Calling it quits - for everyone's sake.

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Today was the official end of 1st semester. To say it was "rocky" would be putting it lightly. I'm pretty sure I've failed at least 2 classes. Anywho, I'm seriously considering not going back tomorrow, or possibly after this week. While I'm not going to blame everything that's wrong with my life on school, I will say that it's had absolutely not benefit, and that it's caused SOOO much stress on me. Besides, I have been learning the SAME STUFF that I have already learned years ago. I want to get a career going, and can't afford to waste my time with this. I also have a hard time conforming to the school's schedules and standards, and putting up with stupid teachers and kids, is no walk in the park either. I'm open to any alternative form of education EXCEPT this.

What should I do? I want to talk to my parents about it, but they never listen and just yell at me. Suggestions?

You're still a child.

Go back to school.

Go die?

You're too young to hold down a meaningful, career-type job due child labor laws, and you're too young and ineffectual to change those laws. You will instead be living in your parents' home, a burden to them, and providing no means to support yourself or contribute to society. In other words, you'll be a parasite.

Stay in school and make something of yourself.

Either finish high school or get a GED, employers usually want one or the other.
Is it even legal to quit school at your age? You have to be 17 here.

You’re going to have to do things you hate your entire life. The more crap you make it through, the stronger you will be. The more times you just give up, the weaker you will be.

Quitting school at your age leaves a mark that will effect your future employment. The best advice, even if it’s not what you want to hear, is to tough through this.

You're 14, so I take it you are a high school freshman? I'm pretty sure Illinois has compulsory school attendance up through at least age 17, so you will not be permitted to drop out unless you also run away from home. You can't get a job because 14-year-olds aren't allowed to do so (even at 15 or 16 you're severely limited in the work you can do) so good luck trying to support yourself on your own.

Don't let one crappy semester get you down. Go back to school, then go to college if the career you want requires it, and make something of your life.

If it's your first semester at high school, I think you should still consider giving it another shot. Just really commit to it and see if you can turn it around. Realistically, your freshman year doesn't need to affect you too much academically speaking.

Four years of high school isn't the path for everyone though. Give it your best effort, but if worst comes to worst and you can't function in your environment- look into other options like graduating early or getting G.E.D. and starting in city college. Also, get in contact with a regular therapist and/or school counselor. If your stress levels are really keeping you from functioning, maybe they can help figure out a minimized schedule for you next semester. You have to try, but it's also their job to help you succeed. Don't assume there aren't any options for you.

Apparently everyone missed this tidbit:

And no, I'm not going to work for anyone else. I'm in the process of starting a business, which is perfectly legal at any age.

What kind of business? Doing what? You realize that almost all start-up businesses fail, especially during a recession? And what real alternative forms of education are there? High school sucks, we all know that. But you have to do it. Just suck it up and go to school.

No, I didn't miss your "tidbit." I ignored it!

It'd be interesting to know what a 14-year old dropout's idea of what a legitimate "business" might be.

It'd be even more interesting to find out what kind of fool would trust a 14-year old dropout well enough to want to do business with him.

The general consensus is against you, kid. And all of the respondents seem to be adults - that is, people who know better than you do about what kinds of failures and heartbreaks you're setting yourself up for.

Good luck, kid; you'll need it!

OK, I will bite:

1) Do your parents agree with your "Alternative Education Plan"? If they don't, then it will be illegal to drop out until you are 16 or 17. This requirement, you cannot get out of.

2) So you plan on starting a business. This must mean that you can write up coherent proposals in proper English, do proper marketing to advertise your product and service, this includes explaining to the client why they should hire you over someone with a BS degree and years of experience, accounting and filing the proper tax forms, as well as other requirements for a business. We are in an economic recession right now. Most of your competition will be workers who experienced a layoff and as such, will be more experienced than you and that will be before you can enjoy lousy market conditions. On top of that, depending on the field, you will be competing with foreigners who can do the job for quite a bit less than even a teenager living off their parents could afford to do. You will not be able to overcome that. I know all this because I was a freelancer.

My suggestion is to give school another try. If by the end of the school year, you are still having issues, then take the summer and decide if the business will work or not. By then, the economy may be on the rebound and freelancers will be the most likely to get work.

Trust me, you need to rethink your plan.

You may also want to look into homeschooling or an online school. Without some sort of official "education," it will make it very hard for you to find work. Government and big company policies have effectively shoved school requirements down our throats. They recognize hardly anything else but school. Fortunately, the good new is the fact that you can get a high school diploma from many places these days. Like I already stated, look into homeschooling options or classes online.

Last edited by cyberscan on 27 Jan 2009, 6:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Thanks!

Trade school? Some school districts have a program where once you hit high school you can take trades classes part of the day and "regular" classes. Shop, graphic arts, computers, "business" (i.e., usually typing and adding machines, stuff like that), welding - stuff that will allow you to make a living if you don't go on to college. Any chance your school district has one of those?

I am in the same situation as the OP. I hate school so much I hardly ever go, which I know is wrong and will get me in trouble, but I just hate it SO MUCH.

Fnord, do you HAVE to be so condescending?