It would have been more bearable if I'd know before I graduated, as I spent 12+ years in that prison. When I graduated, my
spelling and grammar were horrible, but I had decent grades anyway because my teachers were really only interested in shuttling
us through like dinner through someone's innards.
I took Consumer Math in HS, because all that mattered were the Math credits, and I'd learned to take the path of least resistance
and coast my way through.
It wasn't until a couple years later, when I read some stuff by Heinlein, Ayn Rand, and L. Neil Smith, that I learned a little bit about
freedom, and these folks were pretty good at what they do (or did). It was only then that I decided I needed to work on my communication skills, which I did pretty much on my own since then.
I make plenty of mistakes, as I can't really afford a good private mentor, but I think I've improved quite a bit.
I did it without the help of my former wardens.