Should I drop out and get my GED?

dropping out is always a terrible idea

Well, I recently wrote an Essay on this sort of similar subject matter. I dropped out and got my GED because of the focus on standardized testing, mainly, the FCAT in Florida.

Oh hell, I'll just post an excerpt from it.

"It became more and more of an obsession, going to school only to be in band. I was a failing student because I wouldn't do my classwork or my homework. I put all of my effort into band, leaving my academics lacking. That didn't stop me from doing well on standardized testing. I proved myself many times during those tests, so I felt I didn't need to prove myself in doing classwork or homework.


My last year of middle school was one of my worst years academically. F's in every class that wasn't band. I was on track to repeat the 8th grade, which would of meant no moving on to high school and it's more advanced band program. Luckily for me the opportunity to take summer school came around, and I took it to pass the 8th grade and move on to high school band.

Sadly this trend continued in high school, where I would do no class or home work. It got to the point where I would only show up for band and sleep through the rest of the day in what I thought to be boring classes. The only class I would ever receive an A in was band. As this trend continued, I dropped out of high school and got my GED a month later.

After high school, I tried going to tech school, but that didn't work out because I knew that it wasn't what I wanted to be doing for the rest of my life. I wanted to pursue my one and only true passion. I realized if that meant doing academic work, I would enroll in college to earn a degree. a
I dropped out of tech school and waited over the course of 1 year to decide which college I wanted to go to. I chose VCC because of it's close proximity to my house. I had no idea what to expect on my first day. I went in my first class thinking I was going to hate doing the academics. I was surprised to find out that it was a much different setting than what I recalled from high school. I don't know what was different, but maybe I finally have gotten it through my head that I needed to get through these classes in order to earn my degree. I actually want to go to class now, for reasons other than just band."



Oh, and to further reiterate my point, an expert from my other essay.



"The Fcat is a test that has been part of Florida's education system as long as I can remember. I've had to write short essays, answer easy math problems, and read short passages and answer a few questions. It's like this for just about every type of standardized test in this country, such as the GED and SAT. The Fcat is special though, as it decides how each individual school in the state is funded based on a letter grade the school gets based on the average score from each school's students. The kicker is that schools receive less funding the worse that they do and more funding the better they do. This is not the proper way to fund our schools.

I really shouldn't complain about this test, I passed the required 10th grade test quite easily. It was what happened after I took the test that I feel I should have a right to complain about. My first day as an 11th grader went along quite smoothly, until they started about talking about the Fcat to us. I thought we were all done with this test. It was maddening that they were still focusing on this test instead of actual coursework."

I shall also mention that I am doing much better in College than I ever did in High School. The focus there is on actual coursework instead of the stupid test that I've already passed. While I had a 1.67 GPA in High School, I have a 3.41 in College.

Also, you shouldn't be against big funding for the Physical Education programs. I only had to take one year of physical education courses in High School, and never again. You should be very happy that you're even able to take courses like that. It may prevent obesity at an older age.

I would only recommend dropping out if you are sure you will be able to handle college after you get your GED. If you can handle actually doing class work, and are great at doing it, go for it. I'm a special case, I've dropped out and have received my GED and enrolled in College, doing much better than before. If you think you can do better in College, you have to dedicate yourself to it. Don't do it and think you can coast by afterwards, you have to work for it.

you mean the easy way out?

dont do it.

that path is for people who cant get the job done.

Weirdestchild, your post was one of the few in a long time that was actually interesting and informative to read.

I don't think I've ever heard a rational person's analysis on why they got their GED besides the typical female "I dropped out 'cause I was pregnant with Billy-Bob's child and married 'im the month after, ahyuck."

I don't see how dropping out and getting your GED is a "one way ticket to a ****ty life"

considering my brother did so, and uh

he works in marketing now

and last I checked


marketing is a pretty ****ing successful job to have

Yeah, I guess, but I figured it was getting a GED and nothing more.

This post has been edited by Elly on Mar 6 2009, 11:07 AM

Yeah.

I'm a terrible person who edit my posts.

hurffff that's okay


I wasn't even really sure why you were asking so derp