By Wyatt Lester Posted May 30, 2012
School…It’s the free education that takes a mere 13 years to complete. Once you complete high school and receive your diploma you can get any entry-level job with proof of graduation. If you’ve done well you can maybe go to college and have a more successful future. It’s all straightforward and as simple as the system can make it. But there will always be those who can’t complete this task; the ones that may have to drop out.
High school dropouts are all around us. I’m not saying it’s common and you should do it, but there’s someone we’ve all heard of that has dropped out for various reasons, such as needing to work to provide money for the family, lack of interest, or some other reason. You may think it’s a great reason to drop out and move in with your 25-year old boyfriend, but that’s not really smart.
A 2009 study from The National Center for Educational Statistics on high school dropout rates looked at the percentage of 16 to 24-year olds who were not enrolled and haven’t received their high school diploma or GED. The results showed the dropout rate has declined from 14% in 1980 to 8% in 2009 and continues to drop. Pun intended.
Students should not drop out and the idea of it is pointless, but there can sometimes be exceptions. If you absolutely have to drop out to work to keep your family fed and pay for the house, then that’s fine. Or maybe you’ve had a kid while in high school. Well then try to obtain your GED later on so you can support your child.
In the end, is it worth it to drop out or stay in school for a better future? You know the facts, so you decide.
