Job offer.

[jennielynn1970]

Uh it's obviously harder then that, but you do a great job making me feel even more dumb.

I never said that was my biggest goal in life..

I don't make you feel any way. Only you can make yourself feel dumb.

What I want to do is shake your shoulders for wanting to take the easy way out. Don't give up because of a challenge. Get a tutor, or a peer tutor. Form a study group or find one that is already formed. I'm sure you're not the only one who has problems in school, and others would benefit from help as well.

Look at the kids who have disabilities, mental and physical, and they stay the course. They face challenges that you could never even imagine.

Finish your senior year. Seriously. You're SOOOO close to the end. Don't give up now. You'll kick yourself in the end.

[kuhio98]

Don't quit school! You are limiting your options for the future. Most jobs require at least a high school diploma. Who wants to hire someone who couldn't be bothered to at least finish high school?

You may not want to be a groomer a 5 years from now. You don't know what the future holds. You may change your mind tomorrow. But, that's what being young is all about. Trying out new things and seeing where they take you.

If you want to own your own business, you have to know a lot. You have to know what you're doing or the right questions to ask to hire people who do know what their doing. How will you know if someone is cheating you in your business?

Please quit telling yourself that you're dumb. That's a cop-out. What you may be is stressed, depressed and looking to take what seems to be the easy way out. In the long run, it will be much harder to make a living if you cut and run now. If you quit, it will get easier and easier to quit on yourself.

Please stay in school. You just might learn something -- maybe about yourself.

[moosmom]

You think writing a paper or completing a project is a challenge??? Try being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor on your brain stem at the age of 16, going through major brain surgery and having to learn to walk, talk, dress, and feed yourself all over again. That and keeping up with your studies to graduate with the rest of your class. THAT little girl, is a REAL challenge. And THAT is what my daughter had to go through. She never once complained how tough she has it.

So while you're having a pity party about how "tough" life is for you, I suggest you grow up and make your parents proud by graduating. This way they don't have to refer to you as their high school dropout.

[caseysmom]

Seriously you are getting good advice even if it is coming out kind of harsh. Who cares what anyone else thinks, do this for yourself I promise you will be glad later. I hated high school but a year after I graduated I went to college and loved it, I would have never thought I would.

[Catty1]

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.

[jennielynn1970]

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

It isn't always the student's fault. Some need a different way to learn what is needed to be learned.

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!

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

While alternative schools are a good option, normally one does not wait until their senior year to change course.

People do learn in different ways, and many times learning disabilities are diagnosed and adaptations are made in school. In the US it's called an IEP (Individual Educational Program or Plan), and if the child is learning disabled or gifted, or has any kind of disability, they normally are evaluated and have one of these implemented in at least middle school.

I was a business major in high school. I had Bs and Cs and wasn't a fan of school. I went to community college and discovered that there were so many other options out there, and teaching styles and courses offered were just as varied. I'm the first one who will tell you that I NEVER thought I'd ever have my masters degree, let alone be an educator myself. Not saying that college is a necessary, but high school, finishing school, that's just a no brainer.

Stay in school. You're a senior. If you drop out, the odds of you going back are slimmer than someone who drops out of college and wants to go back.

Make finishing your senior year your goal for now. Rise to the challenge. Teachers normally don't set you up to fail... they give you what they think you can accomplish, even if it will be a challenge. If you are given a certain amount of work, then the expectation is that you CAN achieve the goal of finishing it. Some of our lowest level kids achieve more than anyone would have ever thought they could have because the teachers they had believed in them. You have to believe in yourself as well.

Don't make excuses for yourself. You can do what you set your mind to. I'm sure if it was something that you wanted, you'd do it no matter what others said, even if you knew it was next to impossible to achieve.

[Karen]

Sweetie, I know we all seem to be ganging up on you, but I do hope you continue with your schooling. 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.

Why? When you plan on having your own business? Because every business needs capital - as in money. A bank is going to have serious questions about lending you money for your business without a high school diploma.

Seriously, not that you haven't thought about this, but do sit down with someone you can trust at school. This is a huge decision, and not having a high school diploma can make life much more difficult than it needs to be.

[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.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I think she meant constructive.

[Logan]

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.

I just want to say "Good for you", Amy, as I make my way through this post. You are being very realistic.

At this point in time, we are finding that our children need to be prepared not only graduate at the top of their high school class, finish 4 years of undergraduate work, but will probably need a master's degree, also, to really secure themselves in the long run. Is this unique to the south or is it something you all see in our future?

[Logan]

By the way, Buttercup, I only wanted to respond to Amy's post while it was in front of me as I made my way through this.

Everyone's situation is different and I wish there was more technical training at the high school level for those people who have found their "gift" and want to push forward in that area. Where would we be in society if there weren't people who were well trained in auto repair, for example? Vocational schools are wonderful for that purpose, and the students still have that diploma when they are finished. I will tell you that I was expected to graduate from high school and college, and I did, and I have the same expectation for my daughter, who is a Junior in high school, but it is what she wants, too. She has enough credit hours to actually graduate from high school this year, if she wants to, but she doesn't, and I'm glad. I don't have an advanced degree, but life has been pretty good to me, through hard work, good connections and a good work ethic. I don't have an advanced degree and at this point in my life, 45 years old, I don't expect that I will ever get one, but I love what I do and am so grateful for the opportunities I have had. My husband has a four year degree from college and has completed his master's degree and his absolutely miserable in his current job situation. You never know where you will land and how things will pan out. I just know that having that high school degree and also my college degree, regardless of what I majored in, opened a lot of doors for me throughout my life. That's my only reason for saying to work hard now and make it happen and it will bring you rewards later, if you need them.

Everyone doesn't have to have a college degree. But I believe that obtaining a high school diploma is important. The drop out rate of high school students, here in SC just floors me at times. It was never in my frame of reference when I was a high school student. But, I went to a private school and that school now boasts a 100% graduation rate (as it did when I was a student there) and 100% of their students receive some sort of scholarship to college! Amazing statistics, huh?

I wish you the best of all things and a very happy life. That's what we all strive for and what we wish for the ones we care about.

Best intentions.

Logan

[Muddy4paws]

Just remember that people can be a bit fussy when it comes to their dogs. Just because she has offered you her customers doesn't mean that the customers will stay with you. People do seem to look up to more older groomers I find that alot, I own my own buisness and Im 19 so believe me with that issue.

How do you compare to qualifications? If she used to work as a vet people will see that as a added bonus, Knowing their dogs will be 110% dafe with this lady.

Can you afford the rent etc? What is customers do decide to go somewhere else? Why not see if you can do a partnership with this lady instead, giving her the option of a silent partner status rather than physically helping you.