Job offer.

[crow_noir]

What's wrong with having a career that makes you happy so long as you make enough money to get by? You don't have to live in luxury and make six figures a year to be happy.

I'd choose being a DNR officer any day over an office job that paid 3 X's as much.

So are you just going to be a grommer for the rest of your life? Don't get me wrong, it's a good job, you get paid, but wouldn't you want a different job to get paid more money. People these days only care about education. Dropping out of high school is a BAD idea. Even if you do get Cs and Ds, it's a lot better than dropping out of school.

[crow_noir]

Good post Catty...

along the lines of what you mentioned... I wondered too if there is a vocational(???) school around there. I think in some places they are called trade schools. Ours used to be called the Skill Center. Forget what it is called now. They teach stuff hands on... there's book work too. VERY attentive teachers though. (I never went, but know plenty of people that did.) This was in addition to regular high school.

buttercup132 i know it can be really tough when teachers don't give any help. It doesn't mean that you are dumb... it means the teachers aren't doing their job. I got one of those and went from being an A student in math down to C's and D's. I am not a good self taught learner. Things take a while to sink in. I got stuck with that guy for two years. Very discouraging, and my moral dropped horribly as my GPA plummeted.

At least you have SOME idea what you want to do with your life. Be determined and head for the light. At least no matter how you go about getting your education you won't be wasting your time. (It wasn't until two years after i graduated that i had ANY direction to go in and that was because of an epiphany.)

It's a lot easier staying on the horse, than falling off and trying to get back on. (your arse may be sore and chapped, but at least you'll still have a horse.) (Yes, I speak of the horse as education.) I'm not telling you to stay in school, but i do think it would be wise if you did... at least in one form or another. ...even if it's just switching to a different school. (Find out what other students have to say about theirs.)

Saw a program on the news the other night.

There was a counsellor talking about how about 40 - 60% of high school students are doing self-harm - cutting themselves, excessive piercings, etc.

One of the stress factors he mentioned was homework just getting piled on the kids.

There are many stories of bright people in the wrong kind of training - Einstein was a high-school dropout.

BC, first find out if the GED would cost you anything, or if you could do it through the school system where you are. I think you need to do this at your own pace - just make sure you KEEP the pace - and I hope you can have access to tutors that wouldn't cost you too much, or be covered for the cost somehow.

The GED books tell you what you need to know for the test. See your school counsellor - they aren't there just for emotional troubles, they help with school stuff as well. Maybe there is a way to do some courses online, as a compromise? Maybe you need to be at another school. Tell the counsellor what you told us - how impossible and overwhelming it is. See if there are other options you can work with.

ETA: How about working, and splitting your senior year over one year and one summer - or even two years?

It isn't always the student's fault. Some need a different way to learn what is needed to be learned. My mom was a teacher of all levels and kinds of kids for over 40 years, and she knows that.

Like the "Fame" school, or the ballet and music schools in old Russia, it would be great to have an educational place that included your grooming skills!

In any case, talk over this option with a professional at the school, and even maybe see if you can talk to some folks who did the GED and are doing fine a few years on.

Not everyone is an academic - and it can be sheer h*** to struggle being a square peg in a round hole for years.

[ChrisH]

Ok, the advice everyone has given here is valid and sensible so I guess I'm a voice in the wilderness but what the hell ....

Buttercup, your reasons and way of thinking made a whole lot of sense to me. If you pause, think it through some more, talk it over with your parents and then still feel the same, then I say go with it, take the job, live your life.

[buttercup132]

Thank you to those who have been supportive. I'm still in the thought process of it.

Crow_Noir you seem to understand it best. I will see if I can talk to a councler.
Thank Chris for being so supportive.

I have talked to quite a few adults and they all say I should go for it, even someone who had dropped out of school. She said it's not like I'm dropping out and sitting on my butt all day, I'm going out and continuing my learning for a job I want to do.

And I dont know if your forgetting or not but if I ever decide I dont want to do it for some reaosn I can always still get my grd. 12.

[KittyGurl]

Buttercup, just please, listen to us. We aren't trying to be mean, we aren't trying to make you feel stupid and we aren't trying to kick you down, we all are trying to get you to stay in school. Even though it seems we all are ganging up on you, we all are trying to help you. Don't quit now, you are almost done. 1 more year to go, you are almost finish. No one on PT wants to see you have a hard time in life cause you dropped out.

I notice no one else said this, but: Congrats on the job offer! We all know you will make the right desicion.

[moosmom]

BC,

After viewing your posts again and your spelling, you NEED to stay in school.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Buttercup, I think you should really think about your decision and go with your heart. I don't think you should take the job just for the money- because your parents are there to help you and there will always be jobs. Think about what you really want and don't let yourself feel pressured just by the pay.

That being said, I don't think education is the end all and be all of the universe. I hated high school and went through a really rough time through my parents divorce and so on, and I left school and got my GED. It has never for a moment not been "good enough." I was still able to go to a good college, get a BA, and now I am even in graduate school. Even though I hated high school I loved college.

If you decide to take the job, then that's your decision. I do think you should try to get your GED (or the Canadian equivalent) because that way, if you ever decide to make a change, it will be easier. And pursuing one right when you leave school will be so much easier than waiting. Even if you stay a groomer for the rest of your life, you will still have that to show.

Remember, you are not dumb no matter what anyone says! Intelligence is not one size fits all. Don't let other people get you down, just go with your own instincts.

[slleipnir]

I haven't read the other posts. Sorry if I'm repeating.

You probably only have what, a year or two left? Right now you're probably thinking it would be great, you don't need it...but what if someday your grooming job goes down the drain? or it's not enough? Someday you might regret not finishing school. I've known people who did the same and later regretted and had to go back for their high school equivalence or whatever it's called. It's up to you but try thinking of all options.

[caseysmom]

BC,

After viewing your posts again and your spelling, you NEED to stay in school.

You and Kym need to stop making all these jabs, I know its not my place to say anything but it is getting ugly.

[moosmom]

caseysmom,

What??? YOU think her spelling is fine??

[caseysmom]

caseysmom,

What??? YOU think her spelling is fine??

Thats not what I said.

I don't think its contructive to point that out in that manner.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

Meet with a school counselor, and see if you could do some compromise between your course load and work, and maybe get some class credit for work.

We had something like that at my high school. The kids took the required courses- history, science, english, and math. Rather than taking elective courses they were allowed to leave school early to go to work. They had to work a certain number of hours and their boss had to sign off on those hours.

Just something to think about- if you decide to leave school to work full time will your parents continue to support you? Will they let you continue to live with them? Will you need to pay them rent? Will you still be on your parents insurance?

Good luck with whichever you decide.

[wolf_Q]

I started out working as a bather after high school. I'm a groomer now, I have been for a few years...I've been working there for 5 years now. It is a good job, I enjoy it, however, it is not a wage I can live by myself on. If I were married and there were two sources of income, it would be fine, but with just me I'll never be able to afford a house. That is why I'm going to college to get a degree and possibly earn a higher wage. Now its possible the wages are better where you are, and I know that I could actually make more money if I groomed more dogs...but I'm not willing to give up quality for quantity. Personally, I think you would be better to finish high school. There is always a need for groomers and you will be able to find another grooming job. But it's your life and your decision, good luck with whatever you decide.

[moosmom]

contructive

[caseysmom]

Wow thanks for pointing out my spelling error in a sentence when I was basically saying how petty it is to point out spelling errors, sort of makes my point...or as Kym would say "I did that on purpose"

So are you and Kym the new spelling police? Gee we sure need that around here.