Should I drop out?

Hey guys,

I'm kind of in a dilemma at the moment, and I am not so sure what to do.

I'm a Sophomore in High School, and, like most teens, I hate school, but my reasons are different from most.
The majority of teens hate school, because they don't like to work, or they don't like waking up early.

I hate school because of the arrogance of my peers, because the laziness of the teachers, and because quite frankly, I haven't learned shit.
The only thing I can remember are a few math equations, and that worms are hermaphrodites.

I'm also very tired of my peers. I'm nice to everyone, but all I hear spew out of others mouth is hate. "Christina is such a slut." "I got in a fight with John yesterday. i kicked that fogot's ass." "Look at the way Tyler walks. He's such a fucking nerd."
I hear this shit on a daily basis, and I am so tired of it.
My teachers don't teach. They just throw work at us, then sit at their computers for the rest of the class, then they expect us to do a ton of homework with the precision of an expertise.
I'm just so tired of this school. I am seriously considering dropping out, but I'm scared of what my future may hold if I do this.
I just want to live, I don't care about money, or a job.
I just want to flourish in the beauty of existence.

I don't want you guys to think I'm just another lazy kid. I love to learn, and think, but I just can't stand this high school. So, do you guys think I should drop out. I could really use some more opinions.

Thanks guys!

Peace.

 

If you do drop out, make sure you get your GED. You can still get into a community college with a GED and after that, a university. School's not for everyone, but not having at least a GED could really screw you out of a lot of opportunities for later in life when you do care about money and a job. You can't live off of your parents forever, at least keep that in mind.

 

I like you Kid...you got potential. Hang with me while I run out my ideas then listen to all the other folks too. You need to define what dropping out means to you. Quit school and get a GED...I dunno... maybe, but check out other approachs. If you are bright (and you seem bright in your post) See if there are community college programs that will let you actually learn while in high school. Since you have a healthy set of values about money think about what kinds of things you might enjoy doing in life that will provide for you while you do the kind of work/art/craft that you like. Educate yourself with skills that are under the radar for the "college track" programs but that still pay well and let you dictate your life more. The Crafts of home building, stone work, solar tech/ green skills/ landscaping can all be extremely creative and often don't require degrees. Since you aren't lazy you can design your life and ideas to fit you perfectly.
I have several friends who work in those areas and they tend to be free thinkers with open minds. They also tend to appeal to people who have the money to pay for quality things in life. I know a kid who does landscaping for golf course and wineries...he has an eye for native plants and environmentally sustainable planting/design; a master carpenter buddy who gets called in to do custom work and exquisite design stuff. Stone workers who can build walls/garden areas, ponds, all that are nature friendly and works of art in their own right.

Tell us more about what appeals to you so people can offer you more ideas. Get loose here a bit and do some dreaming, what fun and outside the box...whats you? and don't discard the idea of school just because the system sucks, make the system work for you. Above all, develop good communication skills so that you can engage people and sell yourself/your skills.

 

I feel for you. High school is horrible and you've just reminded me of how horrible it can be.

It sucks that a smart kid like you isn't being challenged by your teachers.

A smart kid like you also doesn't need to drop out and slip through the cracks. Its possible that you can find a fulfilling life without completing school, but its also possible that you'll end up working day shift at a fast food restaurant and stay there for the next 15 years.

Getting your GED and attending community college and later transferring to a university is one option.

Are there any magnet schools in your area? I don't know if these are common in other places, but in my state we have what are called magnet schools, in which a school in a lower income part of town is used for more specific areas of education, such as engineering, fine arts, mathematics, etc. This encourages intelligient students in higher income areas to pursue something they're interested in and it also offers opportunities that kids in lower income areas normally wouldn't find.

If your school district offers anything like this, or has any charter high schools or fine arts schools, you could apply to one that suits your interests.

You could look into scholarships for boarding schools that specialize in your interests and talents.

There are enough options out there to avoid completely dropping out and not getting an education.

If all else fails, pursing a hobby that you're passionate about will make your high school years pass by faster.

 

High school can either be really fun or it can suck- either way, you're better off if you just get through it. But if you really can't stand it, make sure to get your GED. You may not care about money or jobs, but you need it to live.

People say college is better, I've not been to college yet so I can't tell you. But I know people who have and say that economy is shitty to the point that even people with college degrees have trouble getting work. Sure enough college won't be beneficial when it comes to getting a job, which it shouldn't be. It should be solely for people who want higher knowledge. I'm just ranting now. All I'm saying is, if you don't even have your diploma or a GED, things will be really hard for you in the future. Suffer now, suffer a little bit less later. Such is life.

 

College is not any better. It was an entire year of my life, wasted. And I'll never go back.

 

I dropped out and got my GED. I with I would have dropped out sooner.

There is really no point in finishing high school unless you want to get right into a university.

If your not planning on that and want to work, learn a trade, or go to community college then drop out and get your GED. Earn money, save as much as you can before you leave your parents house.

 

And just as a balance for folks who say they didn't like college/waste of their time, I've got a masters degree which opened up doors of opportunity and fun in my employment as well as doubling my income. Now at 65 I'm giving some thought to a PhD program cause I found one that would fit well with what I'm interested in. It's all about the individual.

 

I dropped out of college and I regret it every day. If you have a love of learning, college is not going to be a waste of time.

 

I graduated highschool last year; several of my friends dropped out and they highly regret it now.

Its sucky to say, but now and especially in the future education will be increasingly nessecary for many jobs, even jobs that havent required education in the past. I think its stupid as it creates incentives for post-secondary institutions to raise the prices like theres no tomorrow.

I started getting burnt out of highschool around when you did too, high school is one of those things where you just gotta get it done and then your free. Always good to have a diploma, and it also provides a basis for other education you may want in the future

 

I think alot of the dislike for college stems from people that drop out their first year. In most programs, the first 2 years are mostly a recap of high school content but it is taught in a college style and at a college pace to get students acclimated to the learning environment as well as giving them a break for the first year while they get used to living on their own.

It's within the third and mostly 4th years of most undergraduate degrees that students begin to delve deep enough into a subject for the content to be truly captivating. The bottom line: if you're gonna start it, finish it.

 

I think that this is one of the best commentaries I have heard about the school system in the United States from an academic and social perspective. Especially pay attention to about 2 minutes in:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dYtOOtfQtM"]YouTube - Matt Stone interviewed in "Bowling for Columbine"

Stay Brown,
Rev J

 

You're making a mistake if you leave school. It may be that the teachers don't teach and the jerks are being jerks, but that is the way it is and the way it's always been. MAN UP and deal with it!

You have to make the teachers teach. Bombard them with questions! Make them explain parts you don't understand. Get your parents involved, have them go to the schools administration and insist they teach. DON'T let them label you and send you to special ed just to improve the school's ranking.

You'll need that piece of paper and the knowledge that comes with it to springboard into anything. You need a hs education to get a job as a janitor.

Trust me, you're experiencing the same things all of us have experienced and you're asking yourself the same questions a lot of us have asked.

Stick in there, working isn't really what it's cracked up to be.

 

"Tell us more about what appeals to you so people can offer you more ideas. Get loose here a bit and do some dreaming, what fun and outside the box...whats you? and don't discard the idea of school just because the system sucks, make the system work for you. Above all, develop good communication skills so that you can engage people and sell yourself/your skills"

Well, I'm very interested in film making. I would love to write and direct my own movies. I would like to go to art school for film, but I havn't really looked into that too much. Also, the income for that wouldn't be too good, unless I become a huge director, but as I said before, money isn't a big deal to me, but maybe that's just because I'm young. I'm also interested in things that help people. I volunteer alot at soup kitchens, animal shelters, and environmental groups, but I don't know of any jobs that would let me do those things. I'm also quite interested in astronomony, but that requires alot of complicated math, and math is my worst subject. Thanks for the reply!

 

"Are there any magnet schools in your area? I don't know if these are common in other places, but in my state we have what are called magnet schools, in which a school in a lower income part of town is used for more specific areas of education, such as engineering, fine arts, mathematics, etc. This encourages intelligient students in higher income areas to pursue something they're interested in and it also offers opportunities that kids in lower income areas normally wouldn't find."

I've looked into private schooling, online schooling, and home schooling, and they are either too expensive, or not available in my area. I have yet to look into magnet schools though! In fact I'm not even sure what that is.
I'll be sure to look into it! Thanks alot!

 

Thanks you for the advice everyone! It means a lot! :2thumbsup:

 

Lot's of good advice here. It seems when you are young-that time drags on forever,especially in high school. Later it moves too damn fast--but that's another story. I like your idea of movie making,mainly because I have always felt the same way. Life gets in the way of dreams sometimes. There are many,many more facets to movie making than being "a huge director"as you mentioned. Ok--lets say you get thru school,hard as it seems right now. Here's what you can do--you start writing to anyone connected to making movies--directors,actors,the unions that represent actors,cinamatographers,art schools--anything connected to your interests. I believe someone among the many groups will answer you and may be willing to help. Money may be available for study-. First off,there is a screenplay writer right here on hippie forums. He goes by Geckopelli and he may soon have or does have a something in production. -check with him,for a start.

Meanwhile forget the dick-heads in school-believe me-you'll have to deal with such people your whole life. It gets easier. So, be bold and start checking things out and go for it. Make your own luck and make it exactly as you want it-----------

PS---I love the editing of movies and I always look to see how I could have improved individual scenes in them. And believe it not--I could have been good at it.

 

HS is not that long in the scheme of things. Focus of shit that interests you, ignore the jackasses that hassle you- and get a HS Diploma.
You,ll be grateful that you hung in there-but whatever you do continue to educate yourself in whatever ways you can- -Knowledge is power . Power can help change. This planet needs change... .etc...

respect
jj

 

the purpose of magnet schools is to bring higher income students into lower income areas, hence the name "magnet." Its likely that your area doesn't have any if you haven't heard of them.

Best of luck to you. You seem very bright and passionate. Just keep that passion, follow your dreams, and it will work out. Things have an odd way of falling into place.

If you keep good grades in school, you'll probably be able to get into any college you want because of all the volunteer work you do. Colleges eat that shit up.

My advice, if you can't find an alternative high school, is to just stick it out. High school is miserable for most everyone, but it doesn't last forever.

 

It very much sounds as if you aren't being challenged academically, and I'm sorry that you aren't. If boredom is part of the problem - have you checked into honors - or AP classes? These usually DO challenge students, and you might find that there are other students in these classes who are more into learning than they are into talking shit about other people.

Since my crystal ball is broken, I can't predict the future. Given the global "state of flux" we seem to be experiencing lately - I'd advise anyone who has an opportunity to increase their intellectual capacity - to go for it. Sometimes we've just got to take the bad in order to get the good, and students tend to get as much out of school as they put into it.

If one adopts an attitude that teachers are responsible for pounding information in their heads - then one can graduate as a functional idiot. Make them teach!

It's also important to find your passion in life, and work towards fulfilling it. If you can find something you enjoy doing - and make a living at it, then you'll never work another day in your life. Instead of bypassing the "system," it's usually better to learn how to make it work FOR you - instead.