Anecdotal and not really the same thing but I have a disability and was bullied throughout school because of it but then when I went to college there was none of that, well except from one lecturer, and people just treated me like anyone else. I’d hope the same would happen with Izzy with the Chris stuff.I really hope that 16-18 year-olds would be kind/sensible enough to realise that she is a separate entity from her stepfather and they’ll give her a chance. I really don’t see her being allowed to leave the house though, or passing any exams either which is sad. Even for childcare, I think you have to have Maths and English qualifications, but there are more basic options other than GCSE’s available, I believe.
But I think the real issues with Izzy and college will be her mental age. She hasn’t mixed with her age group in years and has really regressed and will be with people who maybe have part time jobs, maybe are going out and she’s just colouring in.
Plus academicly. In school she was falling behind and in academic support and two years of doing no school work isn’t going to have helped that. I imagine she’ll struggle to keep up.
And there’s no way Sarah and Chris will 1) leave her and 2) go travelling without their babysitter/buffer so she’ll probably be subtly guilted into giving up college so they can all travel together.
I really hope I’m wrong and that college and a bit of time away from the family will be the making of her but there’s just so much stopping her. The poor kid