Let's start with my senior year of high school. It was the first full covid school year, so, needless to say, it was not fun. I lost all the good stuff that I had going for me in school, and I found it hard to stay motivated with the messed-up schedule I had. I fell into depression and didn't keep up with my schoolwork and stopped going to school. I graduated by the skin of my teeth and still planned on going to college for a fresh start and a normal and I fell into the same trap, so I secretly dropped out of college (I couldn't pay for a 2nd semester if I wanted to anyway) and stated at my mom's under the idea that my college was going to be online for that semester. I got a job, of course, and started saving money and looking for a place to live when my sophomore year was supposed to start, and it was a success!

So, for the past 6 months or so, my entire family has thought I'm in college. I've been coming home when my breaks are supposed to be and make up stories about college, and it seems to be working, but I know it won't forever. I feel like the only reason I can't tell people the truth is because, until my senior year of high school, I was a great student with major prospects and also my mom will stop paying my car insurance. I can handle all the rest of my bills fine, but that extra bill will ruin what I'm doing.

I know my family will understand, even if I just tell them it was because I couldn't afford it and will not take out student loans, since that's technically not a lie, but I dread the conversation. I'm hoping that I can work my way up quickly in my job (im already training into management) so I can be stable before I let everyone know. I love my job and have no plans of going back to college.

TL;DR dropped out of college because of depression and can't bring myself to tell my family yet.