SOS to all teachers and parents, I am seventeen, home-schooled, with a job, and I've just about had it?

Question

I am seriously thinking about what would REALLY happen if I didn't complete my homeschooling (drop-out). I know what everybody says, you won't get a good job, you'll be poor until you die, etc. But, I honestly just don't see the benefits of going to college. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I know completing high school is a must, but college seems like a huge waste of time and money. I say this because, it seems like everyone I know who's been to college, is struggling and they aren't making much money. My parents have made more money, together and individually, than the people from college, and they've never been to college. My mother didn't even graduate, she got a GED. I was thinking about giving up on homeschooling, because I'm just not interested AT ALL. It's almost physically and mentally draining when I attempt to work on it. One thing is running through my mind about it, and it's, "What am I really doing this for?" Is four years worth of the same old curriculum necessary?

Agree or Disagree: Three years of high school, instead of four, is surely sufficient enough to "learn" what you need to know, and cut out all of the rest of the extra unneeded classes and courses.

I have to say this again, it seems like a big waste of time. Somebody prove me wrong.....

Answer 1

Sorry, but study after study shows that the average college graduate makes $1 million more over their lifetime than does someone who did not graduate from college.  You are using anecdotal evidence (your parents) to make your point, and while it is wonderful that they are doing well, they aren't typical.  It also sounds like you are comparing your parents, who would have graduated from college about 20 years ago, to recent college graduates.  You weren't around when your parents were just starting out, and I'll bet they struggled too.

As to learning "all you need to know", that would take about 50 years of school these days, I'm afraid.  What I'm afraid you won't stick around long enough to realize is that the more you learn, the more you realize how much more it would be important to know.  When I was young, I felt that I knew a lot, but thank goodness, I didn't stop learning.  Now, after 13 years of higher education, I realize that I will never know all that I should, and I'm embarrassed at what I did back then.  Most of us need to keep learning throughout our lives just to keep up with the changes in the world.

Answer 2

The truth is you might be right, with an emphasis on might.  Some people grow up doing jobs they are fine with, never having gone to college or getting a job.  My father never finished high school, and he's worked his whole life as a landscaper.  My mother works at Progressive, and she never went to college either.  They are happy, and I turned out okay.  Now, I went to college to become a teacher, because it's required.  I love gaining knowledge and growing as a person, so taking classes doesn't bother me.  

The question is, what do you want to be doing the rest of your life?  Chances are the job requires a degree, or it's preferable.  I know that neither of my parents chose their careers; its what they were left with.  I don't know anyone who would strive for hard labor or answering phones all day.  I wouldn't want to you to work at some lame place forever, just so you don't have to go to college.  Remember, bills increase as you get older while your pay may not, so you might not be happy with your job 10 years from now.

3 years of high school instead of four may teach you some things, but it wont get you a diploma.  Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades!  You're so close, too.  Nothing pisses me off more than kids who drop out when they're seniors.  11 years of education wasted because you couldn't stick it out a couple more months?

Good luck to you!

Answer 3

Stop being a whiny *****, and do your d**n schoolwork.  

Answer 4

Well, it's all down to you. I was home schooled from the age 6 upwards and to be really honest I got a terrible education and I'm almost completely self educated. I didn't go to college, but instead I started my own business and I'm also a teacher. I have to say I agree with you in some aspects, personally I think I have a different way of looking at things and approaching situations which I don't think I would have gained had I been in main stream education. But on the other hand there is the aspect of finding yourself and making lifelong friends etc etc. I think it's what you make of it. I know plenty of broke people who have got MAs and BAs. People are very narrow minded, go for what you think will be good for you! And all best wishes.

Answer 5

Nobody has to PROVE you wrong for you to find out how wrong you are, and in a big way. I understand that it seems like you don't need a higher education because your parents are doing just fine without one...they probably are, as are mine without college educations. So why can't you or I get away with just dropping out of high school and getting a great job with benefits? As the world continues to become more and more educated, the professional world is becoming increasingly competitive. There are not enough jobs to go to everyone with a degree, therefore the higher your degree (not the lack of one) will determine how well you do today. Yes, it would be wonderful if we didn't need a slip of paper that says we are qualified for a job, but it seems that our society is on the road to demanding more, not less of us. So finish high school (or take your GED, and then go to college), and then see where the people who did what you are wanting to do now are. Be strong, and keep working hard. It's not going to be easy either way, but would you rather have it be tough for a while with a great end, or h**l the whole ride?

Answer 6

Well, I am a teacher at a tutoring center that specializes in kids (teens) who are home schooled, usually due to behavior problems, but sometimes just general learning disabilities or parental preference. I can tell you that home schooling is a good deal harder than going to school the old fashioned way.

As for the degree, while none of us have a crystal ball, and there is always a chance that you can "make it" without any degree, just a quick look at the stats would imply that banking on it is a bad idea.

If you obtain any form of ordinary job (by that I mean any job that does not involve money under the table), you will in all likelyhood eventually reach a point where in order to continue to grow within that field, you will need additional qualifications in education. To get that, you will have to build on what you already have...and you can't even get basic certifications without a high school diploma of some kind.

And I promise you it will be easier to get it over with NOW rather than later! As you get older, you will have to deal with paying your own bills, working full time, and maybe even a family of your own to support...throwing school into that mix makes it much harder.

Also, while it seems like a waste of time, I am in graduate school now for a Computer Science degree. While I won't tell you I used everything I learned in my education, I can tell you that you never know where you will end up, and you can benefit from at least some knowledge in everything. And there are things that I thought I would never EVER use again while I was learning it, and now I use it everyday for my job (including some high level algorithms and computations).

So yeah, I know it can be very stressful and feel hopeless, but I would highly recommend you hang in there. Think about getting a tutor if it is about frustration with the curriculm...success in academics can bring a whole new positive light to the whole experience :)

Answer 7

I think you can find the answer in your own words.  You state that you know people who have been to college and are struggling and aren't making much money.  So, it stands to reason that someone with less education than your friends will do even worse financially.   When your parents went to school, we did not have to worry about a global economy.  Now people around the world are competing for the same job.  If you are not educated, you aren't even in the race.  I have a Masters Degree.  I still work 2 jobs, sometimes 3.  But I make a decent living.  The pay was low when I started, of course.  The more experience and the more education, the more money you make.  I grew up poor, got good grades and was told that my parents couldn't afford to send me to college.  I was devastated, wondered why I had worked so hard.  My folks remortgaged the house, my Mom went to college herself to get a better job, my Dad worked triple shifts, I worked, got grants, loans, scholarships, and got my Bachelors.  Life is hard when you do what you are supposed to do, so why would you make your life harder by stopping your education?  You send like an intelligent individual who considers all options.  You can list the pros and cons of your possible choices, and maybe that will help you.  I hope you don't choose the School of Hard Knocks, but maybe that's the route that will open your eyes to just how limited your life and choices will be without college.  I know it's probably not the answer you want, but it is the answer to your freedom.  You will never be free unless you can support yourself and someday your own family.  Best of luck to you.

Answer 8

You are 17 - you have no idea what you want to do.

and its not necessary that you do at this point. but if you drop and and skip college - you are going to feel the same as you do now for a long time.

college is for deciding what you *do* want to do. You get to take classes in every area that might hold a possibility for you - heck take a whole semester of all physical ed classes. How are you going to figure out if you want to be a journalist, photographer, veterinarian, nurse practitioner, astrophysicist, business owner or even a plumber?

To find out on your own - you could take various jobs in different fields and work at it for a while to see if you like it or....

all those things are localized at your college! try em all out - Thats a big part of college - and like most kids your age - you seem to have the I already know everything attitude.

So good luck to you - you will be missing out on an important opportunity in life - not everyone is lucky enough to have that chance.