18-year-old DS wants to drop out

[Anonymous]

A GED program may be may more work than just finishing out the school year. Find out how many more credits he needs to graduate. Maybe there is a half day option available or some way of giving him more flexibility.

[Anonymous]

Keep talking to him about how close he is, the options available for him if he changes course in a couple years, etc. If he does drop out, don't kick yourself over it. This doesn't mean he's destined for a life of poverty and struggle. Support him in getting a GED... He seems to enjoy his job and his employer, that's not insignificant. And if he does change course, let him know you'll be there for him to help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the rate?

$35. If he worked full-time there would be an increase based on projects and they would offer benefits. But his boss said he’d be willing to wait until May to hire him. I know the money is enticing now.

I think you may want to have a heart to heart with the boss and see if the three of you can team up together to incentivize him to finish out high school.
As an adult, the boss surely has the wisdom to see why this could be important for your DS to have his hs diploma (at a minimum) in case he ever needed to move on from working with his company. HS diploma is nearly always a bare minimum requirement for any job. And there’s no guarantee that this one will be a forever placement.

Also just want to say it’s fantastic that you are supporting this part for him bc it seems he’s very passionate about it and is on the road to making a success of it. I do think he needs to complete hs though.

[Anonymous]

Find an online program that gives high school diplomas. Many school districts have credit recovery easy online classes because they want kids to graduate. My nephew was in that position, he just needed a semester to graduate when he had a good opportunity. My sister had him enroll in the online classes and she did most of the work. He got the high school diploma and a few years later went to CC then a 4 year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the rate?

$35. If he worked full-time there would be an increase based on projects and they would offer benefits. But his boss said he’d be willing to wait until May to hire him. I know the money is enticing now.

I have no shame, I would call his boss and ask him nicely if he could make the job offer contingent on his getting a high school diploma by May. That’s not really a long time from now.

[Anonymous]

Set up a meeting with the school counselor and see the quickest and easiest way you can get him out of HS. If he ends up refusing, I agree with looking into online classes. He’s so close and there are so many options now. Convince him to at least stay through the second quarter. He’s almost there and then he would only need to make up half a year.

[Anonymous]

JUST SAY NO. As long as he lives in your house, eats your food, drives your car - he goes to high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:JUST SAY NO. As long as he lives in your house, eats your food, drives your car - he goes to high school.

But then this adult making $35 an hour will just move out. Working with him on ways to meet everyone's concerns is much more likely to have a better long term outcome than setting up a power struggle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, he will graduate high school this spring? I agree that the job will be there in six months, but also have you checked to see what alternative graduation options are available?

Ok this, but also have you talked to his boss? I'd tell him I believe he's got your son's best interests in mind, but he needs to also consider how damaging it may be to your son in the future if he doesn't just finish HS now. Let him know you support him working for the guy, but him graduating HS now and not having to figure it out later (which is always more effort, even for a GED) is not ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the rate?

$35. If he worked full-time there would be an increase based on projects and they would offer benefits. But his boss said he’d be willing to wait until May to hire him. I know the money is enticing now.

I think you may want to have a heart to heart with the boss and see if the three of you can team up together to incentivize him to finish out high school.
As an adult, the boss surely has the wisdom to see why this could be important for your DS to have his hs diploma (at a minimum) in case he ever needed to move on from working with his company. HS diploma is nearly always a bare minimum requirement for any job. And there’s no guarantee that this one will be a forever placement.

Also just want to say it’s fantastic that you are supporting this part for him bc it seems he’s very passionate about it and is on the road to making a success of it. I do think he needs to complete hs though.

Total yes to all of this. One more thing... make sure the boss's offer is in writing. Now is a really good time to teach your son that when he's making big decisions because something sounds like a great offer, it needs to be official. Hopefully his boss is a good guy, but promising triple salary and enticing him to leave HS before he finishes, he should combine making it contingent on finishing HS and the salary offer needs to be in writing. Would hate for your son to go through all that and then the guy is like "Well triple... but not right away" or "Triple but health insurance brings it down to almost what you were making before..."

[Anonymous]

He needs to finish.
He and his boss are not thinking long term if they say otherwise.

Even the jobs he wants to do in the future may have a check box asking for high school diploma. I mean that's easier than asking if the applicant can read at a basic adult level.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the others, he needs to finish HS. Be it the regular route, GED, whatever. Do what you can to convince him.

And I completely agree with PP -- some employers will promise you anything. My 20 yr old son this summer worked in sales and his employer really wanted him to stay and keep working instead of returning to his college. My son was making really good money and was very tempted, but I told him his boss could change his mind, fire him tomorrow, go out of business, you just never know. OP, for your son to have his HS diploma or equivalent will be so valuable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He needs to finish.
He and his boss are not thinking long term if they say otherwise.

Even the jobs he wants to do in the future may have a check box asking for high school diploma. I mean that's easier than asking if the applicant can read at a basic adult level.

Even the military requires a GED.

[Anonymous]

It’s so hard because at that age they just don’t have the perspective of long term implications. What if he wants to run his own business one day and wants to take some college business classes so he can do that? What if he wants to go back to school to become an engineer?

I dropped out of high school and went back after 6 months to finish my degree, but mainly because I didn’t like the job I had. Much later I ended up going to college.

[Anonymous]

check with his counselor and have him finish whatever is necessary to graduate, it's probably just 1 math class.

My brother was a carpenter and make a sh*t ton of money when he ran his own company and a few crews, more than my brothers who were lawyers but he did wish he went to college and took some business classes, not get a degree but just some basics.

Good luck, also there is a need right now and if he gets with a good company he has a great future.