High School Dropouts: Finishing School or Not?

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When a person drops out of high school, there are many reasons behind their decision. Whether it is a matter of not having enough money to attend high school, or the person just does not have the desire to attend. Behind all these apprehensions, there are many people suffering since they abandoned high school. In Sanchez’s article, “A High School Dropout’s Midlife Hardships,” he reveals the hardships of a high school dropout. Kenny Buchanan, a 44-year old from Pennsylvania, withdrew from high school when he was 18. At that time, he was only in the ninth grade because he had flunked twice. Kenny had no ambition in attending school anymore. He dropped out and found a full-time job at Burger King. Back then, anyone could get a job and if they quit they could acquire the job back the next day without even bearing an education. In this time though, things do not evolve that way. An interview or the job will not be granted if a person does not obtain their high school diploma or GED. About two years ago, Kenny expressed his desire go back to school to achieve his GED. To this day, Buchanan still does not have a job, but if he is hired by an aluminum plant in the next month, his family will have health insurance for the first time and will be able to have enough to live on. Waiting for a job, Buchanan ponders his mistakes. ‘“Dropping out of school [was] one of the biggest mistakes I ever done...What I did, I did, but I can make things better,” exclaims Buchanan (qtd. in Sanchez 3). Now that he retains his GED, being a high school dropout has faded from his life. Even though high school dropout rates denote to be a problem, there are many solutions to fix this dilemma. As previously stated, dropout rates are a rising problem in our w... ... middle of paper ... ...and even mentoring/ tutoring just to name a few. For people, like Kenny, this may have persuaded him to stay in school longer. Although high school drop out rates are a problem, there are many solutions to fix this. Works Cited “15 Effective Strategies Explained.” Schargel Consulting Group. 17 December 2007. Web. 20 October 2011. “Alternative Schooling.” National Dropout Prevention Center/Network. Web. 20 October 2011. Cowan, Emery. “Program connects students to school.” The Durango Herald. 3 November 2011. Web. 20 October 2011. “Dropout Prevention.” Soltions for America. Web. 20 October 2011. Sanchez, Claudio. “A High School Dropout’s Midlife Hardships.” NPR Stories. 28 July 2011. Web. 21 October 2011. Swanson, Christopher B. "Progress Postponed." Education Week Vol. 29, No. 34. 10 Jun 2010: 22-24. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 21 Oct 2011.

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