How to confess your sins?

I am 17 years old and to partake in confession would mean having to go to the church to tell the priest all of your sins. Our school walks down to the church every so often and we would be told to go up and confess so we did .. so i am just wondering is there another way of confessing? do you have to tell a priest or can you just tell Jesus while praying at home? if so are you forgiven just like you would be in the church? thanks for your answers =)