Poll of the Day > So I've finally decided to just drop out of high school.

(+) Yeah! (+)

iToro86 posted...

Gamefreak9905 posted...

Doctor Foxx posted...

Why are you considering this?

I prefer not to say. Let's just say most people won't agree with me on it.

As if people are agreeing with you now

True.
acesxhigh posted...

you're turning 18 and going into grade 11? yeah just drop out at that point

11th grade again. This isn't the first time.
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GreenGoblinOck posted...

Gamefreak9905 posted...

R0R0N0A-Z0R0 posted...

What's the main reason?

Like I said, I don't want to say. Most people will consider it extremely stupid, but I've wanted to do it for a long time now.

If it's because of other kids bullying you I can understand. But I encourage you to not drop out. From what I have seen in the news it is very hard and costly to get a GED.

Its not really because of that. I'm used to it.
Also, I don't plan on getting a GED either so.
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If you think it's dumb, and everyone else in a friend-ish group thinks it's dumb, and the rest of the world thinks it's dumb, then it's dumb and you shouldn't do it.

So what do you plan on doing for a living with no high school diploma or GED?

SkynyrdRocker posted...

So what do you plan on doing for a living with no high school diploma or GED?

He's clearly gonna be miserable at a part time retail job and then go home and scour the internet for all his free time, also miserable
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I seriously could not imagine still being in HS when I was 20. There are other options.

At 17 you can join the military (I did at 17), you can go to vocational programs (get your GED while going) etc.

I think its silly that they would not let you do summer school because you missed a week, I mean, are they TRYING to make you drop out?

Perhaps you can take a test to show your ready for 12th grade or something. There has to be some solution.

I normally would not suggest the military as an option, but some of the things you have said in the past, it might actually help you out.
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Okay, answer this: are you a genius or in possession of useful skills? If the answer is no, then you're taking the path to bumtown.
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PK_Spam posted...

He's clearly gonna be miserable at a part time retail job and then go home and scour the internet for all his free time, also miserable

Nothing wrong with working retail though.
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wwinterj25 posted...

PK_Spam posted...

He's clearly gonna be miserable at a part time retail job and then go home and scour the internet for all his free time, also miserable

Nothing wrong with working retail though.

It depends. I made good money in mobile phones, but retail is not for me. Retail as in GS is "something wrong"... Good luck being satisfied there.
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wwinterj25 posted...

PK_Spam posted...

He's clearly gonna be miserable at a part time retail job and then go home and scour the internet for all his free time, also miserable

Nothing wrong with working retail though.

But there is something wrong with staying in a part time position for longer than you have too.

This guy isn't even planning on getting his GED. What else can he do? Most well-paying jobs aren't gonna hire him. He could do construction, and that pays super well, but he seems like the type of guy who wouldn't like that.
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wwinterj25 posted...

PK_Spam posted...

He's clearly gonna be miserable at a part time retail job and then go home and scour the internet for all his free time, also miserable

Nothing wrong with working retail though.

I have never heard anyone say this before.
Everyone I know who works, or worked, retail hates/hated it.

shadowsword87 posted...

wwinterj25 posted...

PK_Spam posted...

He's clearly gonna be miserable at a part time retail job and then go home and scour the internet for all his free time, also miserable

Nothing wrong with working retail though.

I have never heard anyone say this before.
Everyone I know who works, or worked, retail hates/hated it.

Yeah, at best it's begrudgingly accepting it...
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Perhaps you can take a test to show your ready for 12th grade or something. There has to be some solution

If he flunked 11th grade, missed the remedial summer courses, and needs to repeat the grade, there isn't a chance in hell they'd let him skip to 12th grade

TC, don't drop unless you're planning to get your GED and immediately go into college. Maybe you're interested in joining the military, starting a business, or a friend has something lined up for you, in which case you might be all right. Otherwise, without a high school diploma, you will struggle to find a shitty retail job. I've seen this happen to too many friends and family members.

Basically, only drop if you have a plan for your life.

Is it for any of the following?

> Arts (include music, dance, painting, sculpting, etc.)
> Sports (could be football, american football, basketball, badminton, etc.)
> Combat Sports (could be boxing, pro wrestling, mma, sumo, etc.)
> Professional welfare leech
> Live off the land as a hermit in the woods
> Salesman (cars, property, insurance, oxyclean, being the next billy mays, etc)
> Professional gambling (poker, sports, lotto, etc.)
> Uniformed services (army, medic, fireman, etc.)
> Criminal career (bank robber, human/drug trafficking, mafia underboss, etc.)
> Roadside lemonade stand
> Investment (stocks, bonds, property, whatever)
> Be a farmer
> Prostitution

You don't even need to specify which is it, just say whether it's one of those or not.

I don't regret dropping out but if you're able to finish I don't see why you shouldn't.
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SkynyrdRocker posted...

So what do you plan on doing for a living with no high school diploma or GED?

Fine, I'll just fucking say it. I'm planing on becoming homeless. I've wanted to do this for years now . I don't want to do anything with my life. I never want to work again. It was a horrible experience.

Especially since I can't kill myself now( since I made a promise to a friends girlfriend) I wanted to even more. Just to spite all the people that think I'll be better alive than dead. To spite all my family, friends, and teachers that always told me I was a smart kid not that I could do something with my life. I want to show that they were wrong.

Do you guys see why I did not want to say?
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1) you have problems
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PK_Spam posted...

1) you have problems

Yeah, already know this. I did spend a week in a mental institution.
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2) sounds like you're living out of spite, which is stupid. Don't you have ANYTHING to look forward to? It could be anything at all. Even something as small as a new TCG card set coming out. It sounds like you think being homeless is easy. It's not. And a young kid like you will get eaten alive out there. Not to mention all the people who'll actively try to take advantage of you. People make a living forcing poor homeless children to do things they shouldn't.

Get help. Drop school if you have to, but talk to a professional. You really need them
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TheCyborgNinja posted...

It depends. I made good money in mobile phones, but retail is not for me. Retail as in GS is "something wrong"... Good luck being satisfied there.

Different people have different experiences I guess.

shadowsword87 posted...

I have never heard anyone say this before.
Everyone I know who works, or worked, retail hates/hated it.

Sucks to be them. I personally enjoyed it and I'm looking to return to it.

PK_Spam posted...

Most well-paying jobs aren't gonna hire him.

This I agree with.
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Sounds like you have your mind made up but hopefully you reconsider and talk about the decision with your family first.

Best of luck, hope things work out ok for you.
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Gamefreak9905 posted...

Fine, I'll just fucking say it. I'm planing on becoming homeless. I've wanted to do this for years now . I don't want to do anything with my life. I never want to work again. It was a horrible experience.

Especially since I can't kill myself now( since I made a promise to a friends girlfriend) I wanted to even more. Just to spite all the people that think I'll be better alive than dead. To spite all my family, friends, and teachers that always told me I was a smart kid not that I could do something with my life. I want to show that they were wrong.

Do you guys see why I did not want to say?

Get therapy and spite them by doing more with your life. You can find things that fulfill you.
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wolfy42 posted...

join the military

I would recommend TC doing this, as well, if he does follow through with dropping out.
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EclairReturns posted...

I would recommend TC doing this, as well, if he does follow through with dropping out.

I wouldn't because....

Gamefreak9905 posted...

I did spend a week in a mental institution.

The Army can cause more mental problems I'd imagine. Also you know... you could die.
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Doctor Foxx posted...

spite them by doing more with your life.

I'm not sure doing what they want me to do is spite
Doctor Foxx posted...

Get therapy

PK_Spam posted...

Get help. Drop school if you have to, but talk to a professional. You really need them

I do have a therapist, I just lie to him and tell him everything is okay.
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Gamefreak9905 posted...

I just lie to him and tell him everything is okay.

Why?
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wwinterj25 posted...

Gamefreak9905 posted...

I just lie to him and tell him everything is okay.

Why?

Because that's what I want people to think. I want people to think I'm alright so thy don't worry about me.
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I'm not normal, so my advice isn't going to be the same as most other people.

Honestly the year I was homeless was one of the best years of my life.

I tend to take on responsibilities, and I always am trying to fix everything, so every other freaking year of my life has had tons of stress, responsibilities and very little time for myself. When I was homeless I didn't interact with people much (I lived on roof tops), and I focused mainly on making money, saving it, reading, playing video games (at the mall, they had nintendo kiosks with free games), exploring and just enjoying life.

I had no responsibilities, nobody I had to take care of, no worries about bills I had to pay (other then $50 a month for a storage facility). I kept my clothes, books etc in a storage facility, I would swim in pools in apartment complexes etc to stay clean, and even if it rained there where plenty of over hangs on roofs for me to stay dry.

That being said, I had already graduated from HS, and I joined the military a year later when I turned 17 because I wanted to do more with my life. Being homeless doesn't have to be the end of the world, and depending on how bad/stressfull your life is, it may be like a vacation.

That being said, you do realize you don't have to quit school to be homeless, or you could go to college or a vocational school while homeless as well. I can understand if you wanna just say screw it and just stop trying for a bit, and if that is what you need, then that is what you need (I have certainly wished I could do something similar enough times in my life), but...honestly don't worry about what others think etc, do something YOU want. If you don't want anything, then do something that will help others, trust me, you will find that the connections you make while doing so, will often give you motivation in your life as well.

If the people in your life are toxic and bringing you down, if your stressed and you feel like it's too much and not worth the effort, then find a way to change it. They can't hold you back a year if you transfer to a private school that is willing to let you move forward (if you do some extra work over the summer), You can find other ways to get your GED or Advanced HS diploma, either now, or later. You could look into joining the military for now till you figure your life out, or volunteer somewhere helping people while you learn important skills.

You are 17.....almost 18, you have a whole life filled with new things to experience ahead of you. Don't let whatever is going on right now ruin that. Have you gone white water rafting for instance, it's freaking A BLAST....perhaps you could even work as a guide if you like it as much as I did. There are tons of things out there you have not tried, and it's quite likely you will really enjoy one of them, and doing whatever that is will not seem like work at all to you.

Find what makes you happy and strive for it, do it as early as you can. It's worth living a life you love, no matter how hard it is to get there.
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Gamefreak9905 posted...

wwinterj25 posted...

Gamefreak9905 posted...

I just lie to him and tell him everything is okay.

Why?

Because that's what I want people to think. I want people to think I'm alright so thy don't worry about me.

If you care about them worrying, why are you actively trying to spite them by willingly becoming homeless?
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PK_Spam posted...

Gamefreak9905 posted...

wwinterj25 posted...

Gamefreak9905 posted...

I just lie to him and tell him everything is okay.

Why?

Because that's what I want people to think. I want people to think I'm alright so thy don't worry about me.

If you care about them worrying, why are you actively trying to spite them by willingly becoming homeless?

Because I want to show them they were wrong about me. I want to show that I wasn't worth their time.
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Gamefreak9905 posted...

wwinterj25 posted...

Gamefreak9905 posted...

I just lie to him and tell him everything is okay.

Why?

Because that's what I want people to think. I want people to think I'm alright so thy don't worry about me.

I understand that, better than a lot of people I imagine, but your head is in the wrong place. Just let the flood gates open and people might surprise you.
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Gamefreak9905 posted...

Because that's what I want people to think. I want people to think I'm alright so thy don't worry about me.

So your parents(I assume) are paying a therapist so you can lie to said therapist so he'll think you're ok as will they? Maybe I'm missing something but isn't a therapists job supposed to be to help you? Meaning you're supposed to tell them everything. It's their job to listen and that's what they are being paid todo.
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My brother dropped out of highshool and he eventually realized how stupid that decision was. He finished his highschool 5 years later. He's now in his bachelor's final year.
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thing is, high school is easy. heck, undergrad university is more or less "easy" (huge amount of variability though). and you're an awesome age. being your age is something a huge amount of the population would pay millions of dollars to be. you're in almost as optimal a position as it's possible to be in. (the 18 in grade 11 thing sucks a bit; I had to take some grade 10 courses when I was 18, was not fun.)

your 40 year old self would give almost anything to be in the position you're in right now. and he sure as heck wouldn't throw it away for no good reason, he'd pwn the fuck out of high school.
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You're never going to be in a better place unless you make the effort. If you just decide to be open and honest with the people around you, they'll reciprocate and help you. But if you don't, and just go with the motions until you can just... disappear... things are always going to be terrible until you're dead, and there's no going back from that.
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I'm gonna be honest here, you should absolutely tell your therapist and parents what you've told us. I think you need to hear some sound advice face-to-face from people close to you. You've got some sound advice in this thread, but ultimately, I feel like it's falling on deaf ears.

If you feel like your life is truly hopeless, I urge you to discuss your feelings with your therapist to discover just how wrong you are. Don't give up on life.

I'm personally not a fan of therapists, but I guess they help some people. I don't trust them, as they have a tendency to send people to mental institutions (both my mother and brother....I avoided them all together so luckily never got sent to one). I certainly don't blame someone for not telling them how they really feel.

Still if nothing else you can tell us how you really feel, cause it's the internet and nobody knows who you are etc:)

I've been depressed many times in my life and even recently after my wife passed. It makes no sense since I have so much more then most and tons of opportunities for the future, things I could do etc, but logic doesn't really enter into it.

All I can say is there has to be some positive way for you to move forward, do you have some relatives far away you could go live with for awhile for instance? Maybe you could go work at a summer camp for a month or so (not sure how much time is left where you live), or perhaps find a ranch or something like that where you could go and live/work for a bit and try a different type of lifestyle?

The place you live, cities etc, are not the only ways to live. There are peaceful places, places with far less people and plenty of time/space for you to be by yourself if you want, enjoy nature etc.

There are places in the US where it is very cheap to live as well, and you can get by and have a decent life without too much effort. There is a ton our there you have not experienced or tried, it's worth giving some of it a chance.
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This almost reminds how much I used to hate my parents when they used to tell me to study.

So yeah, unless you're some sorta prodigy in some field, this is a bad idea.
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PK_Spam posted...

You're never going to be in a better place unless you make the effort. If you just decide to be open and honest with the people around you, they'll reciprocate and help you. But if you don't, and just go with the motions until you can just... disappear... things are always going to be terrible until you're dead, and there's no going back from that.

This is very accurate. I spent most of my life bottling things up when they bothered me until I snapped around age 22. I brushed it under the rug again until I was about 29 and then it was just too much and I decided to confront it. I would kill to get a second chance at my twenties, without feeling tense all the time.

I may still seem like an asshole, but I'm Santa Claus now compared to how I used to be. Part of what helped was getting a new family doctor that's like a pal who always tells me what I need to hear. We have a great rapport. Maybe you're just not meshing well with your therapist on top of everything else?

Honestly, make yourself a burden and do not feel guilty about it. Just let it out and everything will get better. I had to come to terms with it on my own, and you will to, but find a way to rationalize it and make a deal with yourself to try being open and honest about everything for two weeks. Reassess it after that, but give it all you have during that time. Add another two weeks if you want to, and so on.
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Gamefreak9905 posted...

Do any of you know anyone with experience with this?

Welcome to poverty
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As someone who did this my senior year because I was behind and taking night classes on top of school during the day to try and catch up (and burned myself out totally), I say, don't. I did get my diploma through adult school (and challenge testing the GED for high school credit), but I honestly wish I didn't fuck up so much and then quit as a teenager. I'm 37 and back in school again because the job market is a pain in the ass if you don't have a degree.

Edit: I wrote the first part before reading your "I'm dropping out to be homeless" thing. Why even ask if people have any experience in this. Those of us that DID drop out certainly didn't do it so we could be bums and die on the street to stick it to their family. Go to therapy, take it seriously, or fuck off.

Gamefreak9905 posted...

So I've finally decided to just drop out of high school.

Excellent. I'll have a grande Cappucino and a muffin, thx.
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Blighboy posted...

Yes I dropped out of highschool and now I'm rolling in bitches.

So you got that Job as a dog walker after all?
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If you're not planning on doing this...

Doctor Foxx posted...

Unless you're dropping out to get your GED immediately and enter college, you'd be making a huge mistake.

...then don't do it.

I know someone who's University professor told the class,

"If I were a high school teacher, I'd tell the students to drop out, get their GED and go to college."

Basically like another poster said, drop out, get your GED, go to a Community College then transfer to a university. That's actually very doable if you are good with doing schoolwork and you just don't want to be in high school anymore for whatever your reasons are.

The problems will happen if you drop out then want to do things after a "break". It's hard to get back into the swing of things once you decide to do that.
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Do it.

Get your GED right away, and then go to a community college. Knock out your prerequisites there. Move on to a state college to finish your degree.

The only thing that is going to hinder you here is money. If you have that you'll get accepted into a decent college no problem.
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OP you sound smarter than you thinl

Im going to agree with not dropping out and i hope you stay. You can work part time and do things with your life outside if school

But definitely finish
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EclairReturns posted...

wolfy42 posted...

join the military

I would recommend TC doing this, as well, if he does follow through with dropping out.

You have to have a high school diploma or ged to join the military

Just finish highschool and then you never have to do school ever again. It's obvious you hate school so I'm confused why people are telling you to get your GED and then go into college, more school isn't going to help you.

My advice is get a job and make enough money so that you can go travel either the US or the rest of the world, there is a lot to see and sometimes the best therapy is just getting away from it all and experiencing new things.
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Don't drop out.

In 10 years, I doubt you're going to say, "I'm glad I dropped out of high school."

However bad you think it is now, it will be worse later on if you do.
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