"Beauty School Dropout"

At some point teens must make their own decisions. If we parents have to duct tape our mouths and handcuff ourselves to the bedpost, we must allow our children to learn by experience. It's hard. It is really hard. This does not mean, however, tools aren't available to help our kids make positive decisions. If staying in high school is the issue at your house, maybe the following will help. If your kids are younger, start early. Educate them now about the importance of graduating from high school and planning for their future after that.

Sean Covey has written several excellent books for teens. One is Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens, another is titledThe Six Most Important Decisions You Will Ever Make. Both books are practical and easy to understand. Discussing the 6 decisions, Covey places school first on his list of important choices. If you are in high school and feeling frustrated and defeated, read on.

You are sitting in English class. Mrs. "English is Important" is rambling on and on "about the Elizabethan period and some old building called the Globe or World or something and.. geez, boys played the girls ..... this stupid play has too many thee's and thou's. Now she wants my stupid homework. Right. I had to work until 11:30 last night...made good tips...really good tips. Plus, that sweet thing at the bar gave me her cell number. ...need to call her..........ZZZZZZZZZZZZ Huh? Say what? What's iambic pentameter? I think it was a muscle car in the 60's. Haa Haa. A 0 for today? #^$*^&@ I hate this class. It's a waste of time sitting here."

I know many of you have been there. Remember, I was Mrs. "English is Important" Why should you stay in school? The money you are making now is good. It makes your car payment, pays for your cell phone and you have some left for a very satisfactory social life. If you quit school and could work more hours, you would make more money, maybe be able to move to your own place, sleep late, and best of all, school and grades would only be a bad memory.

Right. Nope. Wrong.
If you graduate from school you will have better skills, a better paying job and have a better chance of living successfully. Did you know that if you drop out of high school, statistics prove that you will have a low paying job for the rest of your life?

Here are some of Sean Covey's facts:
1. Dropouts have a harder time finding and keeping jobs. 50% of dropouts are unemployed
2. Dropouts are often labeled as people who don't complete things-and they usually don't
3. Dropouts often jump from job to job instead of steadily building a career
4. Dropouts aren't even considered for high paying jobs-even if they are qualified
5. And increasingly, here and in most countries, a high school degree is not enough

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics offers the following:
Education..........................................Weekly Salary
No H.S. Diploma....................................$409
H.S. Diploma.........................................$583
2 Year college Degree............................$699
4 Year College Degree...........................$937
Master's Degree.....................................$1129
Professional or Doctoral Degree..........$1421

Making $6.00 or $8.00 an hour may seem good now, but it won't be enough to live on for the rest of your life. If you drop out of school, you automatically limit your life choices. You limit your life experiences. You limit your life possibilities.

Covey offers a simple "Baby Step" for each of the six decisions.
The one for staying in school is http://www.6decisions.com/pdf/01_School.pdf. Look at it. Work through the lists. He begins, "if you are planning to drop out of school, repeat the following aloud, every day; "I am looking forward to low paying jobs for the rest of my life" Go on, keep saying it. "I am looking forward to low paying jobs for the rest of my life." How is that for a mantra to carry around in your head?

One other thing. Don't use the old GED as a cop out. It is not an easier way to get your diploma and you lose the socialization, the activities and the experience of high school. Take the baby step above and re-evaluate. Look ahead the next 50 years of your life, not just to the next weekend. Remember though, if school has not been working for you, you need to rethink and go in with a fresh new perspective. Take the summer and get your personal act together and then, figure out what being a team player means. Covey calls these public and private victories. Making school work, is a choice. Knock the chip off your shoulder and have a plan for success. You can do this today to insure yourself a better tomorrow. HAPPY FIRST WEEK OF SUMMER!!! CHRISSIE