How can I help my academically failing brother before it's too late?
August 30, 2010 2:51 PM Subscribe
How can I offer options to a low-achieving California high school senior?
My brother just entered his senior year of high school. I'm a college student at a top school, and I've always done well in school, but he's always had trouble.
How much trouble my parents can only tell indirectly; he tends to be quite duplicitous about classes. Every year he reassures my parents that he's doing great, and every year the report card comes back with abysmal grades. He'll tell us the class is very easy for him and it takes him five minutes to do the homework--which, we find out, often means he doesn't pay attention in class and neglects to turn in homework (because he thinks it's "too easy.") While my parents often worried about a learning disability, he insists he's fine. He loves being the normal, social kid, and he'll do anything in his power to convince my parents he's fine. No teacher has ever given him much attention or extra help, and in the crowded classrooms of his high school, not many have even noticed him.
My mother supports the family with a demanding job that keeps her at the office until 10 PM or later every night; my father, from what I can tell, seems to be descending into the Alzheimer's common on that side of the family, and has been terrible at helping my brother with motivation and schoolwork.
My family doesn't have a lot of money, but my brother doesn't realize this. Our hometown high school has always been dominated by a group of white, middle-class AP types who rule the school. In the last few years, I've seen my brother cling to the pervasive attitude of that set: that college is taken for granted, it's just a matter of which one. This goal is now pretty much out of reach, but he still won't admit it.
In addition, he has gotten a DUI. He claims he "just had a sip," but in any case, he was drinking. Whatever happened, the DUI incident revealed his out-of-hand partying habits, about which he consistently and skillfully lies to my parents. I feel weighed-on since I know more about this than them, but I don't want want to betray his trust in me by telling my parents about the full extent of the problem. As a nerdy high schooler, I saw that my school was full of spoiled rich party kids, but thought they were idiots. Well, they're my brother's set now.
He's always assured us that he would get into a CSU, even if his grades couldn't get him in somewhere else, and that he was an independent kid who could handle the applications. It turns out that he doesn't have the grades to meet the minimum GPA requirement of the CSUs, which he's apparently hidden from my parents.
I don't live at home. I don't know how to help him. My mother works all night. My dad's not all there. I've seen a lot of people struggle with the abysmal community college in our hometown, and my brother refuses to go to a community college anyway.
tl;dr: Can you suggest any post-high-school, non-community-college options for a high schooler with a 1.8 GPA who insists on going to college at some point?
My brother just entered his senior year of high school. I'm a college student at a top school, and I've always done well in school, but he's always had trouble.
How much trouble my parents can only tell indirectly; he tends to be quite duplicitous about classes. Every year he reassures my parents that he's doing great, and every year the report card comes back with abysmal grades. He'll tell us the class is very easy for him and it takes him five minutes to do the homework--which, we find out, often means he doesn't pay attention in class and neglects to turn in homework (because he thinks it's "too easy.") While my parents often worried about a learning disability, he insists he's fine. He loves being the normal, social kid, and he'll do anything in his power to convince my parents he's fine. No teacher has ever given him much attention or extra help, and in the crowded classrooms of his high school, not many have even noticed him.
My mother supports the family with a demanding job that keeps her at the office until 10 PM or later every night; my father, from what I can tell, seems to be descending into the Alzheimer's common on that side of the family, and has been terrible at helping my brother with motivation and schoolwork.
My family doesn't have a lot of money, but my brother doesn't realize this. Our hometown high school has always been dominated by a group of white, middle-class AP types who rule the school. In the last few years, I've seen my brother cling to the pervasive attitude of that set: that college is taken for granted, it's just a matter of which one. This goal is now pretty much out of reach, but he still won't admit it.
In addition, he has gotten a DUI. He claims he "just had a sip," but in any case, he was drinking. Whatever happened, the DUI incident revealed his out-of-hand partying habits, about which he consistently and skillfully lies to my parents. I feel weighed-on since I know more about this than them, but I don't want want to betray his trust in me by telling my parents about the full extent of the problem. As a nerdy high schooler, I saw that my school was full of spoiled rich party kids, but thought they were idiots. Well, they're my brother's set now.
He's always assured us that he would get into a CSU, even if his grades couldn't get him in somewhere else, and that he was an independent kid who could handle the applications. It turns out that he doesn't have the grades to meet the minimum GPA requirement of the CSUs, which he's apparently hidden from my parents.
I don't live at home. I don't know how to help him. My mother works all night. My dad's not all there. I've seen a lot of people struggle with the abysmal community college in our hometown, and my brother refuses to go to a community college anyway.
tl;dr: Can you suggest any post-high-school, non-community-college options for a high schooler with a 1.8 GPA who insists on going to college at some point?
Military?
posted by desjardins at 2:57 PM on August 30, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by desjardins at 2:57 PM on August 30, 2010 [2 favorites]
It sounds like college is not a great idea for him at all right now, even if you find a way to get him into one that's not a community college. What will magically change about his studying and partying habits if he's in a college as opposed to a high school? I think the same thing will happen, only in a college it'll be a lot more expensive for your family when he flunks.
It will not be "too late" if he doesn't right his academic ship right now. Honestly I think the best thing for him will be to spend the next few years working a bunch of menial jobs and having to support himself on them. I think that will mature him, and then he will be ready to study seriously to get himself out of that hole.
posted by Ashley801 at 2:57 PM on August 30, 2010
It will not be "too late" if he doesn't right his academic ship right now. Honestly I think the best thing for him will be to spend the next few years working a bunch of menial jobs and having to support himself on them. I think that will mature him, and then he will be ready to study seriously to get himself out of that hole.
posted by Ashley801 at 2:57 PM on August 30, 2010
This is not what I bet you want to hear, but you can only do so much. If he "insists" on going to college he will have to "motivate" on mostly his own. Re: the DUI and school struggles, he may have chem dep/mental health/learning difficulties. I'm not saying he needs medication or rehab, just that he may benefit from some assessments. For example, if he's dyslexic but doesn't know it reading might be awful. Or if he's not being treated for depression things can be hellish.
OTOH, assuming he has no learning difficulties, etc, he just needs to walk the walk and get it together. It might be helpful for you to say "How about X school?" but he has to do the work. If he can't even apply without being dragged through the process, let it go. When he wants to he will. This can be awful to watch especially if you got into college, etc., and you care about him.
posted by ShadePlant at 2:58 PM on August 30, 2010
OTOH, assuming he has no learning difficulties, etc, he just needs to walk the walk and get it together. It might be helpful for you to say "How about X school?" but he has to do the work. If he can't even apply without being dragged through the process, let it go. When he wants to he will. This can be awful to watch especially if you got into college, etc., and you care about him.
posted by ShadePlant at 2:58 PM on August 30, 2010
Is it possible that your brother has some kind of learning disability? Has he ever been tested? Is it possible that he's an alcoholic?
He may need to grow up a bit before he starts college, get a job, be responsible. Not every 18 year old is ready for college.
Are there other relatives or mature family friends in the area who can help out?
posted by mareli at 3:00 PM on August 30, 2010
He may need to grow up a bit before he starts college, get a job, be responsible. Not every 18 year old is ready for college.
Are there other relatives or mature family friends in the area who can help out?
posted by mareli at 3:00 PM on August 30, 2010
It's too bad your brother doesn't want to go to community college because if he does well there he can transfer into a CSU or even UC school and his high school days won't matter. UC and CSU in my city offer a Transfer Admission Guarantee to local community college students.
When I his age I thought the stigma of going to CC was unsurmountable, but in reality it is a much cheaper option to show the university he's matured and to take care of lower division classes.
posted by birdherder at 3:02 PM on August 30, 2010 [3 favorites]
When I his age I thought the stigma of going to CC was unsurmountable, but in reality it is a much cheaper option to show the university he's matured and to take care of lower division classes.
posted by birdherder at 3:02 PM on August 30, 2010 [3 favorites]
You're a good sister for worrying about your brother this much!
The other commenter have given great advice.
Have a talk with him to make sure that there isn't something deeper that's bothering him. If that's the case, some time off after high school and maybe seeing a therapist might help.
I don't think there are many options other than community college. Community college (most of which are open enrollment) are a stepping stone, and at a CC your brother can start out with a clean slate. Are there any other CC's near him that he could commute to? Junior colleges are another option, but many are overpriced.
He could also start working for a year after college and then start community college when he feels more prepared. He may feel a yearning to back to school after being out of an academic environment for a while. Or he may not.
You can only do so much. Support him to the extent you can. Don't feel responsible for taking care of him, and don't put pressure on yourself to fix his mistakes.
Best of luck to you and your brother.
posted by camcol at 3:04 PM on August 30, 2010
The other commenter have given great advice.
Have a talk with him to make sure that there isn't something deeper that's bothering him. If that's the case, some time off after high school and maybe seeing a therapist might help.
I don't think there are many options other than community college. Community college (most of which are open enrollment) are a stepping stone, and at a CC your brother can start out with a clean slate. Are there any other CC's near him that he could commute to? Junior colleges are another option, but many are overpriced.
He could also start working for a year after college and then start community college when he feels more prepared. He may feel a yearning to back to school after being out of an academic environment for a while. Or he may not.
You can only do so much. Support him to the extent you can. Don't feel responsible for taking care of him, and don't put pressure on yourself to fix his mistakes.
Best of luck to you and your brother.
posted by camcol at 3:04 PM on August 30, 2010
Community colleges in CA promise that you can transfer to a UC, but it's nearly impossible to actually get the classes to get the credits, at least here in LA. Since so many of the CalStates are not really very good, why go to college now? If the parents are willing, can he work for a year or so, and then regroup?
My kid worked at a summer camp in Russia, and then with autistic kids for LA schools--if your brother has any summer camp experience and the inclination, he can probably get a similar job.
The brain doesn't mature until 25 or so, and frankly, he might as well do some growing up. There's no point in going to some not demanding college just to major in beer.
going to college right after high school isn't the end of the world--and since the economy sucks, why jump into student loan debt?
An able bodied young man, even in this lousy economy, can probably find some sort of job. Not a fun job, but that's a good motivator to do better.
If he's sick of HS, he can take the high school equivalency exam--it's harder than the GED and means more.
posted by Ideefixe at 3:08 PM on August 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
My kid worked at a summer camp in Russia, and then with autistic kids for LA schools--if your brother has any summer camp experience and the inclination, he can probably get a similar job.
The brain doesn't mature until 25 or so, and frankly, he might as well do some growing up. There's no point in going to some not demanding college just to major in beer.
going to college right after high school isn't the end of the world--and since the economy sucks, why jump into student loan debt?
An able bodied young man, even in this lousy economy, can probably find some sort of job. Not a fun job, but that's a good motivator to do better.
If he's sick of HS, he can take the high school equivalency exam--it's harder than the GED and means more.
posted by Ideefixe at 3:08 PM on August 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
If he is in denial, he will snap out of it around September of next year when his friends are in college and he is living at home working a menial job (or not working). This worked for me and I turned things around (from nearly failing out of high school to law school success). If he wants to go to college, he will be able to make that happen for himself even if it doesn't immediately follow high school.
posted by prefpara at 3:14 PM on August 30, 2010
posted by prefpara at 3:14 PM on August 30, 2010
one of my exes totally bombed out in hs & a few people thought he was feeble. he was/is anything but feeble. he was, however, bored. he graduated, did a stint in the military, and went on to college from there. not saying your bro needs to join the marines, but once he gets in the right environment, he might be completely different.
in the meantime, have him talk to the hs counselor, who might have better options than people from the internet. he's lucky to have a sibling who cares.
posted by msconduct at 3:46 PM on August 30, 2010
in the meantime, have him talk to the hs counselor, who might have better options than people from the internet. he's lucky to have a sibling who cares.
posted by msconduct at 3:46 PM on August 30, 2010
Around here (Santa Barbara), most kids go to the community college and then transfer. What's wrong with that?
posted by k8t at 3:47 PM on August 30, 2010
posted by k8t at 3:47 PM on August 30, 2010
Can you suggest any post-high-school, non-community-college options for a high schooler with a 1.8 GPA who insists on going to college at some point?
He can "insist" on going to college all he wants, but if none accept him, then that's on him, you know? Maybe reality has to hit him over the head with a 2x4 before he starts to get his shit together.
The obvious non-college track is trade school and/or apprenticeship in some kind of trade, but that will only work if he has any interest in attending. They're not going to pass him if he doesn't bother to show up or do the work.
posted by crankylex at 3:50 PM on August 30, 2010
He can "insist" on going to college all he wants, but if none accept him, then that's on him, you know? Maybe reality has to hit him over the head with a 2x4 before he starts to get his shit together.
The obvious non-college track is trade school and/or apprenticeship in some kind of trade, but that will only work if he has any interest in attending. They're not going to pass him if he doesn't bother to show up or do the work.
posted by crankylex at 3:50 PM on August 30, 2010
Your brother is going to have to face reality at some point. Even if he turns in a stellar senior year academically speaking, his HS GPA will not raise much past 3.0 in all likelihood, and the colleges are unlikely to see that in time since applications are due relatively early. If that was going to work at all, he'd have to take a gap year (maybe work?) and write some killer essays to explain how he turned himself around and matured. That might get him in somewhere. But he'd have to focus and start now on earning those 4.0s to raise the GPA.
Otherwise, he will honestly have to do the CC thing if he's insistent on college in the short term. Trouble is CA CCs are overflowing and if, as you say, the one in town isn't great then maybe he needs to consider other CC options. Is there a better one in a cheap town he can go to while living with roommates? It'll be a rough couple of years, but he'll get into a CSU or UC after that.
Another option is military of some flavor. After all, they'll pay for education and a good "army shaped me up" type story is good for the essays.
posted by asciident at 5:08 PM on August 30, 2010
Otherwise, he will honestly have to do the CC thing if he's insistent on college in the short term. Trouble is CA CCs are overflowing and if, as you say, the one in town isn't great then maybe he needs to consider other CC options. Is there a better one in a cheap town he can go to while living with roommates? It'll be a rough couple of years, but he'll get into a CSU or UC after that.
Another option is military of some flavor. After all, they'll pay for education and a good "army shaped me up" type story is good for the essays.
posted by asciident at 5:08 PM on August 30, 2010
Can you get your parents to write some kind of letter or file a form that allows the school and teachers to discuss your brother with you?
(Do as much of this yourself as possible-- call the school and figure out exactly what your parents would need to do, then write the letter or fill out the form yourself, and address and stamp the envelope, so that all your parents have to do is sign it and drop it in the mail.)
If you are able to communicate with the teachers by email, you can let them know that there is someone keeping track of him. If you explain to them why your parents haven't been able to keep up on his performance, you may find that a few of these teachers are willing to put some more pressure on your brother themselves. And if he knows that you and the teachers are in touch, then he'll know that he can't lie about stuff anymore.
Based on the info you get from the teachers, you'll be in a better position to decide if you should request that your brother be evaluated for learning disabilities.
You said your mom's job keeps her from knowing what is going on at school. If you are able to talk to the school/teachers and give your mom updates, can she enforce some kind of consequences for your brother at home? That would be even better.
posted by scarnato at 5:13 PM on August 30, 2010
(Do as much of this yourself as possible-- call the school and figure out exactly what your parents would need to do, then write the letter or fill out the form yourself, and address and stamp the envelope, so that all your parents have to do is sign it and drop it in the mail.)
If you are able to communicate with the teachers by email, you can let them know that there is someone keeping track of him. If you explain to them why your parents haven't been able to keep up on his performance, you may find that a few of these teachers are willing to put some more pressure on your brother themselves. And if he knows that you and the teachers are in touch, then he'll know that he can't lie about stuff anymore.
Based on the info you get from the teachers, you'll be in a better position to decide if you should request that your brother be evaluated for learning disabilities.
You said your mom's job keeps her from knowing what is going on at school. If you are able to talk to the school/teachers and give your mom updates, can she enforce some kind of consequences for your brother at home? That would be even better.
posted by scarnato at 5:13 PM on August 30, 2010
As his sibling, you don't have much actual power to "make" your brother do anything. You can offer advice and hope he takes it, but ultimately it's up to him. Many youngsters are not mature enough for college and benefit from working or the military or what have you. A lot of times what happens is they realize it's tough out there and a college degree is really what they need to get ahead.
And there is no disgrace in attending a community college or a low-ranking state university - again, he can transfer, or get a second degree, or some work experience, and build from there.
Frankly I'm more concerned about the DUI. Unlike not going to college, drinking and driving is serious business and has the potential to create a record that will follow him around - and if he does it again and kills or injures someone, a jail term, a lawsuit that will garnish his wages for years, and all the guilt of causing death or harm. If you want to help your brother, forget about the college and focus on THIS. Maybe have a professional, or someone who has drank and driven and lived the consequences, come and talk to him and let him know - college or not is YOUR choice, but for God's sake do NOT drink and drive or you could find yourself in the kind of trouble you can't easily extricate yourself from.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 5:17 PM on August 30, 2010
And there is no disgrace in attending a community college or a low-ranking state university - again, he can transfer, or get a second degree, or some work experience, and build from there.
Frankly I'm more concerned about the DUI. Unlike not going to college, drinking and driving is serious business and has the potential to create a record that will follow him around - and if he does it again and kills or injures someone, a jail term, a lawsuit that will garnish his wages for years, and all the guilt of causing death or harm. If you want to help your brother, forget about the college and focus on THIS. Maybe have a professional, or someone who has drank and driven and lived the consequences, come and talk to him and let him know - college or not is YOUR choice, but for God's sake do NOT drink and drive or you could find yourself in the kind of trouble you can't easily extricate yourself from.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 5:17 PM on August 30, 2010
My theory is that he needs to move somewhere else, if not right away, then particularly once he realizes he can't get into a CSU. He should move somewhere where he won't need a car, so he can't get more DUIs. The move should get him away from his partier friends and show him the world is much bigger and more exciting place than he thought. Trying to be an adult always changes your perspective. Just encourage him to move and once there, work at any job he can find until he gets his act together.
posted by salvia at 6:35 PM on August 30, 2010
posted by salvia at 6:35 PM on August 30, 2010
Yes, the military will give him a lot of opportunities. Opportunities to grow up, to learn how real adults behave, to learn that not being one of the privileged kids is actually pretty common, but also isn't really that terrible. Opportunities to take college courses and get himself back into school full time when he gets out.
Unfortunately, he'll still have the opportunity to be a screw-up, hang out with partiers, and get DUIs, if that's what he wants to do. They can make it painful, but can't totally stop a determined self-destructive type. Then he'll get kicked out of the military. But he might catch on before that, eh?
posted by ctmf at 6:56 PM on August 30, 2010
Unfortunately, he'll still have the opportunity to be a screw-up, hang out with partiers, and get DUIs, if that's what he wants to do. They can make it painful, but can't totally stop a determined self-destructive type. Then he'll get kicked out of the military. But he might catch on before that, eh?
posted by ctmf at 6:56 PM on August 30, 2010
Are you my sister, and have you been time-traveling recently? Because I sure as hell was your brother six years ago.
I had the same attitude about homework: I know the material, why am I being forced to prove it every single night? I had the same attitude about community college: It's for stupid people, and there's no way in hell I'm going there, because I am not a stupid person. I did not graduate high school. I have been in community college ever since.
I still haven't figured out the solution to my school problems, as evidenced by being in my sixth year at a two-year school. I don't know the solutions to your brother's problems, either. But I can give you some perspective of what he's in for if he does find himself at a CC (which he probably will if he wants to go to a "real" college):
It is different than high school. Your parents won't get a call if you skip class. You won't get a reprimand from the teacher if you don't turn in an assignment (and if you do, you're probably toast). You are in each class for a shorter amount of time per week, so you have to do more of the work on your own time. For the most part, there is less homework, more studying, and more lecturing. This was good for me: I do well on tests and I hardly do homework. But...
It is exactly like high school. Your grade still depends on the work that you do. You still get assigned tasks that are mind-numbingly boring. You still have to take classes that you absolutely hate. Some teachers run their classes like they do in high school: In-class work, small group discussions, presentations (understandable in some classes, unbearable in others), and so on. For me, the whole "collaborative learning environment" thing is a huge hindrance to getting a good grade. I want to be lectured at then go home. Fortunately...
You can take almost any class you like. This means you can usually avoid teachers that run their classes in a way that you don't like, or that you just don't like, period. And if you find a teacher that you do like, you can take all of their classes. It also means that you can be introduced to a wide variety of new things. When I was in high school, I wanted to go to college for engineering. I soon realized that I hated math classes (even though I like math). So I started taking things at random, and I ended up finding lots of things that I could rule out as possible majors, a couple things that I didn't know were interesting, and one that I really love. Since the cost of attending classes on a whim at CC is so low, you can expose yourself to so much more than you can in anything but a well-stocked library. But that could mean being in CC for a long time, and at CC...
You don't know anyone, and they don't know you. The social life at the schools that I've attended is essentially non-existent. There are no dorms. There are no fraternities. The schools don't have the resources or the need for student entertainment that bigger schools do. At most there may be a few clubs. The message is pretty clear: You are here to learn, not to have fun. Sure, some fun may be had, but it won't be given to you. Neither will you be given a social circle. If you don't make the effort to meet people, you won't. The same is true at any school, but at CC you really only have the chance to interact with people before and after class. (As I'm sure you can tell, the social aspect isn't very easy for me. It might be good for your brother, it might be very bad.) But the silver lining is...
Community college works. It may not work right away -- my GPA still hasn't recovered from my first couple years. It may not seem like it's working -- I still feel like I'm stuck in academic purgatory. But I've found out what I want to do and I know how I can get there. If I hadn't gone to CC right away, I know I would have signed up as soon as I could, because whatever boring bit of homework I'm assigned or annoying teaching style I encounter could never be as boring or annoying as the jobs I could have gotten at 18 with no high school diploma. And the opportunity for advancement is much better, too.
Like I said, I don't know what's best for your brother right now. But I do think I have a pretty good idea what he's going through. If he does end up at a community college, it'll probably be rough for him. But hopefully he'll be able to find something -- in school or not -- that will motivate him to take care of all the shit that not graduating high school will leave him with.
posted by clorox at 12:25 AM on August 31, 2010
I had the same attitude about homework: I know the material, why am I being forced to prove it every single night? I had the same attitude about community college: It's for stupid people, and there's no way in hell I'm going there, because I am not a stupid person. I did not graduate high school. I have been in community college ever since.
I still haven't figured out the solution to my school problems, as evidenced by being in my sixth year at a two-year school. I don't know the solutions to your brother's problems, either. But I can give you some perspective of what he's in for if he does find himself at a CC (which he probably will if he wants to go to a "real" college):
It is different than high school. Your parents won't get a call if you skip class. You won't get a reprimand from the teacher if you don't turn in an assignment (and if you do, you're probably toast). You are in each class for a shorter amount of time per week, so you have to do more of the work on your own time. For the most part, there is less homework, more studying, and more lecturing. This was good for me: I do well on tests and I hardly do homework. But...
It is exactly like high school. Your grade still depends on the work that you do. You still get assigned tasks that are mind-numbingly boring. You still have to take classes that you absolutely hate. Some teachers run their classes like they do in high school: In-class work, small group discussions, presentations (understandable in some classes, unbearable in others), and so on. For me, the whole "collaborative learning environment" thing is a huge hindrance to getting a good grade. I want to be lectured at then go home. Fortunately...
You can take almost any class you like. This means you can usually avoid teachers that run their classes in a way that you don't like, or that you just don't like, period. And if you find a teacher that you do like, you can take all of their classes. It also means that you can be introduced to a wide variety of new things. When I was in high school, I wanted to go to college for engineering. I soon realized that I hated math classes (even though I like math). So I started taking things at random, and I ended up finding lots of things that I could rule out as possible majors, a couple things that I didn't know were interesting, and one that I really love. Since the cost of attending classes on a whim at CC is so low, you can expose yourself to so much more than you can in anything but a well-stocked library. But that could mean being in CC for a long time, and at CC...
You don't know anyone, and they don't know you. The social life at the schools that I've attended is essentially non-existent. There are no dorms. There are no fraternities. The schools don't have the resources or the need for student entertainment that bigger schools do. At most there may be a few clubs. The message is pretty clear: You are here to learn, not to have fun. Sure, some fun may be had, but it won't be given to you. Neither will you be given a social circle. If you don't make the effort to meet people, you won't. The same is true at any school, but at CC you really only have the chance to interact with people before and after class. (As I'm sure you can tell, the social aspect isn't very easy for me. It might be good for your brother, it might be very bad.) But the silver lining is...
Community college works. It may not work right away -- my GPA still hasn't recovered from my first couple years. It may not seem like it's working -- I still feel like I'm stuck in academic purgatory. But I've found out what I want to do and I know how I can get there. If I hadn't gone to CC right away, I know I would have signed up as soon as I could, because whatever boring bit of homework I'm assigned or annoying teaching style I encounter could never be as boring or annoying as the jobs I could have gotten at 18 with no high school diploma. And the opportunity for advancement is much better, too.
Like I said, I don't know what's best for your brother right now. But I do think I have a pretty good idea what he's going through. If he does end up at a community college, it'll probably be rough for him. But hopefully he'll be able to find something -- in school or not -- that will motivate him to take care of all the shit that not graduating high school will leave him with.
posted by clorox at 12:25 AM on August 31, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:53 PM on August 30, 2010