High School Drop Out
 

Ok, so I am a high school drop out and have felt pretty much like my life is wasted, but i got my ged and doesnt make me feel much better knowing i did drop out

Are there any other high school drop outs here? When and why?

How does someone cope knowing that they practically screwed up their future career and practically life?

With a GED, you can still go on to higher education. You may not be confident enough to start by applying to a univeristy, but what's to stop you from going to your local community college to get an Associate's degree or fulfill your general ed requirements there before transferring to a university? Financial aid is available, but you have to initiate the process. It's good that you have realized your past mistakes, but you must also realize there is more than one path to success.

Become a motivational speaker and talk to kids about not dropping out of school!
You could live in a van down by the river!

I may become a high school dropout soon, although my mind is not developed enough to comprehend what that will mean and how it will affect me later on, nor is it interested enough in the real word for me to care. Keep your fingers crossed.

Why did you drop out of school? I'd love to hear the reasoning.

My two best friends dropped out, but one of them had a really justified reason. Sarah didn't. But since, she went back, and she makes as much as I do, now.

But seriously - what was your reason to drop out? If it was because high school was just "too hard," you better get used to it.

If it was because of the social pressures, well. It serves a purpose.

You're kidding, right?

You can always pick yourself back up and get in the race. Get a GED, go to community college, do well and transfer to a better college. If you can't afford it, take out loans like the rest of us. I'm about 70k in the hole, but it's worth it. It amounts to a couple hundred a month and I make way more than that.

School is not hard. It's just tedious and sometimes requires you to make sacrifices, like swallowing your pride and asking the teacher for extra help. Or doing research online when you can't understand your professor's lecture.

The point is, anyone can do it and should. You live in a very comfortable society that doesn't ask much of you. Go to school, get a job and pay taxes. You could have it much worse.

I have recently joined this scenario, though, I do feel kind of fucking bullshitted that it was my credits that ultamately screwed me over (An example of this: I attended school in the fall, moved after midterms to another school in which the rule is that if one is in thier senior year the graduation requirements are that of the school that one initially transfered from.

old school's reqirements: 24
new school's requirements:20
credits I had: 22

Not to mention that life is kinda fucked up for me at the current moment as it is. *sigh* so near, yet so goddamn far. (As for an equvilent, it's rather out of the question until I get some stability around me, not to mention some money.)

I almost dropped out of high school. For various reasons. One was health concerns with a staph infection that I got from a major flood disaster. But the real reason was that I thought I was wasting my time. No real critical thought was encouraged or fostered. Why bother if you're just forced to memorize bullshit that you won't bother remembering later? It's quicker and more painless to get a GED.

Regardless my mommy somehow convinced me to stick with it and I've hated and resented her ever since. (Just kidding!) I stuck it out to be with friends, to cause trouble, and later went on to get mono which earned me a delay (vacation!!!!) college plans by a year.

It isn't screwing up your life. It's just taking a different path that's right for you. Don't let people pressure you into thinking that if you don't conform to their standards that you don't have a bright future ahead of you.

There's plenty of jobs that cater to GED/high school graduates. Such as working for the government. (Example: DMV) Pays about as good as a teacher with better benefits and less work. Teachers work longer hours, weekends, and have to go to college. (and usually graduate school after that)

Watts, these "people who pressure you" are the ones who are in a position to either hire you or not hire you, and if you think that high school drop-outs don't have a much harder time getting a job than graduates do, you're fooling yourself.

Let me get this straight: They cater to high school drop-outs? Something sounds wrong about that. Why would any organization do that? Also, you say "have to go to college" as if it's some horrible fate worse than death. Even if you have rich parents who are willing to support you for the rest of your life, why wouldn't you want to be educated? Having a proper education does more than just getting people good jobs, it makes one a more interesting and well-rounded person.

Don't be stupid, TOX. Stay in school.

I would have been so happy if you had said "be cool, stay in school."

I'm just going to pretend you did >_>

I'm merely stating the possibilities. Saying your life is over, or worthless because you chose a GED over a high school education is ludicrous.

No, it's just the minimum requirements. Ever heard of being 'over-qualified?'. A college education is hardly a guarantee of a stable job anymore. Plus the most lucrative jobs (left) that most GED/high school level education go after (now) are government jobs.

Didn't mean to imply it that way.

How do you equate attending school with being a educated and a well rounded person? Pretty elitist statement. That's entirely possible without 'a proper education'. Some of today's (and yesterdays) most "successful" people defied society's expectations.

Not saying it can't be done. But why take a chance that you might be one of the rare people who didn't get a good education and defied all the odds to become one of the most successful people, etc. etc., when you can take the tried and true route and be much more assured of success?

I wouldn't recommend that anyone drop out of school. I know there are people who did and ended up just fine, but you have to admit that usually isn't the case.

I also wanted to bring up the point that a lot of people in management positions seek out college graduates (or high school, I guess) not because they know so much more, but because they have demonstrated "stick-to-it-ness" and a sense of reliability and dedication by finishing school.

So you want to live your life without taking any risk? How droll.

Also, as I've stated a college education does not insure a life of success anymore. In fact a ever increasing amount of college graduates (in most the western industrialized nations) nowadays are going bankrupt. A disturbingly trend with ever increasing percentiles then what could be termed 'normal'.

Depends on the motivation for dropping out. If it's being slothful or laziness then of course that's the usual case. That's not always the case.

What I really was trying to get across is that if you drop out make it for the right reasons and not the wrong ones. Because your goal(s) in life should be taking that next higher step.

Now that's a valid point. But encouraging someone not to drop-out because they'd be a worthless member of society is just plain cruel.

Dropping out won't make you worthless. It's just likely to make you worth less to society. We need more garbage men and burger flippers, etc. than we need people in any other field. The bottom of the pyramid is the largest part of it. If you're comfortable with that, great. If not, you should probably get an education. What you're saying about some people making it without an education is like people who believe they can get in the NBA because they're good at basketball. Good luck and prepare for disappointment.

A good story on this can be found here. All factors should be considered for current and future college students.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...ck=1&cset=true

The topic is about a high school education vs a GED, because that's the absolute minimum to make a living nowadays. Not "drop-out" and work a minimum wage job.

And America doesn't really 'need' any 'higher' fields, because America can and is outsourcing jobs to India or wherever.... even ones that require higher levels of education. Hence there's a lot more graduates filing bankrupcy early on in their lives. Now, I bet that make's a person feel useless. But dropping out of high school to pursue a GED? Please.

In my high school years, I just didn't fit in with the academic world. I went through my five years of high school (before it was changed to a four year program), didn't have enough credits due entirely to my own poor behaviour. I had been working for a while, and had a decent job in a factory.

I dropped out, and worked full time. I enjoyed working much more than high school, so that was an easy decision. With the way I was going, I was wasting my time in school, so I worked. Might as well be productive with one's time.

I wrote the GED, it was effortless. I went to a good college, graduated top of my class got diplomas and wrote certifications and am fully qualified to work in my field. I've had decent steady jobs, and do a lot of contract work. I was laid off of my last steady job, continue to work some contracts and am looking for a new full time position.

Dropping out was the right thing to do for me. No regrets whatsoever. I also found that I very much enjoyed the post secondary learning environment, as much as high school seemed tailor made against my type. So with high school, a GED, whatever, try your hand at something new and 'better' if it's what you want. You may still get an education, and may even enjoy it if you give it a shot. There is a world of difference between different schools.

Also, once you graduate from your post secondary, no one will ever know that you didn't graduate high school, as the only education you need list is the highest one that applies. You think they really care where you went to high school if you've got a diploma from post secondary?

Do what's right for yourself. But be sure you know what you are getting into. Everyone likes to think they are special and will be the exception to the rule. If you are considering leaving school out of lazyness or social pressure, then realize that you are more or less admitting defeat. There are exceptions, but most of us aren't such an exception. You are not a unique snowflake.

If it wasn't for girls, I'd quit school.

But, seriously, my reasoning is, why give up something that's free? I don't know about some of you, but if something free is offered to you, (like school, for example), why not take advantage of it?

Don't worry, people who graduate with masters/doctorate heck, even bachelors degrees need people like you to cook food for them at the local ihops or dennys at 12 at night. Or come to the house and clean up the houses as an occupation. Those are productive people, and they play an active role! Without dropouts like you, people who graduate from higher education would be stuck with these roles.

I'm going to be dropping out after this year. It's taken me failing 10th grade three years (in my fourth year of 10th right now) for my mother to believe that I really can not force myself to do work I don't want to. I'm going to get my GED, go to community college for two years, and then transfer to a university for either music (performance or composition, not sure yet) or English.

I don't know what my problem is.

Well the problem is, how do you expect to do well enough at college, when you can't even surpass 10th grade?

starslight, if you literally can not force yourself to do work you don't want to do, you're going to have major problems when you have to start supporting yourself. How many people do you think really want to get up and go to work every day?

You'll end up on welfare or disability because of an "emotional disorder" or some other bullshit and working people will end up supporting you.

Perhaps you didn't read my post. Lazyness is not a good reason to drop out, at least not if you expect that things are going to get easier. Or perhaps you'd be more accepting if it were phrased, lazyness or a lack of self discipline and responsibility. If you haven't the got the willpower to do, uh, anything you don't want to do, then you are fucked until you get over that.

Unless of course *you* are that unique snowflake. :rolleyes:

I like how Alice is predicting your future some how. Hey Alice what am I having for dinner tomorrow?

Well at the mindset starslight is exhibiting, it is very clear what his perspective is on work. So obviously his route is blatant (unless some stroke of luck like lottery win occurs, but heh...yeah). Kinda like actions have consequences...If you don't work, people who work have to feed your lazy asses.

I'd kill myself before I depended upon others to support me.

I held a part-time job for more than a year, until the store I worked at was shut down. I read constantly and spend 5-6 hours a day practicing guitar and studying music theory. I can put forth effort if I'm being paid, if others' jobs depend, to some extent, on my performance, or if I love what I'm doing.

There really is no good reason why I couldn't have made things easier on myself and passed high school, but I'm going to do what I can to try and procure a respectable life for myself.

Dropping out of High School is a terrible idea in under most circumstances.

I'd really love to know why you decided to go ahead with it; people must've advised you against it...

Good question. Because it takes someone with awesome psychic abilities to predict that a person who can't do anything he doesn't want to do will suck at life.

I'm dropped out of High School at age 17, Senior year. The only advice I know to give is to take initiative. Your best bet is marching straight to the nearest community college. Get a couple dozen credits under your belt and take it from there. University awaits. Otherwise, look forward to managing your local [insert fast food restaurant/Blockbuster Video/RadioShack] after 20 years of [supersizing orders/random pointless act]. I say this earnestly. I once felt like a waste of life as well.

I laid my own little story out here: http://www.gamingforce.com/forums/sh...0177#post20177

it was only one year left! Why didn't you just finish it off? One more year wouldnt have killed you <_<

Ok but you still never told me what I am going to have for dinner tomorrow.

Eesh, go back to school and finish up your degree. It's never too late to get back on track.

I took two years off after finishing highschool before I decided to go to university. I'm very glad I did. I finished my first degree in Psychology and Microbiology and then decided I wanted to persue my life's dream of music. Being older, I often feel like I wasted time on my first degree, that I could be farther along in my career of choice if I'd just made the decision to stick with it initially. But then I realize all the valuable skills I learnt in the first degree and I'd be at odds to trade that away just to be farther ahead.

What you do is you put the past behind you and get doing now what you always knew you should have done, no matter how tough it is. If you go to night classes and finish your diploma, I guarantee it will make things that much better.

Man you havent screwed up your life!! There's still time! Get a certificate at some tech school, and graduate from there, get a job, and you'll be fine financially! Dont give up man!

Throwing this in for good measure. I spent 6 months homeless. I roamed around unbathed, eating out of garbage cans and frequenting Barns & Noble. If you still have a home to live in, I'm assuming your parents', there's no excuse for moving on to bigger and better things, dude. Best wishes.

You can't argue that you need of education to open doors of opportunity. Maybe you can squeak in through the backdoor or when the bouncer is not looking but that's highly unlikely. Once you're in, it's up to you to make it through. If you think school is tough, wait until you get into the real world. I hate to sound like a parent but going to school and learning stuff is not nearly as tough as 12 hour shifts on your feet pushing buttons as a cashier at your local Piggly Wiggly or slinging food to customers who mentally push you around, all for a salary that can't make ends meet. I volunteer at a homeless shelter and as trite as it sounds, a lot of people I meet really wish they stayed in school. In fact that was my job, I was the in house "tutor" you can say and helped some on their way to their GED. Because they can put the same number of hours looking for a job as a high school graduate and not find anything, then frustration happens and all the misc stuff that leads to the need for homeless shelters. Not to say everyone is destined to live in one who didn't graduate high school, but the chances aren't exactly as great as people who at least finish some diploma.

I worked at the Gap as a full time job during my winter break (I usually work part time during the year) and while it's not nearly as bad as most people have it, it was seriously the worst 3 weeks of my life. 8 hour shifts everyday on my feet until 1AM, all for a measly $400 when all was said and done.

I dropped out of school because I seriously messed up with everything and I just decided to forget about it.

In my sophmore year, I got along with none of my teachers. I tagged along with a group of "friends" that were punk and rock and roll junkies who drank/smoked, cut themselves, went to rock shows, and w/e... guess I did the same. I ranaway, got suspended from school twice cuz of graffiti and fighting (was about to get expelled), failed all of my classes, and I had to deal with too much drama at home to even go to school so I ended up ditching a lot of school also. I ended up being put on probation till I was 18 and joining this alternate "boot camp" thing to get my GED.

My parents say I messed up my life and now I'm almost 18 and I just don't know what to do. I just got layed off from Wal Mart and have been unemplyed for a month.

Finish school or join the military. You are afraid of taking action. As long as you have the will to do better for yourself, you can do it. Decide what you want to do, find the means to achieve it, start on it, and follow through to its successful completion.

I thought you were doing college work at age 12.

Eesh, you're 18. I didn't even go to university until I was 20. You have lots of time, only the first chapter of your book has been written. The fact that you see there is a problem means that you are taking the first step to positive change. Now you just need to take the second step and begin moving towards the life / career you want.