Why Do You Feel Like You Want to Drop Out of School?

I met a 17 year-old boy one day at the laundromat, and while we were small talking he told me that he dropped out of high school a few weeks ago. This news shocked me at first, even though I didn’t know him, because I value education, I think that it is important to at least finish high school, but I didn’t say anything to him. I thought that if he came to that radical decision he was already in a negative state so I didn’t want to add to that and make him feel worthless. Instead, I focused on the way to turn this bad thing to something positive. I told him that all he needs now is a new plan, since the last one failed.

But, I want to focus on what would make someone think about quitting school. What can possibly motivate that decision?

1. The last few report cards

Bad grades after bad grades after bad grades. They just add up to an already delicate mindset. You just feel like a failure and your future gets blurry.

2. The environment you grow up in

Hearing teachers, counselors and family tell you that you’re not good enough, you start believing it. You adopt those comments and make them your new identity.
Maybe your parents didn’t finish school either and then told you that they are doing fine without a degree, so it’s okay.

3. Feeling like you’re stuck

You’ve already established that you are not good enough for school, and you don’t know how you’re going to succeed so giving up seems to be the only option left to stop this humiliation.

People say your thoughts create your life. Once you’ve allowed your negative thoughts to dictate who you are then it all become your reality.

To avoid this is to rewire your brain to focus on the positive, on what you can do well.

Are you the type of person who says “School is not for me”? Shift that sentence to “School is challenging, but I’m persistent” and see what happens.

”You become what you believe” - Unknown