Re: still at the BEGINING-a year after getting SS
You're probably not "at the beginning," considering now I'm sure you know a lot of things that don't work for you. Thomas Edison said "If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward."
Singing is not easy, particularly if you have a heavier type of voice. It doesn't happen on its own. You could sing for 15 hours a day and not get better if you're not conciously thinking and analyzing what you're doing. You can't just mess around with your voice and think you'll get better. You need to really think about what's going on in your throat.
In case I haven't emphasized this enough, you need to think about what you're doing. Identify feelings that are going on in your throat, and do whatever it takes to figure out your voice. Also, take any advice you're given with a lot of skepticism. Don't blindly trust any advice anyone gives you. That includes advice from programs like SS, as well as any teachers, no matter how many credentials they seem to have. That doesn't mean you shouldn't listen to advice. It just means you should be skeptical, and take any advice with a grain of salt.
BTW, do you have any recordings of your voice that you could post here?