If you’re thinking about dropping out of high school – hold that thought!
Dropping out of high school is a big decision that should be considered carefully and taken seriously.
It’s important to note that according to NESA “Since 2010, all NSW students must complete Year 10. After Year 10 and until the age of 17, students must be:
- In school, or registered for home schooling OR
- in approved education or training OR
- in full-time, paid employment (average 25 hours/week) OR
- in a combination of these three.”
If you are considering dropping out, or just want some motivation, we’ve rounded up the top 4 reasons why you shouldn’t drop of out school!
So before you make the decision, hear us out!
Reason #1: Real-World Skills
Reason #2: Higher Education
Reason #3: Job Opportunities
Reason #4: The School Experience
Reason #1: Real-World Skills
School might not be the ultimate reflection of what the ‘real-world’ looks like, but its a place that supports and encourages personal growth. How do they do this, I hear you ask?
Although you might not learn about taxes or how to change a car tyre, the school environment helps you learn:
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Social skills
- Organisation
- Time management
- To meet deadlines
- Coping with work
- Resilience
If one of the reasons behind wanting to drop out of high school is because of academic failure, keep in mind that school teaches you much more than what’s in your exam.
These valuable skills ensure that when make the leap from school to the adult world, you’re well-prepared to handle it.
Reason #2: Higher Education
If you’re thinking about dropping out of school, then it’s likely that you’ve decided not to pursue education beyond high school. However, don’t close those doors if you haven’t even looked through them!
Access to education is a privilege afforded to us in Australia, and there’s a wide range of tertiary education opportunities after completing high school.
Think about what interests you or what you’re passionate about. Is it animals? Landscaping? Childcare? Social justice?
There are hosts of diplomas, certificates and degrees available to help you pursue a sustainable lifestyle around your passions, and completing high school ensures that those doors aren’t locked shut.
Take a look at what your local TAFE or university offers, or have a chat with your school’s careers advisor – there could be something that interests you.
Higher education just not for you? That’s completely fine! Working straight after high school is an option, but completing school just means that you can pursue tertiary education if you ever change your mind.
Reason #3: Job Opportunities
It’s no myth that dropping out of school limits the jobs that you’re qualified for.
Most of the jobs that you’re able to get without a high school qualification are limited to jobs offered to high school students, and often do not pay well.
The consequences of dropping out of school can often be continued unemployment or disrupted employment, a greater reliance on welfare and feeding a cycle of financial strain on society.
Even if you are aiming for a job that doesn’t require a high school qualification, completing high school means that you have the opportunity to further your education and open up a path for more stable, higher-paying jobs.
Poverty is a reality for over a million children and young people in Australia and can prevent them from completing high school. Make use of the educational opportunities given to you to support yourself and perhaps give to those in need in the future.
Reason #4: The School Experience
If you do the maths, 13 years of schooling isn’t much when compared to the rest of your life.
High school, and the unique experience it provides, is something that only comes around once. The ability to be able to study a wide range of areas helps you work out your likes, dislikes and the way you work.
In school, you’re afforded an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and failures and bounce back from them without long term consequence.
These are key aspects of schooling that lets you figure out who you are and what you want to do post-high school.
Think about the extra-curricular events your school might offer or ones that you’re already a part of. This could be sport or music programs, or different clubs the school runs.
Think outside the box and make an effort to enjoy what school has to offer; you might just miss it when it’s gone!
You might consider dropping a subject instead of dropping out of school altogether. Check out our helpful guide here!
Keep things in perspective
Don’t forget that school is much more than completing a bunch of exams, as cheesy as it sounds, it’s the friends you make and the people you spend it with that makes it all worthwhile.
Give yourself space to breathe and permission to do the things you love to do; it could be the difference between dropping out and graduating high school.
If you feel that school ‘may not be for you’, seek support from your teachers, family or friends to help figure out what to do or where to go. If it’s the amount of work or effort that’s putting you off from finishing school, cut yourself some slack and find what motivates you!
While completing high school does afford you many benefits, sometimes there are factors out of your control that can prevent you from doing that. Just be sure to have a plan to do something if you drop out, like working or doing an apprenticeship.
High school and the HSC can be difficult, but persevere and keep at it. There’s plenty to look forward to when you graduate!
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Millicent Tai hopes to one day become a full-time teacher and is currently studying a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science at UNSW. She enjoys tutoring students at Art of Smart in English and Maths and has loved reading and writing for as long as she can remember. In her spare time, you can find her avidly reading Christian biographies or fishing in Animal Crossing.
