They're doing their job, Fat Kid. And if you are a good parent when you become one, you'll be the same way. Good parents know what their kids are up to, even when the kids become semi-independent, and the parents make rules for a reason, mostly to keep their kids out of trouble. You'll notice that the smartest, most successful kids (your AP colleagues) seem to have the most "over-protective" parents? Well, that's likely also why they're doing well enough in school to be in advanced placement. Their parents have set boundaries and had rules in place that keep them from being out roaming and potentially getting into trouble or being preyed upon somehow. They've likely also had rules and boundaries at home and a stable family life with parents who're engaged in their lives.

You said you were out on the street from 11 - 12? Well, in my book, that's mighty young to be without supervision. Not constant supervision, but at least some supervision. You're lucky that you didn't encounter any trouble. The impulse control and judgment of kids at that age isn't what it will be later on, and there are also pedophiles all over the place who fancy just such pubescent-age kids.

You'll see all this in a different perspective later when you're a parent yourself.