Quitting school and learning to sail.

Alright, so I'm in year 12, the first year of 6th form at school. I've got a little over a year before I leave school fully. I hate it. I've been wondering whether to leave for a few months now.. I want to, there's no doubt about it. I just odn't know if I have the balls to make such a massive decision. I've got friends, both in and out of school that isn't the issue. The work isn't too bad either, I'm getting B/Cs with no effort out of school at all.. The issue is me being too lazy. I work at school, but when the bell goes, that's it for me, school's done. I've got so little motivation it's unreal.. I'm fed up of the whole 9-5 thing.

Anyway, I've got about £4000 savings - I was thinking about learning to sail, buying a boat and sailing the Med for as long as I can, living on the sailboat. Busking, doing whatever I can for money. I've been checking out small sailing boats, 20'-23' and I'd pay maybe £2500-£3000 for one of them. I'm 18 in 6 months, I could get a job and work my arse off over summer to help fund my trip, then leave spring next year.

I've thought about regrets or whatever, but nowadays anyone can do an OU course or get a place in uni.. If I regret it in ten years time, I'll do one of them with more motivation this time. My parents would try to discourage me, but they would never make a decision for me. Ultimately, it's all down to me.

Im seriously considering this. What do people think? What's people's opinion on this?

 

Considering that in the UK their is an extreme lack of jobs going at the moment, even for people with degrees, and honours degrees your going to find it hard to get a job being a drop out, that is only temporary and can fund a boat trip within what? 3 - 4 months?

If i where you i would finish what you have started, get your qualifications while working part time on weekends or evenings and shaving money from your pay cheque to fund your boating trip once you have finished your course.

 

The thing is at the rate Im going, Im not going to do that well.. And to get anywhere you need to be at the top, so I'll be wasting my time. Why not wait out the 'recession' for a few years in the sun, and come back to everything later?

I'd be able to secure myself a job pretty easily, I've had one for 4 years, I could do more shifts/hours there..

 

Personally, I think it's up to you to do what makes you happy. There isn't any point in you staying in 6th form if you don't want to be there.

As a travel and tourism student, I suggest you go explore the world!

 

If your seriously considering it i'd like to point you to this articles. It has helped me when i have been abroad in the past and offer some helpful tips and advice.

http://artofmanliness.com/2009/09/14/backpacking-basics/

if you don't trust the link just type backpacking art of manliness into google and follow that way, or go to the artofmanlines site and type in backpacking on the search tool.

 

Sounds stupid, but what is year 12? Is it like 12th grade in high school?

 

Year 13's the last year of 6th form.. Then uni, or collage to you Yanks. Year 11 is last year of compulsory school.

I think year 12 is 11th grade.

 

If Your getting b/c with little effoort i would smash as much effort as i can and get A/B then leave knowing you have all yoru rgade's and/or qualifications,

then do what you speak of.

No point in not finishing although i did finish my course in the last week but i have my own issues lol

 

Honestly, I'd stick it out and keep saving, then once you're out of school go nuts and do what you want. Just think about it, you went through ALL that time in school, and if you drop, you'll have nothing at all to show for it. At least get your diploma, because it's better then absolutely nothing. Having that to fall back onto is better then having nothing to fall back on if you need to.

 

You can't wait 15-16 months? Is it honestly that hard? I'm in the same grade, and as much as I want out, I relize how close I am, how far I've come. 15 months isn't that long at all, just finish off and you'll never have to go back to school again. A high school diploma looks better then nothing.

 

I have to say i agree with this totally, With you being able to get b/c's without work, working yourself to the maximum you could potentially get A*. Then in 10 years time you'll still have these A* in what you took to get a job with it, grades will stay forever but when you don't have them well... you don't have them.

 

If year 12 equates to 11th grade, then I would definitely say to just endure school for another year. After that, I would encourage you to go on this sailing expedition!

 

That is such an awesome idea. I really hope you go through with it! I've been thinking of taking a year off before college and traveling as well. Best of luck, you have my full support

 

DON'T quit school. Trust me.

I graduated high school, and got my diploma. Then went off to college.. well I ended up dropping out this year and it was the worst decision of my life.

Since dropping out, I've been arrested, have no job, and now I can't do much because of probation. Stay in school.

You say you have no motivation.. well why would you have the motivation to sail for however long it is you want to?

If you are to quit school, you will become even lazier. You won't want to sail anymore because it's basically like summer vacation.. forever. It's happened to me.

I know our situations are very different, but what I'm saying is- stay in school. You will regret every second of quitting. What happens when you're done sailing? You can't do it forever, regardless of what you might think. Without a high school education you can't do shit in life unless you're a pro athlete or some other crazy circumstance.

 

It's only one more year, I say you should stick to school. I personally hate school too, It's something that's needed in order for you to go to College/University.

Just Graduating High School is a privilege and would get you a better job than a person that didn't graduate from school. Education is really important nowadays, Especially since the Economy is becoming shitter day by day. I suggest you should stick to school.

 

Everyone here seems to have logical answers, and it seems the 'best' option which is 'best' for the 'society' would be to stay put in school and finish your education before you do anything.

Right now, if your just feeling burnt out, i would suggest you continue to stay in school and try to work things out, think positively.

I know 15 months in school isn't long. But let me ask you, if you were to die tomorrow, would you regret your decision? It may sound stupid as you won't PROBABLY die any time soon. You really don't want to have any regrets, i suggest you go for your current plans and work hard at it. Don't give up and never mix with the bad company. NEVER EVER GIVE UP. Follow your dreams man. If you can't even protect your dreams, what's the point in life.

 

I'm in my last year of school and my attitude resembles closely to yours. It's honestly not that long, and as soon as your out you are free to do absolutely whatever. Hang in there.

 

Thanks for all the replies I've read and thought about each one.. Most people seem to be saying stick at it, and I can see why. But now it's easier than ever to go back to school or university. And perhaps when I realize I do need good qualifications to get anywhere, I'll have more motivation to see a qualification through.

I just love the idea of going where I want, when I want. Meeting new people, and looking out for myself without being told what to do. I just want no responsibilities or pressure.. I'm 17, ffs, I shouldn't have responsibilities!

I don't know what the system's like in America, but here you can leave at 16 after doing GCSEs, or move on to A-levels. I got a good set of GSCEs, A*s/As and a few Bs. That would give me a good grounding if I ever decided to go back into education...

 

Personally i'd stick it out and do 6th form, i must say your idea sounds brilliant. Stay in school for the last year, doing alot of work on the weekends/free time, after you've finished school i assume you'll be 18. Go buy that damn boat and have the time of your life ;d

 

Sounds like a good plan, but the one factor that will come back to haunt you is Money. Make sure you have a good cashflow or your adventure to wherever you're going could get ruined very quickly.