Should I drop out of school?

Question

I'm 17 years old an in 11th grade. I really want to be a fisherman in Alaska, so should I just drop out so I can start my career earlier?

Answer 1

If you drop out, you may lose about a quarter million dollars in earnings over your lifetime.

What are the consequences of not finishing high school?
After dropping out, youth face fewer job opportunities, lower salaries, and higher probability of being in prison. The state and national governments loose billions of dollars in taxes and spend billions more in public assistance programs and prisons.
In addition:

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A person who does not finish high school will earn $260,000 less in his/her lifetime than someone who has a diploma. (Cecilia Elena Rouse, economist, Princeton University)
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Individuals with a diploma live longer, are healthier, and are less likely to use public health and insurance programs. (Peter Muenning, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University)
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High school graduates live over 9 years longer than high school dropouts because of improvements in cognitive ability and decision-making, income, occupational safety, and access to health insurance.
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In the 2004 elections, college graduates were 3 times more likely to vote. (Enrico Moretti, economist, University of California Berkeley)
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68% of whites voted in 2004 versus 65% of blacks and 51% of Latinos.
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Nationall, 14% of blacks and 16% of Latinos have less than a high school education versus 7% of whites.
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Had high school graduation rates in 1990 been 1% higher, an estimated 400 fewer murders and 8,000 fewer assaults would have taken place. Nearly 100,000 fewer crimes would have taken place overall. (Enrico Moretti, economist, University of California, Berkeley)

http://www.edvoice.org/Issues/CaliforniasDropoutCrisis/TheConsequencesofDroppingOut/tabid/67/Default.aspx

If this or any other answer to your question helps you resolve this issue, please select a "best answer." This motivates people to help you and rewards their research in your behalf.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 2

I live in an area of Alaska which depends on fishing....so my answer comes from experience.

Fishing is not always so good in Alaska -some years are better than others. Most good fishermen have established crews that go out year after year. If you don't have a secure job offer, don't expect to find one by walking down a dock. And living in Alaska is indeed very expensive. $5 for a gallon of milk....buying a plane ticket is the only way into most fishing communities here.

If you've been watching that show on the Discovery Channel about Alaska fishermen - you'll have a good idea that it is not an easy profession. It is very dangerous. Every year we add new names to the fishermen's memorial in our town. And every town has one..... the names do not belong to just inexperienced fishermen. There are many fishermen with a lot of experience who made one little mistake... I served on a coroner's inquest to declare a couple of fishermen as dead. they tried to run to another port with a full load of fish - only a life ring was left. no boat, no bodies were ever found.

IF you want to buy a permit to fish, they are expensive - you pay them off over a long period of time - and the bank doesn't care if you had a bad season.

I don't mean to sound down on fishing. but if you have the ability to finish high school - do it. finish it early if you want - take GED tests, or correspondence courses to finish early. Being a fisherman is an honorable profession - but even a smart fisherman knows it doesn't last forever. HAving a high school diploma is a mark of your commitment to something - and it may help you get another job while you wait to figure out what you want to do.

Answer 3

My answer would be NO!! Accidents can happen in any career but from what I've seen on T.V. accidents are more frequent with the Alaskan fishermen. It is also very hard work. With your high school degree you would have a better chance of getting a job somewhere else if being a fisherman in Alaska did not work out.

Answer 4

No. what happens if you become a fisherman and then decide its not for you. Then what? You will be an 11th grade dropout with only "fisherman" on your resume. That is a recipe for a lifetime of job rejections right there.

Answer 5

It would be beneficial if more information was given. For example, if you stayed in school - Are you passing your classes? Would you have enough credits to graduate next year? Will you receive a regular diploma at graduation? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you should remain in school. You can fish later! This way you will have a backup plan if you HATE fishing in Alaska. I have a friend who went to Alaska to fish and lasted one month. He made $10,000! It was not even worth that to HIM. It may or may not be worth that to you. Keep your options open! Goodluck on whatever you decide.

Answer 6

It is only 1 more year, finish school then head out to be a fisherman, just finish so you will have an education as a back up

Answer 7

Naw man cuz what if sooner or later u decide you dont want to do that anymore and then want another job but you cant get it cause you dont have a dimploma. Get it. You only have one more year left. If u didnt like school you shouldve dropped out in 1st grade or at least till you learned how to read. Dont stop now that you've gotten so far.

Answer 8

Have you ever fished in Alaska?

For your first few years you're not making much. And you still need money to fly up there and spend. And there's the occasional "we had an empty pull so there is no money".

Please don't think every fishing season is like an episode of "Deadliest Catch."

Answer 9

nope..just wait the two years

B/C if you ever want to stop being a fisherman you'll atleast have a HS education and degree to fall back on. That will make it much easier to get a job or go back to school.

Answer 10

Finish school. Like others said you screw yourself if you don't finish high school. Most jobs won't hire people if they don't have a high school diploma, no matter how unnecessary you think it is to the job. Most companies require if because no matter how mindless the job is, if nothing else having a diploma shows that you can complete something from beginning to end. Stay in school.