Wont go into first with out grinding or going in hard

Something is broken, that is for sure, pull the transmission out and first look at the clutch plate.

there's also a clutch slave solenoid which typically sits on the firewall,. it's sort of like a booster to the clutch and would cause the problem you are experiencing... to locate, find your booster and follow the lines...
Best regards
Ck

the brakelight switch is located up above and, touching the brake pedal lever

With a helper pushing clutch pedal, car up on jacks, wheels chocked, can you see slave cylinder extending? Was your clutch fork in good condition inside the housing? If clutch OK then maybe synchros on tranny bad?

sounds like the clutch "throw-out bearing" the bad news is the trans must be pulled back to access it ... let it go until it goes

Sounds like the throwout bearing has fallen off the guides

Most likely your synchros or too much grind and find. Just do a good ol' fasion rebuild and take care of any other potential problems that could pop up in the future. Good luck

ok every time you open the clutch resevoir you have to bleed the slave ..next hold down the clutch to the floor open the bleeder screw 10 mm bolt and then close it and pick the pedal up off the floor if your clutch is not right the pressure plate is failing most likely on mitstu stuff ...bleed first ..

Sounds like you need a clutch.

fill your clutch fluid, it tells you what kind of brake fluid to use on the cap, and then bleed your clutch system as you would your brakes, the bleeder is located on the slave cylinder i believe