Highschool Graduation

[stephofthenight]

wow... it's almost here. so i'm supose to graduate in 2010. but well im graduation next year. and im nervous. all the seniors now are about to walk down the aisle, and you can just watch and know there nervous. its a big turning point in everyones life, the last chance to be a kid. so what im looking at is pros and cons of graduating a year early...

pro's... go to college early, move out, parents cant controll me, FRREEEEEEEEDOM!, the chance to have a life, and an early start on my career.need 28 credits insted of 30. less math credits required. higher class ranking. more scholership opertunitys.graduate with my boyfriend.

con's...losing a year of memories. one prom. 2010 is a cooler year than 2009. one year left to get all of my credits. ill be 16 when i graduate...if i wait another year someone will be out of there mission and can come...cant go to boyfriends graduation its on same day/diffrent schools.

can you help give me some more pros and cons and well, idk im nervous and im scared.

[mtpspur]

Well at least you have two things easy for you. The military draft is abolished and hopefully you can get into a college. Freedom isn't as exciting as you think. Way too much responsibility somethimes. But you have to live it to understand it. This is me gently smiling at you. I really do hope things get better for you.

[motherhubbard]

Stef- I graduated a year early, I was 16 years old. Everyone said that I would regret it and that I was giving up the best times of my life. It’s been 19 years and I still don’t regret it and I think that one’s best years come after you’re 30. I really hated high school. I hated the way I felt about myself and the pressure that comes along with trying to be some kind of a stereotype. Really I hated everything about my high school experience. I remember thinking there was no way that was the best time of my life. I knew I could do better than that. I also remember looking at all of the adults who were telling me that and wondering why they had allowed the past 10-20-30+ years to not be the best time.

The problem I had with graduating early was that I kind of got things into a mess for me. I think that teens are often in situations that are hard for young adults to deal with and that are even harder for the teens. That is not a situation that improves for a 16 year old in college. High school was no work for me but you can’t get by without working in college. I ended up dropping out of college during my first semester. I just wasn’t mature enough.

But that’s just how it was for me. I don’t know what it will be like for you. I really have come to believe that going to college in imperative. I think that if you are going to do this you should find a mentor. This would need to be someone who is not a partier, who does well managing their own life, is someone you feel comfortable with, and someone who is more experienced. And then you need to listen to them. I know you’ve had some hardships recently and you could be going from the frying pan into the fire. What ever you do just try to take care of yourself.

[ben.!]

I'm looking forward to graduating school at the end of this year...I guess I'm looking forward to not being ordered around by teachers, and living up to those fake stereotypes that your peers put out for you.

School really is peer pressure at its core, and teachers treating you like a 'kid' and not your age. That's two things I can get used to not having next year!

I will miss friends though...

[dramasnot6]

Hi Steph,
Perfectly normal you would be nervous. I graduated high school a few months after I turned 15, and it really isn't so bad. I find being young at university sometimes frustrating, but it's also empowering- you have more time to figure out what you want to do. And if you do find it overwhelming, you can afford to take a break and figure things out.
Do what you feel most comfortable with, I'm sure you will be successful in any path you choose.

[stephofthenight]

haha i see all of your points. but im still not sure on what i want to do? i mean im scared ****less to be honest. what if i dont make it and i live up to my fathers expectaions of being nothing and never making it?

[Bakiryu]

i'm graduation in 2010 too. But i can't leave my house 'til i'm 22 of course. I'd be so cool to graduate a year early tho. But are you sure you want your freedom so badly? what about the free rent and no need to work?

[TexJR]

In my opinion. Don't graduate early. I mean, this is coming from me. I graduate the same year you're supposed too, but I don't want to leave my place in Alaska that badly. The time to graduate will come quick and swift.

[papayahed]

I'm slightly confused, the 26 year old body builder boyfriend is still in high school?

[Pensive]

I'm slightly confused, the 26 year old body builder boyfriend is still in high school?

Yeah, I second this question. Was wondering the same thing.

As for the highschool graduation, I don't think you need to hurry it up if you think it would affect your grades (negatively) but if you feel you can live with it quite well, that's another thing. BTW, do you mean 12th year by highschool here?

[stephofthenight]

baki-no free rent...2 jobs....and we are on a new bf...i decided since i cant make him happy that he was right he deserved better. but good effin luck finding better. but anyway lol, this guy worships me :D its a nice change...

[mtpspur]

Steph, I've have always been of the opinion that everyone is of value. You are unique and special. As a man thinketh in his heart so is he. What I am trying to say that as yoiu live the life you have been given there will be successes and failures. I am very sorry your father is not more encouraging. I have my own issues with my three guttersnipes BUT I know who and what they are and what they can and can't fo and yet they still amaze and delight me. Of ciurse you're scared of the future--who wouldn't be? But the future is your next breath --then the next and the next after that. Be what you can be now and don't define yourself EVER by what me, your father, your past-current- and I suspect future BFs might think. You are who your are and change and growth is natural and to be embrtaced. Live in hope of better times and trials and tribulations can made you stronger(in the Lord at least I claim to believe in an interested God). Live well and at peace. With respect Rich

[drakemortuare13]

I almost did graduate a year early with a Certificate of Proficiency and 15 College Credits. But, my recruiter told me that a Diploma is the best thing for enlistment. So, I'm still here.

[Hurricane]

If your biggest cons really are "missing a year of memories" and missing prom, go for it. High school is not the high point of your life, or at least shouldn't be. College is way more fun, more work, and an awesome experience, but it's up to you to decide if you're ready and mature enough at 16. A year of college memories will definitely make up for a year of potential high school memories, but not everybody can handle it right out of the gate.
The work is a lot harder, and part of the deal with being treated at least slightly more like an adult is that the expectations are higher. You can't just squeak by without doing work and get straight As anymore. I went from a ~3.5 GPA in high school to a 2.7 freshman year of college, and am slowly crawling my way back up thanks to that bad year. At college, you're relatively responsibility free compared to the real world, but you still have to be accountable for yourself more than in high school.
I didn't get the chance to graduate from high school early and won't graduate early from college, so take my words with a grain of salt. I had fun in high school, but I was ready to move on. If I could have graduated HS early, I would've done it in a heartbeat.