A Message to the
Dropout Class of 2014
1.
“I’m
dropping out of school!” These are the
words a parent wants to least hear from their child. It is a heart-break of a thousand kinds when
a child hears these words. So many
thoughts go through their minds, and yet, what can a parent do?
2.
One of the things that many parents feel is
responsible. They wonder if they did not
push their children enough. They wonder
if it’s drugs, or pregnancy. Parents
wonder if it was the school, or the environment. There have to be so many things that parents
have to wonder when their child presents them with what is initially perceived
as a tragic set of news: dropping out of
school.
3. When I Dropped Out of School
4.
When I dropped out of school (1975), I knew that
it was going to be one of the most difficult decisions I would ever make. Even though it was college, it was something
that I believe was inevitable. I started
school at 6 years old, got kept back in 8th grade, and by the time I
actually got to college, I was following an agenda that had been laid for me, without
my input. So when I dropped out of
college, it was one of the most liberating decisions that I had made. If you want to know how I dealt with it,
please read my blog entitled, “You’ll Never Amount to Anything” © 2013, my
message to the Drop Out Class of 2013. [1] But, if I knew then what I know now, I would
perhaps have achieved so much more. Here
is what I believe those who drop out of school need to know as so many face the
considerations going forward:
5.
Write down the reasons why you believe you want
to drop out;
6.
Evaluate what dropping out of school will mean
for you as well as your family;
a.
Where will you live (Parents/move out on your
own);
b.
How will you support yourself? (Work, handouts,
military);
c.
Will you register for the draft?
d.
Will you register to vote?
e.
Will you prepare for your GED?
7.
Who to let know of your decision;
a.
Parents/Spouse;
b.
Counselor;
c.
Treasured Teacher(s);
d.
Best friend(s);
8.
The above are just a few things that I would
have loved to have used to help me to decide either to or not to drop out of school. But to be honest, at that time in my life, I
was perhaps like some of you who dropped out of school, no one could tell me
anything. Nevertheless, the decision was
made, without a plan of action, other than to get out of school and go to work.
9. Now What?
10.
Statistically, thousands of kids drop out of
school every year. But for every parent,
“not my child!” While that is no comfort
to any parent, there still needs to be a method of recovery that allows parents
and students (even if they have dropped out of school, they are still
students), to focus on the next critical move in their young lives. Aside from any anger or frustration that both
parents and student maybe going through, it maybe important to understand why
the student dropped out, and what his or her plans are next in their lives.
11.
Statistics can show any number of directions
that school dropouts have taken. Those
statistics may have indicated that dropouts went into the job market, or went
into the criminal justice system as criminals.
But statistics can also show that those who dropped out of school had a
plan, a plan that would lead them to greatness. And to that end should be every
parent’s greatest desire.
12.
Unfortunately, many of us focus on what the
worst-case scenario is for us as dropouts. But there are many students who actually
aspire to do great things in their lives, as many of you will soon find out. There
are still some things that we need to be careful off that could affect us as we
pursue greatness in our lives.
13. SYSTEM DESIGN/SYSTEM FLAW
14.
I would be remised if I didn’t also suggest that
the need to drop out of school is often overlooked as necessity. By that I mean that from a historical
perspective, thousands and thousands of young people drop out of school
beginning anywhere from 7th thru 10th grades.[2] Many of those students are from poor families
who for whatever reason, are not able to keep up with the curriculums of the
school systems. And to that end, the
school systems do not necessarily design their system for those who can’t keep
up. As often as many students drop out,
it appears that schools are improving the flaw of their systems to ensure that
more students drop out. Why?
15.
Many school systems may deny it, but school
systems cannot fulfill a promise of a job for everyone who graduates. Correction:
they can, but they apparently choose not to. There appears to be more to gain if a few
thousand students drop out of the system and eventually find themselves in
jails, prisons, or on the streets, the direction that most of us would believe
would be the inevitable one for those who drop out of school. I don’t believe that has to happen. And by evidence of the many who prove that
dropping out of school does not mean a loss life, an opportunity exists for our
societies to begin exploring fantastic new ways of improving the quality of life
for all of our students, regardless of their way of achieving great things in
their lives.
16.
An opportunity exists for school boards, school
systems, educators, administrators and parents to look at the greater good that
is highly probable for our young people who may not be able to wither the route
of traditional education. A new
tradition exists to be explored for those schools and communities who are
sincerely interested in turning out great achievers who all don’t have to walk
down the aisle, or across the stage a point society says, but when that person
is ready.
High
School Dropout Facts
17. Will You Return to School?
18.
After being labeled a dropout, is it likely that
you will return to school? I did. But my reason(s) compared to others’
reason(s) will vary. But here is are two
reasons to consider why and/or why not:
a)
Yes: because it’s very possible that several
life lessons and experiences can be brought to the forefront that can be shared
with others who are also returning to school;
b)
No:
because schools don’t take credit for their role in failing to meet the
expectations of a lot of students who eventually drop out. It would appear that by returning to school,
it would vindicate not only the school from which you dropped out of , but also
the school system. School systems do not
deserve a past for failing to help so many of those kids who drop out of
school.
c)
Yes:
because you want to send a positive message to others considering
dropping out that school is essential to one’s overall development, or
d)
No:
because it would appear disingenuous that say that dropping out of
school was the wrong thing to do if that is what you feel you need to do.
19.
Obviously, it all comes down to a personal
choice for anyone who is considering whether to drop out of school. But in the end, they (he/she) will have
accomplished their greatest achievement regardless of the role school played in
their lives.
20.
Successful
Millionaires who Dropped Out of School
g.
Walt Disney- founder of Disney World and Disney
Land, received an honorary high school diploma at 58;[9]
21. Dropouts or Pioneers? Dropouts or Visionaries?
22.
My own mother told me when I dropped out of
college after a year and a half, that I would be a “no-body”. Those words have never left me, even though my
adopted parents had done a lot for me, those words had a very long-lasting
effect. For each time that I returned to
school, I was trying to get past the perception that I was a “no-body”.
23.
Today, I want to make sure that no one who drops
out of school is perceived as a “no-body”.
Until you are in a position that forces you to look at what school
offers and what your visions are for a successful life, and realizing that
school may actually fall short of what is necessary to help you achieve that
level of success, then the label of being a drop out is no more than just that:
a label. Obviously, many people drop out
of school for many a reasons, but a lot has to be said for those who drop out
and have a grander vision of what they want out of life. And yes, they are
willing to drop out of school to achieve it.
It sounds like to me, they are breaking out, to achieve something that
if they don’t go out and tackle it right at a given moment, they will never be
whom they know they are destined to be.
24.
Perhaps, those who decided to drop out of school
were pioneers. We know that pioneers,
historically, were men and women who packed everything that they owned in a
wagon, and headed out over the nearest horizon. Or, maybe pioneers were those
who filled ships with all that they had to travel across uncharted waters to a
land they had only dreamed of. Those
pioneers struck out regardless of what others thought, or whatever dangers that
may have belied their path. They held
their heads high, showed no fear, and took on the challenges that others dared
not take on. And in their best hour,
showed what true greatness was.
25.
Perhaps, those who dropped out of school were
visionaries. For them, they had gotten
enough education to square them, and then, they moved on. Soon, we would hear back from them. They have settled down in a new area, gotten
a new job, and are achieving some great things.
Why can’t that be today? Why
can’t someone who drops out of school, be allowed to work for a few years, in
any area of the country or the world for that matter and, when they are “settled
in”, either return to school, or start their own business? Or grow one hell of a family? Is it possible
that those who drop out of school are visionaries?
26. Dropping Out of School-Wearing It As a Badge
of Honor
27.
Truth be told, we all drop out of
something. Many of us, even as we may
have completed school, may have cut a class, dropped out of class, dropped out
of sports, or music. Some of us may have dropped out of relationships, quit
jobs, quit smoking, or quit losing weight.
If dropping out of something makes us losers, then many of us can wear
that label. But, how we wear that label
is important. For those who dropped out
of school and have gone on to achieve greatness, it is a label that can be worn
as a badge of honor.
28.
For those us who have never dropped out of
school, who have always held strong to our various goals, beliefs, or threats
from parents, should not be so quick to judge those who quit school without
knowing what their decisions involved.
Sometimes, people dropout to help family members who are sick, or to
help because money is needed to make it.
Others may drop out of school because they too are overwhelmed by the
pressure of the curriculum, or the failure of the curriculum to help them
realize their truest potential in life.
29.
Whatever the reason for dropping, many of us can
only wish the best for someone who drops out of school, only to discover in
just a short period of time, that that person has not only excelled in their
personal lives, but, are perhaps in a position to offer to those of us who
stayed the course, a job, or advice on how to live our lives to the fullest.
30. Preparing for Greatness
31.
Once we have gotten over the perceived tragedy
of dropping out of school, we have to resist the temptation of allowing others
to dictate our next move. Recent history
has shown to us that dropping out of school has nothing to do with being a
looser, a no-body, or a quitter. While
these terms may apply to those of who allow them to, there are those of among
us, whose quest for greatness will not be determined by such playground
antics. We are preparing to achieve
great things, and the fact that we dropped out of school is no less a measure
of our quest to achieve something spectacular.
We have proof, even evidence, that dropping out of school does not
signal that we are shutting down our lives, or rolling over and playing dead.
32.
What history will not reveal about us who drop
out of school is that we are recalibrating, like the GPS on our Smart Phones.[11] History will only reflect on us negatively
until we achieve greatness. Otherwise,
the labels that are the equivalent of bullying and teasing, will be applied. But that will not matter to those of us who
are charting a course for our own greatness.
We know that we can succeed because history can be easily accessed to
show us that we have predecessors. But,
history can only show so much. For those
of us who drop out of school, the rest remains up to us. We each have our own obligations and
responsibilities to put in place so that our missions, however difficult,
however unclear to others, are all be assured as we move to make our goals a
reality.
33. Going Forward
34.
Dropping out of school is considered illegal in
many communities. If not careful, many
students could find themselves behind bars, or at the beginning of a career
behind bars. Please be careful and know
the importance of the laws of your area.
This should not be considered as an endorsement for anyone to quit
school. But at the very least, if it is
a consideration, please refer to the suggestions above regarding what you
should consider before dropping out of school.
35.
The important thing to remember going forward,
is that dropping out of school does not make anyone a loser. As a matter of fact, it may actually signal
that many of our students maybe on to something that school fails to
recognize. By evidence of far too many
successful men and women throughout our various communities who have dropped
out of school should not only be acknowledged, but should have schools making
accommodations to help those who have great ideas, that schools could possibly
benefit from. Such an accommodation would
allow for the student to smoothly transition into the workforce, study at their
own pace, or withdraw until they achieve what it is that is calling them. And then, peacefully, without negative
connotation, or without judgment, allow the student to return to a classroom
setting that allows them to get back on track academically.
36.
Allowing for such a transition for students who
drop out, would make the school systems that we have in place look less
draconian when we look at men and women who achieve great things in their
lives, even after dropping out of school.
The opportunity to make a transition to greatness is there. School systems have the wherewithal to make
this happen. If in doing so, they open
the door to more students who are perhaps just as destined for greatness
because our society works to make a way for more students to rise to their
designated greatness, we would perhaps have fewer young people in jails and
prisons, but instead, working alongside of men and women who could use their insights,
or if nothing else, their enthusiasm to work, rather than be incarcerated.
37. Going Forward, Again!
38.
The idea that someone who dropped out of school would
achieve greatness is no doubt more of a secret rather than be flaunted to many
of our young people in schools.
Reasonably, we cannot afford to have a large number of students running
around the streets who aren’t in school.
That would be a failed system.
And, we can’t afford to have that.
But as history tells us, and shows us, there are many leaders who have dropped out of
school, who have achieved greatness.
There are many business leaders, who have dropped out of school, who have
achieved greatness. There are many
entertainers and sports figures who have achieved greatness, who have dropped
out of school.
39.
Going forward, again, we may have been on to something
from a long time ago, but it may have been perceived counter-productive to
allow students, parents and communities to believe that if students were
released too early into the world, that they would have been unprepared for the
world ahead of them. But, given the
number of people who have dropped out of school, and who have achieved world
greatness in so many areas, why can’t there be an even greater number of young
men and women who have dropped out of school and who have taken care of their
families with less than a high school education? Or less than a college education, who are
great leaders in their respective communities?
High school or College dropouts, as we have labeled them, have raised
great families, with kids who went on to finish school, finish college, and who
have turned out to be successful doctors, lawyers, judges, business leaders and
so on.
40.
Going forward, again, we don’t always need to
look to history for those who have achieved greatness in America. We would probably know more about those who
achieved greatness if we didn’t negatively label those who dropped out of
school as losers, quitters, or anything that would suggest they gave up. Instead, we should open the door to these men
and women who were no less visionaries, innovators, leaders, pioneers, or
successful achievers in whatever they had put their minds to. They are among us. They are our fathers and mothers. They are brothers and sisters. They are our aunts and uncles. They are cousins, friends, cousins,
classmates, colleagues and, they are our community.
41.
Going forward, look very closely, and you may be
pleasantly surprised to learn that many of us have been following the
leadership of someone who once dropped out of school, even as they hold a GED,
or only 20 hours of college credits; or just 2 years of apprenticeship of a 4
year program.
42.
Going forward, we owe it to ourselves, and to
those whom we determine as school dropouts, to recognize their true greatness
and how, despite the presumed embarrassment, or labeling that they have
endured, they are great people, not only for what they have overcome, but for
who they are all together. I believe
that many of us are standing next to greatness.
Men and women, who can come out of the shadows, and no longer stand
behind the shame of having dropped out of school, but having overcome
circumstances that many of us may have folded from the pressures that they
faced.
43.
We are standing next to greatness, for many of
whom, may have not had a guiding hand as they quit school, but instead walked
out into the world, not sure whom they could trust, and how they would be viewed. Yes, they may have dropped out of school, but
they did not drop out of society. And as
a result of their very difficult decision, many of us are better for the lives
they have given us through their hard work, dedication, and commitment to their
communities and their families. We
should be proud, and be quick to recognize not the minuteness of their dropping
out of school, but instead, recognize the magnitude of what many of us believed
was not possible, unless they had a full education.
44.
Congratulations, belatedly, to those of you who
have dropped out of school, who have accomplished some truly magnificent things
for you and your families.
Congratulations to those of you who have dropped out of school as
outstanding future achievers, who are no doubt destined for greatness. Congratulations to those of you whom we
formerly referred to as, The Dropout Class of 2014. Wear it proudly, as a badge
of honor!
[1]
You’ll Never Amount to Anything © 2013- http://thecovetedcommandment.blogspot.com/2013/06/youll-never-amount-to-anything-2013-by.html
[4] Richard
Branson, Entrepreneur- http://www.businessinsider.com/successful-people-who-dropped-out-of-high-school-2013-5?op=1
