Do I really need an education?

[RoadKill]

Exactly what the title says. Do I really need an education. I may be only 15, but I am sick and tired of school, I just can't take it anymore. I wake up at 7:00 go to school till 3:00 then I have my after school programs till six, then i gotta go to tutors till 7:00 then do my homework till 1 in the morning. Every single day I have to go through this, I have no time for things I want to do.

So I was wondering what others think about this do you really need an education to be successful? What job opportunities could one have without a job opportunity but still earn enough to have a good life

[Ice]

Exactly what the title says. Do I really need an education. I may be only 15, but I am sick and tired of school, I just can't take it anymore. I wake up at 7:00 go to school till 3:00 then I have my after school programs till six, then i gotta go to tutors till 7:00 then do my homework till 1 in the mornin do.

So I was wondering what others think about this do you really need an education to be successful? What job opportunities could one have without a job opportunity but still earn enough to have a good life

Of course you don't need one, but it opens a lot of doors that will be closed without one.

Many Military, Police, and other blue collar jobs do need require an education, but also don't offer as much advancement and salary opportunities as many white collar jobs.

I would advise you to rethink your current situation. University education is nothing like lower education, in my opinion.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Exactly what the title says. Do I really need an education. I may be only 15, but I am sick and tired of school, I just can't take it anymore. I wake up at 7:00 go to school till 3:00 then I have my after school programs till six, then i gotta go to tutors till 7:00 then do my homework till 1 in the morning. Every single day I have to go through this, I have no time for things I want to do.

That's insane. I went to high school in Canada for a short while, and I never, ever had to stay up that late on a regular basis. Do your teachers give you a lot of work, or do you like to work a little more slowly?

[Pharnakes]

What could possibly be more worht while than learning?


Money may enrich your bank account, but only knowledge can enrich your soul. (my feeble attempt at being a budhist wise man )


I intend to stay in education/academia for basicaly my entire life, and whilst I can see that this wouldn't apeal to everybody, I really cannot see any benift to leaving school. That young at the most you might make £10k a year, which just isn't worth it for an oportunity that'll never come in your life again.

Also, the more you learn, the more fun it is to learn. This especaily applies to sciences, as you start to see how everything slots together, and how the whole universe is at the same time so neat and effficent, but completly random. When that "clicks" for you, if it ever does, you will have gained, what is, IMHO, the greatest thing humanity can ever gain, what I can only call "philosophy," and from that moment on, further knowledge will be all that you are interested in, and all that you need to be interested. Once you have reached that point, learning will sudenly become the easiest thing in the world, because it is the only thing left that can interest you. What could possibly be better than knowledge?




Why I have written this I really don't know , I just feel like slapping down whatever comes into my head, and I'm to tired to make it neat and cohesive. However, poorly as I have expressed myself, I sincerly belive waht I have said is true.


15 is far to young to decide wether an academic life is for you, how can you possibly decide when 90% of the desicions about what you will study are made by someone else?


Seriously, maybe such a life is not for you, but give it at least another 3 years, minimum. Once you can study whatever takes your fancy, and later get paid to do so, what could possibly be wrong with a life of research/academia?



EDIT: BTW what conutry/education system are you in, if you don't mind me asking? feel free to ignore this if you do

[RoadKill]

Thanks for your replies. I understand what you guys are saying, but something in me is telling me that school isn't the thing for me. I have always considered joining the armed force, and I think I'll finish high school and look into that.

@Evil_Maniac : I am not sure what time you went to Canada for school, but currently our schools stack us with homework, you won't believe how much homework we get for being only in grade 10. Maybe it's just my high school.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

@Evil_Maniac : I am not sure what time you went to Canada for school, but currently our schools stack us with homework, you won't believe how much homework we get for being only in grade 10. Maybe it's just my high school.

Which high school do you go to, and what courses are you in? I have a few friends in high school in Canada, and they never seem to mention having that much homework, but they're also mostly from rural schools.

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
We don't need no education/We don't need no thought control

Every teenage feels so. In thirties you may wish you had better of it specializing in X instead of Y (and in my case getting laid with some of those chicks in HS ). In your forties you will have memorized one or more of what we have been saying, and repeat it. Later on, you won't give a darn about such thoughts.

Half experience, half observation.
.

[Marshal Murat]

I understand your position.
I have school from 7:45 to 3:05, then I have extra-curricular activities (it was tough managing time for the ones I want to do). Then I have school-work until later. Maybe it's the teachers, or the work, but I don't have as much work as you.

I can tell you now, you have to decide. Talk to friends in higher classes, find out what classes are the worst to have, passing rate, etc. But you can't take the high level classes and expect to fly through them.

However, and my older colleagues can back me up, a good education can make a difference in the salary you receive, and the people you meet. Unless your going into a trade (electrician, plumber) or armed forces, you should get a college degree, at least.

Even if you join the armed forces, you might not be able to go to the military academy to advance, and you could stay a NCO.

Stick with it.

[IrishArmenian]

As one with naught but a secondary school graduation, I cannot stress education enough! As soon as I can get the dram, I'm going back to school! The prospect of doing manual labour for the rest of one's life is fine, but doing it for poor wages is not.
Are you in accelerated classes? Think of dropping one.

[El Diablo]

Think of it this way.

No education + armed forces = private (and everybodies doormat + cannon fodder)

Uni education + armed forces = officer (still some peoples doormat but at least you can make private pratt go on point).

If you are serious about the armed forces they will prefer someone with an education (or a trade) to just a grunt when looking at who gets the best $$.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Yes, absolutely, for any job that's decent.

And here I'm talking that decent blue collar jobs need an education, though it's not the same as university.

College is much better than HS, so don't give up yet.

I would recommend trying to do something about your HW load - talk to your parents, complain to teachers and administers, etc.

CR

[AntiochusIII]

Sounds like you're either in one of those lots of homework prestigious high schools or you're taking accelerated classes.

If you're taking accelerated classes, that might explain the homework load. Accelerated classes can be awesome if you get the right teacher -- if only because really smart and interesting teachers often hate teaching "unmotivated" kids, a.k.a. 90% of the high school student population. But if it's all just rote and heavy homework, then save up your energy for better things, like college.

The substance of what you learn in high school will either be quickly forgotten or reiterated at a much higher speed in early college classes, if you're going that route, so that's the really useless part. The experiences will last, however, so in my opinion it's imperative to just have fun.

Besides, at 15, no offense, since I don't really know you anyway; but do you really think that Army or whatever is the ultimate solution from academia? I mean, by leaving academia early, you're closing out half of your choices in life -- many of which are not academic, but need a degree or two.

But skip all that BS I just said. There's one advice I think you really should heed:

STOP GOING TO TUTORS!

Unless you are absolutely dependent on them to improve your scores, and you need that score for whatever future plans you might have, stop torturing yourself. It's just not worth it.

Drop that extra hour of academics and you'll find life more tolerable. I mean, when you add that time to school, add in the homework, and studying... well, you're spending more than half your life on worthless crap. Of course you're going to hate it. Anyone will. I will. Burned out, it's called, and it's not a good feeling.

Also, what are your after-school programs?

Take a break, screw it all. That F won't ruin your life. An A at the cost of your good eyesight might.

[Zathernon]

The only education you need is what you teach yourself. The education you get in school will only help if you become a teacher.

In other words you must be your own boss, unless you want the boss to own you.
You know what they say in alaska & the yukon, "if you ain't the lead dog the scenery never changes".

[Viking]

Exactly what the title says. Do I really need an education. I may be only 15, but I am sick and tired of school, I just can't take it anymore. I wake up at 7:00 go to school till 3:00 then I have my after school programs till six, then i gotta go to tutors till 7:00 then do my homework till 1 in the morning. Every single day I have to go through this, I have no time for things I want to do.

So I was wondering what others think about this do you really need an education to be successful? What job opportunities could one have without a job opportunity but still earn enough to have a good life

After school program? Tutor?

When I went to 10th grade, the school lasted from 8-14 (2); then I was free to do whatever I wanted for the rest of the day. Maybe an hour or two with HW.

[Sigurd]

You are thinking like I did when I was your age RoadKill.

I did however study until I finished secondary school (12 years). From Secondary school you could enter College/university.
Since it is mandatory military service here, young boys like me usually enter when finishing those first 12 years and we are about 18 years old. I chose to serve a little more than the mandatory 1 year and had a few good years in the Navy. When finishing military I opted for other work instead of going back to school.
"BIG MISTAKE!!!"(debatable)
All though getting many new friends and life was easy, I was lucky i didn't get stuck with house and car loans. in 1999 I decided I wanted more than this. I went back to school and started on a Masters in information technology. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner but then again I might not have met my wife who I also met in 1999. We were students together and she took a break when our first child came along. I finished school november 2003 and have been working since. My wife has returned to her studies and will be getting a Masters in pharmaceutical chemistry.
I am now a senior systems consultant in a company called StatoilHydro (the largest oil company in Norway) with a decent salary. Guys my age should get a little more, but I closed the gap during last year.

I don't know how my life would have turned out had I gone straight back to school after the military. I said it was a big mistake but that is just the default answer. I am however glad that it all turned out well. I believe my wife is the best thing that ever happened in my life and we are content with what we have and I do worry that I would never have met her had I gone straight to school.

I am sorry if this didn't help at all. The only advise I can give is: Go for the opportunities that come along. But I will echo the others that have hinted to your exhausting schedule; you need more time off. You should have time to enjoy life even as a teenager.
Military builds character and will give you many advantages in your life after the military.
I think there are many examples of this amongst the members of this board. Just stay out of war as that will damage your psyche.

[Beirut]

Do I really need an education?

No. But it's better if you have one.

[sapi]

Exactly what the title says. Do I really need an education. I may be only 15, but I am sick and tired of school, I just can't take it anymore. I wake up at 7:00 go to school till 3:00 then I have my after school programs till six, then i gotta go to tutors till 7:00 then do my homework till 1 in the morning. Every single day I have to go through this, I have no time for things I want to do.

So I was wondering what others think about this do you really need an education to be successful? What job opportunities could one have without a job opportunity but still earn enough to have a good life

Everyone feels like that at this time of year, but that's no consolation.

I'll basically just repeat what has been said before:
Firstly, if you don't need the tutors to pass, forget about them. If you just have them around to help you with some odd problems with classwork, ask your friends instead; they usually know more anyway, in my experience If they're just there for show, you're wasting your time (and, incidentally, money).

Doing homework to one in the morning sounds extreme. I do know kids who do it - but that's because they leave their assignments and stuff too late, not because of the course content. Is that you?

You're in year 10 now; if you follow the same system as us here, next year you get to do entirely elective subjects. Choose what you enjoy, what you want to do, and you'll find things a lot more interesting. My experience is that, in senior, you do exactly as much homework as you want to do. It's certainly not essential to passing, or even doing well - I'd know, because I can't remember the last time I did homework that wasn't marked

But honestly, don't drop out on education yet. Trust me, at each stage of your life - moving from middle schooling into junior, from junior into senior, and, I assume, from senior into uni - you look back and marvel at how seriously you took things, and how little they actually mattered.

School's important, yes; but it's not so much the knowledge but the experience. Don't drop out

Sorry for the essay, by the way; I'm putting off a Chemistry one Procrastination is a valuable skill, I swear

[Somebody Else]

Unless you're Bill Gates, Sir Alan Sugar, or even Simon Cowell. Don't drop out, you'll likely regret it later.

But hey, plumbers make a great living these days...

*

Also, I agree with Sapi, by the sounds of it, with all those tutors, you sound like you're trying to hit way above your level (however high or low that might be).

*

One final thing, school - it's something to do with your time, and if you drop out - it's not as if you can hang out with your friends, because they're going to be... at school.

[Odin]

One of the beauties of being young is you can try different avenues in life. Military service is a noble fulfilling career (dont listen to the haters), education serves you will in private industry.

Dont be adverse to looking at trades either. Education in literal terms dosent have to mean university.

[Bijo]

Depending on your skills, talents, and so on, you might need schooling or you might not. Schooling is the "safe" way.

Now, education is the "real" stuff. Any fool can go to school and learn things, but what you do with it and the things you learn yourself is where it's at. It gives greater satisfaction to learn something yourself and do it, and really do it WELL.

I don't know where you live and how it's like in there, but if it's America it's probably the case that it's a lot different from the Netherlands. If you finish high school in here -- the middle high level high school (HAVO) -- you could already be selected to join the Military Academy, and if you already have a college degree you can go for the shorter MA course for which there's even more chance you'd get in. If you join the army in your case you can probably get up higher in the ranks if you wish (above an NCO), but it will cost a lot more effort, but then again it will probably be more rewarding in the end and your experience would be a lot greater than if you'd step into the army starting at an officer's position.

One thing I can tell you is to not stop moving. Get as high as possible (and I don't mean do drugs ). Go to school, and if possible work, or one of the two, but always keep in mind the other. I would say finish high school first.

[SwordsMaster]

Thanks for your replies. I understand what you guys are saying, but something in me is telling me that school isn't the thing for me. I have always considered joining the armed force, and I think I'll finish high school and look into that.

@Evil_Maniac : I am not sure what time you went to Canada for school, but currently our schools stack us with homework, you won't believe how much homework we get for being only in grade 10. Maybe it's just my high school.

Easy dude, do what i did. Forget homework. Never once i did it past the age of 9 -10. Notable exception was probably the college thesis. Don't take home to work or work to home. Or work to anywhere really....

[TinCow]

YES

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Don't do it unless you need to practice or if it's being marked. If your teacher, for example in math, assigns two pages of questions that you understand, do one of each example to make sure you do, and leave it at that. From my experience, most teachers will still mark that your homework is done if you do this, and the questions are done properly.

[edyzmedieval]

I dropped tutoring long time ago. Waste of time for me, and I only did it to get good grades in the national exams. I got decent grades, and from them, goodbye tutoring!

I have lots of work to do. School from 8 till 3:30, sports from 4 to 6, learning from 8 to 10. 2 hours per day. At 22:45 I go to bed, even if I haven't done my homework completely. For me, getting my sleep and caring about myself is more important than getting an extra point. At the end of the day, who the hell is going to ask you if you got 9 instead of 10 at the geography test from 20th of November 2007?

[Vladimir]

Like Edyz said, make sure you get plenty of sleep and exercise. You'll *learn* more if you eat right, exercise, and sleep enough...that and the girls will like you more. If you do all those, you may not get all of your homework done or the best grade in the class, but you will establish a solid foundation for the future.

Please don't think the military is the easy way out. An uneducated soldier is a dead soldier.

[RoadKill]

Wow Thanks for all the feedback everyone, this is great. Heres another thing i mean though. After you get your education and such, you only need the education for jobs you are looking for, but what if I want to have my own buisness do i really need an education then? What I'm trying to get at is that I dont want to waste 13 years of my life doing something that will serve no purpose towards me in the future.

[Papewaio]

You do not need schooling or a degree.

You do however need an education.

Life is Learning, Learning is Life.

[TinCow]

Wow Thanks for all the feedback everyone, this is great. Heres another thing i mean though. After you get your education and such, you only need the education for jobs you are looking for, but what if I want to have my own buisness do i really need an education then? What I'm trying to get at is that I dont want to waste 13 years of my life doing something that will serve no purpose towards me in the future.

Businesses require money to get them running and it will often take a while before they start to turn a profit. Most private business owners have to live off of their own resources for at least a year or two before their companies can support them. Where are you going to get this startup money from? Banks will not give you a loan if you have no experience, no matter how good your plan is. Thus, even if you plan on starting your own business and being self-employed, you will have to work for at least a few years to save enough money to start out on your own. You'll never accumulate enough money by working a menial labor job, so an education is still necessary just to get the startup cash for your business.

Yes, it's true that some people can be crazily successful with no education and no experience. There are very, very few people who can do that, though. Not only do they have to be very smart, capable, and have a good idea/plan, they have to have perfect timing and a good deal of luck. It's not something that's wise to gamble on.

Go to college, finish your education, get a job, save some money, see the world, live a good life. It's really not that bad. Many of us have done it before you and, trust me, we didn't like homework either. It DOES pay off, though. I was in full time education until I was 24. I didn't like it at all. However, I am far, far better off having done it than I would have been if I hadn't.

Plus, college is fun. Anyone who tells you otherwise studied too much.

[Husar]

Education is just there to get some papers you can show your employers, okay, sometimes you actually learn something new or useful. There are people with great papers who ruin companies though.
IIRC 50% of management decisions were bad in hindsight when compared to what would have been best for the company. And I think most managers have decent papers.

[woad&fangs]

Roadkill, drop the tutor. If you need help than ask a friend to study with you a few times per week.

The only reason for you to be doing that much school work is if you are trying to get into a really good uni like whatever the Canadian equivalent of the ivy league is. If you are in a bunch of advanced classes than I recommend dropping the one you are doing the worst in when the semester ends.

Remember that high school is not very representative of academia at the Uni level. Uni is a lot less monotonous, more freedom, etc. You can always get good grades and still join the army but you can't get into a good University with poor grades. Don't give up on higher learning because you are feeling burned out right now. It happens to the best of us.