The high school dropout rate seems to be climbing higher ever year. This is caused by numerous problems facing the students these days. They include family problems, payment problems, and of course the obvious academic problems. I have known some people who have been forced to drop out. I have also known many people who also dropped out on their own accord. Usually the situation is incredibly sticky, and becomes even more of a mess after they leave school. In today’s world, without a high school education (let alone a college one) it is nearly impossible to find a job that will be able to support themselves.

One of the main reasons for people dropping out of school is not what most people think. It is because of family problems. When people think of a young adult dropping out they automatically think of low grades and problems with wealth. In many cases this is not the reason. For many students dropping out is a family issue. There are many examples. One of the most common ones is a family problem taken out of control so that the student is forced to leave the house because of issues between the family members. I have known many people who were extremely happy where they were in school but because of something that happened in their family they were forced to leave the house and move in with another family member or friend. In many cases the student continued school in their new location, but in some cases the student quit all together. Another family issue that has faced students for decades is the wealth of the family. In some cases the family has asked the student to drop out of school in order to pursue a career and help out with the family. This, however, is more rare than the previous. Family problems affect more than most of the high school dropouts and they decisions to continue they education.

Another of the problems facing high school dropouts is the wealth of the family in question. Many students (especially in lower financial districts) have to support themselves or their family. This can cause a student to wish to drop out to create a better life for them and their families. This is a heartbreaking truth that many do not want to face. As stated in the previous paragraph, it is also somewhat common for the student to be pressured into quitting school from a family member in need. I have known some students who had to leave school because their families wanted to have them work for them or work more to help them. Wealth along with family problems cause many more students to leave high school than any other reasons.

The last reason a student might wish to drop out is their grades. Some students feel as if the school is too, or not enough challenging. Because of this they do not try as much as they could because they are either too challenged and discouraged, or not challenged enough and bored of school. Although many students throughout high school feel boredom, many pull it around (usually due to family pressure) and get out of their rut. However, many do not have the incentive to do this and, well pretty much give up. I have known several amazingly smart people who quit school because they weren’t challenged enough. It upsets me greatly to hear about some of my friends who leave (even if they are very close to graduating). However, for others, dropping out seems like a good thing. In my science class there is a student who is failing pretty much all of his classes. This is not uncommon and there are several programs to help students like this turn it around. However, this student feels as if it would be better if they were to just drop out and get their G.E.D instead of suffering through more years. For some this works out great. For others, not so much. One of my friends who is an incredibly smart person (besides the fact that they dropped out) is struggling to get his G.E.D. The reason for this is pure laziness, and although his girlfriend is pushing him, it just isn’t enough. However, one of my mom’s friends found school too oppressive, she hated her high school life and wanted it to be over as soon as possible. She was around the middle of her senior year at this time. One day she went to school and dropped out that very day. She went on to get her G.E.D which did not take long at all. By the end of the day everything was set up and she went home and explained to her parents what she had done. This person in question is now extremely successful. In this way grades can be a big, or a minor factor in dropouts.

Family problems, wealth issues, and problems at school are all extremely large factors in why a student would even dream of dropping out. For each student it is a different story, each with their own set of complicated issues. Until the student is talked to, the true school might never come out. School is a tough thing, and for some is not the answer in their life. As sad as it may be to me, it might be a joyous thing to them. The main issue to think about when discussing the high school dropout rate is the reasons for dropping out, because in most cases it is never what you would think.