How to Drop Out of High School and Still Succeed in Life

John Rockefeller. Richard Branson. Walt Disney. These are some of the biggest moneymakers the world has ever seen and cultural icons who have something in common. They never graduated high school. While there is an emphasis on higher education more than ever before, dropping out of high school does not make you a failure. In fact, you can set yourself up for success by taking an assessment of the path you wish to take for a bountiful career.

Knowing Yourself

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To truly succeed in any walk of life, one of the greatest assets is knowing your true self. For some people, taking an assessment of your mental health puts you on that right path. While an individual therapy session once a week can help some people, more intensive treatment programs are needed for others. Intensive outpatient therapy, also known as IOP, provides a comprehensive treatment solution that includes group, family, and individual therapy, typically lasting six to ten weeks. This ultimately helps teen patients build connections among peers, show support, and create healthy lines of communication.

For some teenagers, leaving high school isn’t about education. It’s about how they’re being treated. Bullying is one of the leading causes of dropping out. Family members may see leaving a school as being in the best interest of the teenager’s mental health. Bullying isn’t restricted to just their peers. Sometimes, teachers and administrators may have an issue with how a student dresses or expresses themselves, standing out from them could be “traditional”. This could trigger mental health issues and even substance abuse for some young people who feel unwelcome.

Writing Down Future Goals

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Even as young children, we are always asked about our life’s dreams. What do we want to be when we grow up? Writing out your goals on paper is strongly associated with goal success, and people who vividly describe their goals are actually more likely to succeed. Among the general population, there are shared things that we are all striving for, and sometimes that can make chasing those dreams overwhelming. However, it’s best to take a regular assessment of what you want in this life, on a weekly basis or even a monthly basis to monitor your progress.

You may find a reliance on others to boost you up, but the important thing is that you believe in your career goals and aspirations. Vivid depictions of goals can set you on a path to work with the right instructors and mentors to make your dreams come to fruition. You can also keep abreast of the latest trends in the field that you are trying to pursue, and potentially schedule meetings with influential persons who can help you figure out the correct steps for your situation.

“Rising Out” Not Dropping Out

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“Rising out” is a term that has been created for those pursuing a successful career without a high school diploma. For some, trade schools offer the best road to an established occupation. For example, beauty programs afford those without a degree a chance to succeed in the salon. Whether it’s learning proper hair coloring and techniques for haircuts or safe administration of manicures and pedicures, beauty school offers a unique opportunity to get the right training to get situated into the perfect career for someone with a natural talent for bringing out beautiful physical appearance.

There is actually a high demand for trade school graduates in a variety of industries. Enrollment in these programs even comes with opportunities for scholarships and financial aid. It’s a more affordable option and actually more accessible for work in certain fields. Remember, leaving high school is by no means a way of waving the white flag on your future. There are plenty of opportunities out there to find success. You just have to strive for those achievements.

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