I think you did well, in fact I'm squirrelling away notes. What I wish someone had told me at that most miserable age? That they loved me, and that it really would get better, that I wouldn't always feel like that. For me the best thing about getting to university was that I was suddenly surrounded by people who were passionate about all sorts of different things. Not only were there people just as enthused by my subject and my hobbies as I was, so that I didn't need to feel weird, there were people enthusiastic about all my least favourite school subjects and about things I'd never even heard of. It was as though suddenly I'd come into a new world where people didn't need to wear disguises. I wish someone had been able to convey to me when I was 14 that that feeling existed. Mostly, though, I wish I had felt as though someone accepted me for who I was. It sounds as though you're doing that for your DD, so well done :-)
I had my dd as a "captured audience" today in the car and I started talking about the kids in our neighborhood going to college and segued right into your post above; I practically quoted you word for word.
I too remember the emotional freedom you described so well... I think it helped her a little.
