Teen Drop Outs

1,000,000, this is the number of teenagers who drop out of high school each year. “In several of the largest school systems across the country -- from Baltimore to Cleveland to Atlanta and Oakland, Calif. -- half of the students are dropping out.” (ABCNews). Why are these students dropping out? The reasons are anonymous and exceedingly many. Students drop out for all the wrong reasons. And what he or she does not consider is the future that lies ahead of them. All those decisions he or she may think are acceptable for dropping out are actually very foolish and irresponsible. Staying in school is one of the most important things in a person’s life, and it is the best chose anyone can make. If a student drops out, what he or she can look forward to is having; low paying jobs, a hard life, poverty, and most definitely a criminal record.

“By far, though, the most common reason for teens leaving school is poor performance.”(Stewart). Some students do not like school in general, or the school he or she is attending. Many are failing, getting poor grades, or he or she just cannot keep up with all their school work. Some do not get along with teachers and/or other students. Also, he or she might get married or get pregnant. And, of course, drugs or alcohol are problems that play a major role in the dropout rates. Some factors that may lead to dropouts are: “External locus of control (i.e., being in agreement with others' perceptions -- believed or actual -- of their individual ability, worth, or value), low self-esteem, at least one disability (e.g., ADHD, learning disabilities), Poor peer support, depression or other emotional problems, early sexual activity or promiscuity, substance abuse.”(Focus Adolescent Services). Whether the issues are with the

schools or personal problems, students can obtain help. The question is, are he or she willing to except help?

When students drop out, at first he or she does not realize the horrible outcomes that will happen later on. With their lack of education and skills, dropouts are unable to find good, well-paying jobs. “Many of the drop outs who do become employed find themselves in dead-end jobs, working in fast food, janitorial, or data entry position.”(Stewart) He or she has to realize that without education, it is difficult to succeed, no matter how hard he or she tries. Today, society and the economy are based on education, the higher the education, the better life all together. Moreover, the other side of the economy does not need intelligent, well- educated people to work for low paying jobs; they just need amateurs to work as service. In other words, the fast food industry like McDonalds Restaurants does not need highly educated people to work for them. Unless people want to work at McDonalds all their lives, because that is all they can do, then dropping out is great. But who would really want that?

Dropouts do not want to go back and he or she will not want help or anyone to tell them reasons of why he or she should go back. Despite that, he or she needs someone to help them, no matter what it takes. “Teens will continue to drop out of school unless ways can be found to help them realize that education is the key to achieving a successful life.” (Teen Issues: Teen Dropouts) If no one helps them, he or she are more likely to go to jail, be in impoverished, do drugs if he or she already are not and their whole life will be hell. All of these horrible effects, just because he or she made a stupid mistake as teenagers and no one helped them to do the right thing. As adults he or she will be paying for it.

When students drop out, he or she is giving up too easily. This means that further in their life he or she will not be able to face the world around them. It will be too