My kid is considering dropping out of TJ and taking the GED

[Anonymous]

I am trying to wrap my head around how to respond to this. My kid is a sophomore at TJ. And she's not loved it this year. In fact, she's pretty much hates everything about school. She's keeping up with the work, but she is open that she's burned out, she's done trying to make school work, and she wants to take a break, focus on her mental health, and regroup before going to college.

She proposed leaving school at the end of this year. When I started talking about returning to the base school, she was like, uh, no. I want to get my GED and do a gap year and then apply to college.

She's serious about this. So much so she's taken the SAT in March and clocked a 1510. I am trying to figure out whether i should support this or whether this is a crazy idea that is going to prevent her from going to college.

[Anonymous]

Could you technically Homeschool her so she would finish High School on time but would have way more freedom to take classes at your local community college and not have to deal with all of the high school drama?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could you technically Homeschool her so she would finish High School on time but would have way more freedom to take classes at your local community college and not have to deal with all of the high school drama?

I mean technically she could go online, but I work full-time, so I don't know whether I can actually home school in a meaningful way.

[Anonymous]

Very strange! Your child had scored 1510 in SAT and you still think she not ready for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Very strange! Your child had scored 1510 in SAT and you still think she not ready for college.

She's 15. I think it's as much a maturity thing as anything. Academically, I am not worried. But I am trying to figure out whether this GED and chill for a year plan is crazy or something that actually makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like she needs a break. I would say enroll in reg hs next year. If she still wants out after a year look into a year abroad program. Cut a deal that involves school.

[Anonymous]

Tell her to finish this school year and you will discuss it over the summer. She is probably mentally and physically tired. Get her to the finish line and try to regroup over the summer. Maybe she will grow-up a bit over the summer.

[Anonymous]

At student exchange program? Would she want to go international?

[Anonymous]

It does not make sense. She's been under extreme pressure. She needs a change but not a full stop.

[Anonymous]

Oooof, no... not regular HS. She sounds brilliant. And unusual. But chilling for a year sounds like trouble for any teenager.
Is there some sort of interesting internship she could do?

[Anonymous]

I agree with a combo of 10:56 and 10:58.

[Anonymous]

It's not a crazy thing to do. She likely won't get admitted to the colleges she would have been otherwise and may lose out on scholarships. But she might be fine with that. However, it would be a shame if she missed out on the college she actually wants just because she's burned out by TJ as a sophomore. I would try to reach a compromise and transfer now to a lower-stress setting, and agree to consider it with the help of a family therapist. It's a big decision she would be making about her future.

I think I'd be less concerned if she was just skipping her senior year of HS. But quitting in her sophomore year seems different.

End of the day, what your daughter is indicating is that TJ is really stressing her out. I think you should encourage her to address that, rather than just throwing away all of highschool. That's a good life lesson, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It does not make sense. She's been under extreme pressure. She needs a change but not a full stop.

This is what I'm struggling with. I want to be supportive, but I am trying to think through how to respond to someone who has a clear plan in their head and has taken steps toward finishing it.

The year abroad idea is a good one. DD did mention that she wanted to work, save, and travel during the proposed "year off."

I reached out to guidance at school and they weren't terribly helpful. Hence the panicked posting here. I need ideas and space to think this through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oooof, no... not regular HS. She sounds brilliant. And unusual. But chilling for a year sounds like trouble for any teenager.
Is there some sort of interesting internship she could do?

Plenty of brilliant and unusual kids do just fine at regular high school. There's lots to do at regular high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It does not make sense. She's been under extreme pressure. She needs a change but not a full stop.

This is what I'm struggling with. I want to be supportive, but I am trying to think through how to respond to someone who has a clear plan in their head and has taken steps toward finishing it.

The year abroad idea is a good one. DD did mention that she wanted to work, save, and travel during the proposed "year off."

I reached out to guidance at school and they weren't terribly helpful. Hence the panicked posting here. I need ideas and space to think this through.

Being supportive here means facing the actual problem: your daughter is very stressed by TJ. You're the parent, so you need to take some leadership to address the actual problem, rather than letting your daughter make a decision that may negatively impact her future.