spelling out to anyone who knows who I am.
After graduating from college and a little bit of grad school I moved back home with my parents. I was at a low point in my life then and suffering from depression and unhappy with being single. I went through years of therapy to work on it and feel I am a much happier person now. Needless to say having depression, not having much self confidence and living at home led me to always staying single and sometimes going years in between dates.
For the next ten years I worked doing the kinds of jobs no one wants to do. Cleaning, hard labor, working outside, some jobs were even dangerous. I never earned much and never developed any useful skills. I am not bitter- I am just explaining what I did for work and how I spent those years.
I learned to live a cheap and simple lifestyle at home. My hobbies became music, reading and art. Slowly but surely I started to save money. My parents did not charge me rent or for food (I am forever grateful to them and they probably saved my life). I was always open to dating and meeting the right person and getting a place with them to split costs. But nobody ever had any interest.
I of course did not try hard enough. I was emberassed with my jobs and that I lived at home. And I came to blame living with my parents for why no girl even wanted a first date with me.
I had actually briefly moved out before covid. Then that happened and I moved back in with my parents (it was best all around for many reasons).
But I did start to have a repectable amount saved up. And a year and a half ago I got a great deal on a townhouse and bought a 3 bedroom/ 1 bath for under 100,000. I was able to pay cash. I have no mortgage, no HOA fee, and even my property tax is more than reasonable. I put another 30,000 into fixing it up. Not that it should matter but thay pretty much was the end of my savings. I have just enough to help me buy a new car when my current one dies but that is it.
Six months ago I moved into my townhouse alone. I hoped I would never have to move back in with my parents and finally now could start dating and get into a relationship. I obviously have some flaws and some hang ups (working on them I promise, but some are tough). I was working a really crappy and hard warehouse job. Going home alone after half killing myself each day got harder and harder. So a few weeks ago I quit my warehouse job.
I decided then I did not want to work those really hard back breaking jobs anymore. I am 36 now. My body was so sore and emotionally I was so strung out. I have a part time retail job right now and am looking for a second part time job. If you are curious I do have health insurance so do not need full time work. Also if you were curious whether I had health insurance thank you for caring.
I guess we are to the unique point in my story. I really don't know if I ever want to do more than low stress, low strain jobs ever again. I can pay for all my bills (health, electric, water, food, gas, insurance- you get the idea), on my own. Maybe I just want to work low level retail for the next 35 years and retire. Lord knows my anxiety and high blood pressure would thank me.
But how do I sell this to women? I may never make more tha 35,000 a year (inflation not counting of course). It is super hard to be a 36 year old guy who does a basic retail job and even get a first date.
I can afford to pay for dates- not luxury ones. If I ever married and we could combine our incomes we could afford a small family- or to travel, or eat out a bunch- whatever she wants. We could not afford to do everything and together we have to choose what is most important to us. I know we can have a great life though.
We would never be rich and probably would never be able to afford a big house or anything (I don't want one anyways and I am very proud of my townhouse). But even her just making the same amount as me or a little less and we could live great as far as I am concerned.
I had such high hopes for moving out on my own. That dream was shattered. And now I even have a less prestigious job which has hurt my self confidence with women even more. Any advice at all would be so appreciated. Even if it is just advice on how to explain to women my job situation without scaring them off would be nice.
Just a few details if anyone wants a better picture of me: I am 36, never married and no kids (should be obvious but you never know).
I am open to dating women with kids as long as they have two or less- hey a three bedroom place has limits. I am open to dating younger than me and open to dating older. Although not super into dating over say 40 at this time.
I live in a medium sized city in a red part of a blue state. My politics are moderate but lean slightly left. The urban area I live in is just over 100k and the metro area is about 300k. To some people this may be a big city to others a small town.
If by some miracle anyone makes it to the end of this post thank you, thank you so much.

credit to u/SpacePaladin15 for the world of NOP
this one was really fun to write =)
​
firstprevnext
----------------------
Memory transcription subject: “Teach,” UN Expeditionary Forces
Date [standardized human time]: September 29, 2136 (two days after the invasion of the Gojid Cradle)
The notion had sprang unbidden to my mind. And far be it from me to deprive my new companions of it.
“Now that you mention it… we had actually had an idea for that, but it wasn’t really feasible at the time.”
Rich and Kazeth both cocked their heads in unison. I almost laughed at that.
“UN dropships are equipped to support extended campaigns. So, they have supplies on them. You know, guns, ammo, other equipment. Rations. And we,” I said theatrically. “Know where one is.”
Rich’s brow furrowed in confusion, before shooting back up in understanding. “Oh!” He said, turning in his seat to look out towards the downed ship out in the fields. What was at one point going to get off this fucked-up planet. “Hmm. You sure any of the supplies survived that? It seems kind of…” He trailed off.
“Well, that was half of the problem. I have no idea how much of the supplies in there survived, if any at all.”
“Mmm.”
“What was the other half of the problem?” Kazeth asked, staring out towards the still-smoking black spot out in the distance of the field.
“It’s far. It’s… hold on.” I snapped up my marksman’s rifle from the floor, and tucked into a kneeling position, pointing the scope out towards the wreckage. I held my breath to help steady the thing, waiting for the rangefinder readout on the scope’s hud to stabilize. “It’s about… three kilometers out.” I hefted the rifle back into a carrying position and stood back up. “Doesn’t sound that bad. But the problem is, or was, that it was just us two. We can’t leave the gojid undefended for that long, walking all the way out there. The raids start fast,” I said, snapping my fingers for emphasis as my other hand set the rifle back down in its resting place. “Only takes a couple minutes’ lapse and they’re gone. Plus, the time spent poking through it, loading up a cart… We decided we wouldn’t risk it until we absolutely had to. But now with you two here…”
“Why not just take a car out there? There’s gotta be cars around here.”
“You’d think, huh? Nah, they don’t really have cars like we do. You notice the streets here aren’t really driveable? And, kind of hard to tell now, since the place is pretty fucked up, but a lot of these roofs are flat, and reinforced, so that the automated shuttles can land on them. And look,” I pointed out in the other direction, tracing my finger slowly across the terrain. “High-speed rail line. That’s where most of their supplies were coming in. Obviously that’s not working now, given, you know, the invasion.” I turned back to the other two and gave a short shrug. “No cars here. Only car around is uhh… the one you guys showed up in. That I killed.”
Rich shook his head slightly, as if clearing it. “Huh.”
“What’d you think of that grouping though? Pretty good right?”
“Yeah, ya really killed the shit out of our truck, man. Well, wait, then how come there’s a road leading in?”
I shrugged again. “Guess it’s more for outsiders coming in, and not for the people here. It’s just different here, I guess, no one told us anything about it, we’re figuring it out ourselves.” A second thought sprang to mind, as I was thinking about how different the Cradle was from Earth. “Hey… how come you know so much about earth, Kazeth?”
The alien’s tail twitched a bit. “You think me the only arxur to bear a fascination with humanity? No, we have all been watching very closely. Especially the higher up the command structure you go. Humanity wandering onto the galactic stage is the most interesting thing to happen to all of us, Betterment and Federation both, in two-hundred years. The future is balanced in your hands.”
“What do you mean?”
“The logistics of galactic warfare have enforced a status quo. The Federation’s fleets are larger than ours, but they cannot risk direct attack. To do so would be to leave their core systems vulnerable. Instead, their fleets are relegated to a rotating defense. They move as a herd, protecting one sector at a time, relegating us to never more than small raids against their undefended sectors. And the Dominion cannot launch a full-scale attack, or we would risk utter annihilation. It is a careful balance, in which neither side ever has the upper hand… and humanity is poised to upset it.”
It was all clicking together in my head. “That’s why they’re so scared of us! They think we might pick the other side!”
“Precisely. The panic is evident right here, on this very ground. The Gojid think you a threat. That is why you invaded preemptively, yes?”
“Yeah, but, ya still haven’t explained exactly how you know all of this, though.” Rich piped up.
“Yeahhh…” I said accusingly. “You’ve been spying on us, haven’t ya, mate?”
The Arxur rolled her shoulders dismissively. “Yes. On you and the Federation both. Our FTL communication technology far surpasses the Federation’s, as it must. It is our lifeblood. It is how we know which sectors are unguarded. And is it not unreasonable to expect that we would turn our ears towards Earth as well? The Dominion still has not decided whether to treat humanity as a threat or a potential ally.”
“You sneaky bastards,” I said, half-jokingly.
“You would do the same.”
I would have been perturbed, had I not been too occupied with curiosity. Spying? That’s for the UN to care about. I had more pressing curiosities. “So, what do the Arxur think of what they’ve learned about us?”
“As a whole? It is difficult to say. I think that we are… divided. The Arxur know that Earth is thriving and free, in a way that they aren’t. But they also see that you ally with the prey races, and that you find us loathsome. It is hard not to perceive this as a rejection, a statement of enmity. But those higher up the chain possess a clearer picture; truth trickles down, after all. They see that you are eager to share Earth’s bounty, and that the Federation rejects it. Because of course they would. The natural order is an abomination in their eyes, and they would sooner see Earth ‘cleansed’ than they would share it.” She paused, her head tilted slightly to the side. She looked at me, though her eyes flicked around evasively. “I know for a fact that some of the senior leadership in Betterment still hope that humanity would share it with us instead, and that they are willing to gamble our future on that… hope.”
“But you haven’t even tried to contact us. At least, not as far as I’m aware.”
“It is only a matter of time, now. But no, At the moment, such an attempt would be in defiance of Betterment. Officially, we are still taking the position that we are superior, and that you are closer to prey than to allies.”
“Sounds like the ‘official position’ isn’t all that universal then, huh? And among the higher-ups, no less.”
Kazeth flashed her fangs. “Indeed. I have been around for a long time, under Betterment. I’ve silenced my fair share of dissent, and yet… I have never seen the cracks show like this. It is… different. This time, it is coming from the top, instead of the bottom. You’ve proven a rather different picture of reality, turned everything on its head. It’s all changed, since you’ve walked on stage.”
Rich scratched at his chin, looking deep in thought. “Hm,” he stated, finally.
“Hm,” I agreed.
“What?” Kazeth asked, shifting her head quizzically.
“Nothing,” Rich responded. “It’s just… interesting. It’s, well, It suddenly hits me, that we are learning as much about you now, as you might have learned about us with your whole time spying. Our first picture of the Arxur was, umm, simple. Not much nuance.”
Kazeth hummed in acceptance, and I couldn’t help but agree. I opened my mouth to empathize, but instead, another curious thought hijacked it. “Y’know, that’s the second time you’ve used a theater analogy, now. Is that translating correctly?”
“It is.”
“So you have theater? And other arts?”
She slowly turned her head to fix me with a stare, which I felt myself withering under. Of course they have art. They are a sapient, intelligent species, I admonished myself over the stupid question. You are a teacher -- you should know better.
Kazeth, once she had finished letting me drown myself in the awkwardness of my own making, answered patiently, “Yes. We do. Although, they are mostly propaganda. I remember as a hatchling, when our educators would show films in our classes, and we would be --”
Rich stood up abruptly, face screwed up in concentration. Then I heard it too.
He looked over to me, consternation etched into his features. “I hear ships.”
Realization dawned, and horror settled. “Raid! Shit-fuck!” I scrambled for the radio. “Priya! It’s another raid!”
“Copy!” Her voice came through the radio. “Get set up. And send Rich down!”
----------
The arxur raid came swiftly, as they always did. Rich had barely scooped up his rifle and started the dash down the stairs, as the dropships came screaming to a halt above the edges of the town. There were three of them. Three teams. They quickly descended their ropes down to the ground, four to five in each party. I watched them through my scope, tracking them. They grouped together, stalking through the streets with their heads low and shoulders hunched, sniffing at the doors and windows. Kazeth stayed beside me, similarly hunched. The scales on her crest and shoulders puffing up as her eyes bore towards the hunters, and her nostrils twitched. She might not have been able to see them clearly at this distance, but…
“I have their scent; they will have ours as well. They will move towards us.”
“I know.” I tried to rein in the hammering of my heart. Focus. Concentrate. Steady. Breathe. I pulled the rifle tighter under my prone body. The shooter is calm and collected. The hunters were still too far away, and unknowingly ducking my angle between the buildings. Not yet. I thumbed the radio. “Westernmost street. I count somewhere between twelve and fifteen.”
“Copy.”
“Copy.” Rich had been linked in to our comms.
I had to force myself to keep breathing, to keep thinking. To keep the panic at bay. I didn’t know how many more raids I -- No! Stay here.
I kept my scope on the hunters, but watched the two lonely forms of Priya and Rich hustle down the western street to meet them. They picked out a defensible spot. Through the scope, I watched the hunters turn their snouts in their direction, one by one. They dropped low, prowling towards them. Hunting.
“They smell you. Incoming.”
“Conserve your ammo, Rich.” Priya’s voice came across the channel, the staticky garble failing to conceal her icy urgency. “We don’t have enough for a firefight. We can’t fight them man-to-man. Force them to come to us, leave their cover -- let Teach take care of ‘em as much as you can.”
“Understood.”
The hunters rushed down the street, driven by their noses. The first walked fully into my sights. I waited for more to enter my view, to capitalize on their vulnerability. I exhaled a long, shaky breath as each one drew closer to my companions. I resisted until I could wait no longer.
I fired. The recoil slammed into my shoulder. The lead arxur went down.
I fired again. The second went down. Disarray as the rest ducked and scrambled.
Again. A third went down. Some went for cover, but a few others rushed forward; they fell under Rich and Priya’s crossfire.
The less impulsive ones who sought cover were better off -- but they hadn’t yet figured out where exactly to take it. I spied a reptilian head just out of cover.
Another down. Now they’d figured me out. They shifted their positions, taking care to block my line of sight. Their guns fired, a dull, repetitive thumping from my vantage point. Both sides were pinned down now.
The hunters had brought tactics of their own; I watched as two split off to take a flanking route down an alley. “Rich, watch the alley on your three. Two incoming.”
Rich adjusted his position to turn the attempted flank into an ambush. The flanking arxur crept along the alley, unaware that their presence was known. The reptiles could smell him, but he could hear them. They were no match, and fell under the ambush. The attack foiled, Rich returned to his previous cover, reloading as he went. I knew they had only a few magazines each. They were running low. And the bulk of the arxur forces remained, pressuring their positions through superior numbers and ammo count.
Except for… “Four just broke off for another flank!” I called out. “They’re wide… very wide!” Too wide. My blood chilled as I pieced it together. “They’re making for the eastern street, heading towards the gojid!”
I could only cover one attack. Priya knew it instantly. “Get on them!”
“I can’t! I won’t be able to cover you!”
“I don’t care!” She shrieked over the mic. “They’re going for the gojid, get on them!”
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t abandon--
“TEACH! GET THE FUCK ON THEM, NOW!”
I couldn’t do it. Not to her. Not after… everything.
“TEACH, Y--” Her words were cut off as a pair of arxur rushed them. The first of the pair fell to my shot, but the other was too fast for me to line up a second shot. It rounded the corner, exchanging fire with Priya. It went down, leaving her the victor, still standing. She clutched the top of her shoulder, near her neck, and sank back against the wall. Not lethal, but… it very nearly was. If I hadn’t shot the first… My breathing grew ragged, panicky. I said nothing.
I couldn’t… I couldn’t…
“Teach. Please. Please don’t do this to me…”
“Fuck,” I whispered to myself. I still couldn’t do it. There wasn’t a force in the world that could shift my aim elsewhere. The scope blurred as tears tugged at the edges of my vision. The weight of what I was leaving the gojid to. It was an impossible choice. The panic engulfed me completely, now. I despaired of it ever letting go again.
--------------------
Memory transcription subject: Kazeth, Arxur defector
Date [standardized human time]: September 29, 2136 (two days after the invasion of the Gojid Cradle)
I could sense the mounting distress incapacitating the human. I had suspected he was no true soldier, but still… I found myself… uncomfortable, in a way that I didn’t truly understand.
“Send me,” I said, once again surprising myself. Some bizarre urgency compelled me.
Teach startled, snapping his head towards me. I think he had forgotten my presence. He quickly shifted back to the scope. I thought him still too distressed to respond.
“Send me. I will handle them.”
“You-- your leg is broken.”
“Arxur heal faster than humans,” I lied.
He paused, gulping a few short breaths. “Okay.” His panic seemed to abate, his breathing slowing, his focus seeming more purposeful. “Okay,” he said again, voice more normal.
I nodded, and turned to head down the stairs.
“Wait!”
I turned back. He let loose a few rapid shots, buying himself enough time to produce his sidearm. He quickly manipulated its mechanisms with practiced swiftness before holding it aloft. I hobbled over to take it.
“It’s all set. Just point, and pull the trigger. Eighteen shots. Small caliber, so, only effective at short ranges, and won’t do much to armor. But it’s better than nothing.”
I took the gun, holding it for a moment almost reverently. I thought back to Rich’s refusal to let me take a weapon for myself, days ago. It seemed so long ago, now.
“And… and take the radio too.” He gestured towards Rich’s pack without taking his eyes off his scope. I remembered Rich collecting a spare radio from his fallen comrades, after he had stopped me from taking one of their weapons. I dug through the pack for the radio, and clipped it onto my harness.
I hurtled down the stairs with haste, filled with some kind of growing momentum that I did not understand. I did not even know why I offered to go. I was confident I could handle them, but, it was still four against one, and I was still injured -- a fact that made itself all the more apparent with each step out of the building. I limped painfully on two-and-a-half limbs, the gun clutched awkwardly in my grip. Why did I want to do this? Was it a sense of debt? Loyalty? Attachment? Was it to the humans? The gojid?
There was little time to ponder. My path was set. I had the hunters’ scent, as well as the gojids’. It was their deaths or mine.
There would be little utility in attempting an ambush through hiding. They would smell me as much as I would smell them. No, my ambush must be one of guile. I limped up the center of the street, keeping Teach’s sidearm tucked behind the shadow of my forelimb. It would be awkward to use. Arxur preferred heavy weapons that could be held against the chest or lower torso, with recoil that directed downwards -- it was more favorable for our physiology to counter recoil by pulling upwards. The tiny size presented an issue as well. The grip was simply too small, and the trigger guard barely admitted my claw. But… for all its awkwardness, it had one major benefit: it was concealable. And Arxur rarely used sidearms. I would carry the advantage of surprise.
The hunters rushed into my street, having clearly sensed me already. They stalked towards me, weapons drawn, nares opening and closing as they calculated their surroundings. Their target was just behind me, around the corner. A room full of helpless gojid, some I could tell already bleeding. It would be a tantalizing prize to the hunters.
The four of them drew to a stop wordlessly. A leader presented himself from among them, stepping forward and addressing me. “You stink of human.”
“I was their prisoner. Your distraction has allowed me to free myself.”
He stepped further forward, turning his head to face me directly. A bold challenge. “You let them capture you? Let them tend your wounds? And now you stand between me and my prize?” His eyes widened in barely contained bloodlust.
A plan began to coalesce in my head. “Your prize, junior hunter?”
He hunched over forwards onto four limbs, his scales rising. His gun scraped along the ground, nearly forgotten in his crazed aggression. Exactly what I wanted. I flexed my scales to match. He circled me, slavering jaws splitting open with a hiss. I matched his rotation, careful to keep the gun still hidden.
The others let their weapons lower as well, their focus torn between me and their gojid prey.
The leader was gaunt and thin and wiry. Were I not wounded, I would scarcely have considered him a threat. I finalized my grip on my weapon in anticipation. I waited for him to lunge, but he didn’t. The others seemed to drift towards the gojid, as we circled around each other. I was rapidly losing control of the situation. My opponent seemed more than content to draw this out. His tail twitched, eyes flicking back and forth to my wounded leg, almost hungrily -- he was savoring this.
“Back down, runt,” I hissed, attempting to goad him.
The deranged smile widened. “You do look well fed,” he countered easily, reveling in his sudden dominance. “Humans treat you well? Or the other way around?”
I growled hatefully.
That was all the confirmation he needed. He crowed exultingly, addressing his comrades. “Surilz, Arshag, get to work. Leave this traitor to us.”
The two turned and loped away towards the gojid. The time to act was now.
I lunged towards my opponent. His focus snapped back to me, and he launched into his own lunge to meet me. We clashed, my arm keeping his gnashing teeth at bay, my foot stomping his gun down to the ground before he could lift it. He was surprisingly stronger than he looked, the weight of his lunge pushing me back onto my wounded leg. Searing pain lanced up the broken limb. I staggered backwards, and my arm buckled. His jaw seized the opportunity and closed the gap, clamping down on my shoulder. I roared in rage and pain.
But this would work too. I brought the gun up to his lower torso, pushing it into his scales just below the armor. I pulled the trigger as rapidly as I could, until he went limp. I pushed him off of me, his face etched with a last look of surprise as he crumpled into the dirt.
His companion hissed in surprise, and raised his own weapon -- but too slowly; I was already firing, again and again, until the gun clicked uselessly. I did not possess nearly the accuracy that the humans did, but it didn’t matter. Enough had found their mark, and he had crumpled as well.
I turned to pursue the other two, tossing the now-useless gun to the ground so I could move faster. They’d disappeared behind the corner. My shoulder burned in agony, dripping red, and my leg was now lamed even worse than it was before. But rage and fury bore me forwards, hobbling desperately through the pain.
I had to stop them. I did not understand why… but onwards was I driven.
I would be their hunter. I would be their death. I was needed.
I rounded the corner to see the two arxur just entering the building. A cry went up from the gojid inside. Some force compelled me even faster, bidding me ignore the pain.
I reached the now-open doorway. One was deep inside, stalking forward and menacing the gojid, savoring the hunt’s end. The other, nearer to me, turned. He tried to raise his weapon, but I was already upon him. We grappled, each vying for control of his weapon. But some strength I didn’t know surged through me. The other hunter, hearing our commotion, turned and aimed. She delayed, with no clear shot on me -- and that was enough time.
I roared, and with all my strength, turned my opponent's own weapon on his companion, and forced the trigger down. The stream of bullets slashed through the arxur, and into the floor as control of the weapon was eventually wrested back. The burning fury grew, as the thought that there could be collateral damage dawned.
I ripped the weapon from his grasp. It clattered across the floor.
“Traitor…” the hunter gasped out, flailing desperately against my iron grip.
A bloody haze filled my vision. My grip tightened.
One of his claws found some purchase against my scales. He ripped towards himself, tearing scales from their sockets and rending flesh. It did not hurt. I was beyond that, now.
I slammed him into a nearby wall. He grunted, but only dug his claws in deeper.
I slammed him into the wall again.
And again.
And again.
Until finally his claw was shaken loose. Dazed, he feebly grasped at my arms. I drew up to my full height, the pain in my leg be damned, and hurled him bodily out into the street.
He collapsed into the dust. I gave him no respite, and pursued him. I fell atop him, raining an onslaught of vicious slashes upon him. The fury did not abate. The haze did not lift. Not until he was dead.
I stood up, hunched and staggering, taking great ragged breaths. I turned around. Inside the building, the herd of gojid huddled together, staring out at me, the terror written across all their faces. They flinched as I turned. I stumbled to the door, my wounds now making themselves excruciatingly known. The gojid shrank back and flinched with every lumbering step I took towards them.
I reached the doorway, and stopped, staring out over them. The last dying gasp of my rage birthed one final thought: I could slaughter them all now -- blame the hunters and rid us all of this liability, this distraction.
But, as quick as the thought came, so too did the other side of me. No, that was not what I wanted. No, I think… I think that I had wanted the opposite. To protect them. To have a use, to be wanted, to fight for a purpose of pride instead of one of guilt. Was that what had driven me forward, against these hunters? Something must have.
The rest of the fury burned out, replaced with ash. I felt my grasp of myself slipping away, perhaps some culmination of my time spent among the humans. Something was different. I was different.
…though, of course, the gojid shared none of this revelation with me. They stared helplessly in total fear, their spines raised and bloodied against one another. This, I found, hurt more than the pains of the flesh that wracked my body.
I sighed, and pulled shut the door. There was little else I could do for them.
I grabbed the radio from my harness. “This is Kazeth. The gojid are safe, but… they saw me.”
-------------------
firstprevnext