So... I want to quit my education

[jordanisonfire]

Yeah, I'm not just making a random thread to vent my troubles or anything, I'm not asking for sympathy, I just need advice.

So, I'm pretty much sick of school, so I've decided that I want to stick around till my GCSEs and then not do any more education. And I'm not gonna do it alone, one of my best friends is the same as me and we both want out. So, we're looking for a place to stay in London, we're gonna rent a shop and sell job lots from the internet. Until then, we'll work minimum wage jobs, or maybe even higher jobs, seeing as we'll have good GCSEs and make our way in the world from there.

As anyone would be, I am nervous and still not 100% on it. It could be just a spur of the moment thing, I dunno. So, what do you guys think? Run off to London in search of freedom, or stay on at school, do my A levels and go to Uni?

[Shaun]

Yeah, I'm not just making a random thread to vent my troubles or anything, I'm not asking for sympathy, I just need advice.

So, I'm pretty much sick of school, so I've decided that I want to stick around till my GCSEs and then not do any more education. And I'm not gonna do it alone, one of my best friends is the same as me and we both want out. So, we're looking for a place to stay in London, we're gonna rent a shop and sell job lots from the internet. Until then, we'll work minimum wage jobs, or maybe even higher jobs, seeing as we'll have good GCSEs and make our way in the world from there.

As anyone would be, I am nervous and still not 100% on it. It could be just a spur of the moment thing, I dunno. So, what do you guys think? Run off to London in search of freedom, or stay on at school, do my A levels and go to Uni?

My recommendation is more about practicality than any personal opinion about the worth of higher education (I'm a big proponent of people getting degrees, but, again, this isn't about that personal opinion).

Right now with the economy the way it is, I would advise against you moving to an expensive city like London in order to pursue something that a) you can't even guarantee will keep food on the plate (at the very least) and b) has about a 90% chance of failure given the present climate. The chances that you and your friend will find jobs that will keep you employed and pay you enough to survive in a city like London are slim to none. This isn't because you or your friend are stupid or morons, but because there aren't a lot of jobs to begin with, particularly not the kind of jobs you're going to like, and it could be a disaster for you. You might come to regret not taking your chance to pursue a higher education, which is something that you at least know can be secured with a bit of hard work in school.

So, my advice is this: go to college and take it seriously. You don't have to like it, but while you're there you can pursue other avenues and build up a resume. You can get part time jobs, work on this selling job lots thing, etc. And, who knows, maybe in your time at uni you'll discover what it is you want to do. Don't think of college in the same light as primary school (or whatever you guys call pre-college grades in England). Think of it as an option that has a higher chance of success, and a way to ride out the economic crisis. This is why I'm glad I'm going to graduate school, because finding a job right now would be impossible, especially not one that could feed me and keep me in some semblance of comfort (i.e. not worrying whether I'll have enough money to afford rent or power or heat or whatever next month).

It may not be what you want to hear, but it is practical. You're a smart kid, Shadow, and there's no reason why you can't attend uni and pursue these other things at the same time. And it's better to take advantage of something many people don't have than to risk losing everything in a time like this. At a another time when things are more stable, sure, go for something crazy, but I'd caution against doing that now. Stability is much more important for you and everyone at this point...

[appleofmyeye]

Shaun really said it all. Eh, high school sucks. You just have to rough it, it's one of those things. Not that I'd really know. All I can really say is moving to the big city on your own is a romanticized idea, but I can guarantee you maybe 5% of the people who do stuff like that it works out for them. The rest, well, it's not pretty. And I don't mean they go through rough times and come through it, that is their life. So, it sounds like a dumb idea if you ask me. Sorry, but that's the truth. You'll just have to rough it out.

[Shaun]

I agree, but in all fairness, college is not the same as high school/primary. At least not here in the U.S. College is an entirely different beast primarily because you get a better choice in what you learn. In high school you have to take certain classes every single year, period. There isn't a lot of room to fill in fun classes, or classes on subjects you're more interested in. College is different. You still have required courses, but you have the option to pursue your personal interests academically there. If you like literature, you can be a lit major and take loads of lit courses. If you're a math person, you can take loads of math. Same with science or engineering or whatever. You still have to take those annoying required courses, but after a while you can drop those and start focusing entirely on your interests and fun stuff.

That's what I did, anyway. I take pretty much all lit courses now because I have no reason to take anything else...

[appleofmyeye]

Exactly. College is when you really start to have freedom over you life. And why give that up? College is really a transition to the real world. You still have some authority over you, but can have your own life. (Then again, what do I know. I'm 14 :P.)

[Shaun]

Again, that may be more true in the U.S. than in the U.K. I admittedly don't know nearly as much about the U.K. undergrad system as I do about the U.S. one (obviously because I'm in the U.S. one).

I'm just saying that it is valuable and with our current economic crisis, I think it would be foolish to waste that for something risky and likely not to provide you any more joy than you're already experiencing. If you can go to college and don't have a good alternative, then go. You don't have to stay in college forever. If you go for a few years and realize it is the worst thing ever, then plan to quit and find something else, just don't throw it away for something that doesn't currently make a lot of sense. You'll end up working at McDonald's (and I know you guys have those in the U.K. cause I've been to one) and then what? Right now is a really good time to think about the consequences of our actions.

[Simmi]

Don't you hate it when Shaun's right? But I agree with him. My motto, out of the many I have, is "Life isn't a game. You can't just restart". So just to reiterate with the whole economic crisis thing, I think it's the worst thing you could do at the moment. Just read the posts Shaun had. I just posted to state my opinion.

[Starry]

Well, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't college in Europe like, you pick the field you're going to study before you go in, and you're pretty much not allowed to study anything else? It's a completely different idea from US colleges, where the idea is more academic freedom. On the other hand, college is actually affordable there.

All I have to say on this subject is that the last time I heard someone complain about being a junior in high school and having to look for student loans in the crap economy, the response was, "At least you're not a junior in college looking for a job." Tough it out for a few years and then you'll come out a college grad in a market where there are actually jobs. A high school education doesn't mean nearly as much as it used to, and you're honestly not going to find any jobs out there when there are plenty of other qualified applicants who are older and better educated.

[Shaun]

Well, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't college in Europe like, you pick the field you're going to study before you go in, and you're pretty much not allowed to study anything else? It's a completely different idea from US colleges, where the idea is more academic freedom. On the other hand, college is actually affordable there.

All I have to say on this subject is that the last time I heard someone complain about being a junior in high school and having to look for student loans in the crap economy, the response was, "At least you're not a junior in college looking for a job." Tough it out for a few years and then you'll come out a college grad in a market where there are actually jobs. A high school education doesn't mean nearly as much as it used to, and you're honestly not going to find any jobs out there when there are plenty of other qualified applicants who are older and better educated.

College is not really all that more expensive than in the U.S. It just depends where you go, as it does here. I know, I researched because I wanted to study there and the differences in tuition costs aren't all that much for locals. They have financial aid and student loans just like us, but the U.S. system is somewhat more well funded than theirs (which is partly why we have the best university system in the world, or one of the best at least). So I don't know if cost is really an issue.

And to your second point: He'll likely find jobs, but they will be the kinds of jobs you don't admit doing unless it's as a joke. I have no doubt he'd be able to find work, but I doubt he could secure work that could keep him eating, or mentally sane in any capacity. That's the problem. If you want to work at a shitty job for the next few years, then go for it, and don't be surprised if you can't afford rent and you want to kill your neighbor with his cat...it's just a rough market right now, and it's not worth subjecting yourself to that when you can do something else that is a bit more stable.

[Crocolyle]

College is a lot more fun than high school (speaking from a U. S. perspective). While this probably doesn't apply to someone pursuing a degree in some sort of engineering or hard science, classes are much easier in college (I go to one of the top public universities in the country [it's considered "public ivy" according to Greene's Guide], so it isn't like just some easy school in the middle of nowhere. Go Terps!), provided that you do assignments and go to class. The only people I know who have any real problems don't go to class or do their homework. You also have much more free time and there are a lot of opportunities to go to parties and meet people and stuff like that. Make some friends, go to parties, play a little beer pong, and hopefully learn something and get trained in a practical skill in a field that you enjoy.

[jordanisonfire]

No, no, before you all jump to assumptions that I have the childish vision that "school sucks and is useless" like every other angsty teenager does, I haven't. It was merely because I'm bored... and also because I've been thinking about a lot of things lately and those reinforced my decision. However, I've realised that university will be fun, even sixth form will be. So, just one more term of high school, and that'll be it, my boredom will be over.

[Shaun]

I don't think any of us were assuming you were being childish in your dislike of school. We all have different reactions.

Glad you've decided to stick with school for now, though. You're a smart kid :P.

[jordanisonfire]

Thank you for the compliment, Shaun. -rolls eyes-

Sufficed to say, I wanted to quit school for philosophical reasons, not because I found it boring, in the sense that I thought flunking it would be funner.

[appleofmyeye]

Philosophy is not meant to be applied to real life, haha.

[Crocolyle]

Sufficed to say, I wanted to quit school for philosophical reasons, not because I found it boring, in the sense that I thought flunking it would be funner.

Holden Caulfield?

[jordanisonfire]

Sadly, I had to look that up. And I still don't understand it, really. -rolls eyes-

[Crocolyle]

Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of J. D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, willingly flunks out of private schools for absolutely no reason just because he can. He's a really interesting character full of contradictions, you might like him...

[jordanisonfire]

Sounds interesting, yes. I looked the name up when you said it, and it said that he got expelled from them, so I didn't get what you meant by it.

[Shaun]

Tis a classic book, that. If you haven't read it, I recommend you do. It has a history too, if you didn't know.

[jordanisonfire]

If you haven't red it, I recommend you do. .

-legasp-

But seriously, yeah, it sounds like a good read. It sounds psychological as well, and I like that genre. I'll be sure to look for it in Waterstones or on Amazon after I've read A Spot Of Bother and finished reading Necronomicon. (:

[Shaun]

Thanks for the correction. Let me know how Necronomicon is :P. Too bad you're not in the U.S. We have loads of used bookstores and that book is an easy one to find for dirt cheap...then again, I didn't pay for my copy. I got that from my grandma :).

[jordanisonfire]

Will do, Shaunwise. d:

We also have places we get used stuff, dirt cheap. We call 'em markets. (:

[Shaun]

Yeah, but we have markets (all kinds, from farmer's to flea), used book stores, garage sales, etc. So, I think we take the win for best way to get rid of stuff you don't want anymore :P.

[S. Peppercorns]

Oh, Shadow, why do you want to quit school? You are luckier than you know to go to school, and even if you do not enjoy it, it will be best in the long run. When you are older, trust me, you will be so regretful that you did not complete your education. Think how far you can go if you have a good degree! You can have almost any job you want and have lots of opportunities for a good salary. even if it is dull now, think, you will not feel good when you hang around with people who are more educated than you are. You should go so at least you can say you have experienced it. Say yes to all opportunities, if you say no you might be missing out, if you say yes you can at least see what it is like. Experience makes you wiser. You will be experienced and intelligent and more successful in life and happier. You will be infinitely glad you did once you are done. and you will have more opportunities to make the most of your life. But do whatever you want, you chose best for you. I pray you make the right decision.

[ScottyMcGee]

I would wait until after college. There's still a lot of things about the world you need to know regardless. And during college you can "train yourself" to be ready for the world, personally though. And also you can gather the needed supplies because you have so much freedom.

I'm going to run off after college and do my own thing. No masters or super-duper-degrees or any crap like that. Only a select few know. And even here I'm not going to explain it all for fear of it compromising me.

[jordanisonfire]

Same here, Scotsman. I'm just gonna buy myself a motorhome and travel the world after uni. Lotsa stuff out there to see. ^^

[jordanisonfire]

Same here, Scotsman. I'm just gonna buy myself a motorhome and travel the world after uni. Lotsa stuff out there to see. ^^

[ScottyMcGee]

I'm gonna do something like that too. Except much harder and I think a little dangerous. I'd want to live a nomadic life. No computer, no high-tech stuff (cept a cellphone) and living off as little and basic as possible, with only a motorcycle as transportation. It'd be cool if we randomly cross lives at some point. :D

[Crocolyle]

College=Parties. That's enough of a reason for most people. Embrace the collegiate lifestyle.

[jordanisonfire]

I'd considered leading the Jack Sparrow lifestyle, not being a pirate, but the whole wandering rogue thing, like you said, Scotty. However, I'm ashamed to say that I MUST have a computer. :P

And yup, can't wait for uni, just another two years to go. ^7

[jordanisonfire]

I'd considered leading the Jack Sparrow lifestyle, not being a pirate, but the whole wandering rogue thing, like you said, Scotty. However, I'm ashamed to say that I MUST have a computer. :P

And yup, can't wait for uni, just another two years to go. ^7