By Chloe Rusconi Posted June 3, 2009
When students reach the envious age of 18 they are labeled adults; adults who can make their own decisions. Their parents are not liable for their actions anymore, and they are given the right to vote, buy cigarettes, and, if desired, drop out of high school. It seems that the last option is becoming more and more popular.
The Nevada dropout rate for 2008 was 4.5 percent and this year at Lowry 25 high school seniors have left. A portion of those 25 went to PASS. With only a few days of school left for seniors, it is hard to fathom why those who drop out do. What is the point?
A month or so ago I noticed a student in one of my classes was gone and I wondered where the student had gone. Later on, I found out that the student dropped out simply because they could. This student was more than capable to do the work, didn’t have trouble keeping up with the workload and because of laziness or not caring, dropped out.
With a month to go and a diploma so close one could almost grasp it, why would a student want to throw it away? Would one throw it away to go and have some fun with their friends? Endless opportunities are staring a person right in their face, for them to grab and never let go, but some people don’t grab them and choose to drop out instead.
I can’t help but wonder what the advantages are or if there are benefits to dropping out? Maybe a drop out could sleep a little longer and waste half of the day, but that doesn’t seem very appealing to me. Going to school for 13 years and having 95% of the time over with, it would never cross my mind to quit and give up. I would much rather go to school and learn something.
That is what I think that high school dropouts are doing, they are quitting and giving up. If a student is struggling he can ask for help. If a student can’t handle a class she can switch. Some see dropping out as their only option, there are other alternatives. The key is effort; if you are not going to put in the effort, how can you expect to succeed?
Even though there are programs like PASS and JOIN, why not stay in high school? It is a sense of accomplishment to be able to say that you worked hard and put in your best effort to achieve your high school diploma.
In the real world, a high school diploma can help you tremendously, it can be the difference between getting a job and not, the difference between getting into a college and not. A high school dropout’s average income $17,922 compared with a graduate’s $26,933.
So, just tough out and stay in school.
