GED

[Cognizant]

It's a week before graduation, and I'm not doing so well. This semester I've been sick and depressed, which took a huge toll on my grade. I already have no chance at passing English, History, or Photography. Living Skills is on the edge - and if I don't pass Living Skills, the school will not let me walk at graduation. I'm not really sure what to do, because I honestly don't want to over stress myself. Sure, if I don't graduate, I missed out in a once in a lifetime experience, but it's not going to dramatically change my life. I'll still end up in the same place, just at a slightly different time depending on what I do. Anyways, here's my three viable options at this point:

- Do what my Councilor told me to do and try my damn hardest to pass Living Skills (just get it up to a D- at least). If I pass Living Skills, I will be allowed to walk at graduation and recieve my high school diploma. However, I will be required to take summer school to make up history and english classes. POSITIVES OF THIS OPTION are that it'll keep me "on track" to go to community college with my friends, and I can still apply to Fall 2015 classes at this point. However, this is probably the most stressful option as I have to make up a large amount of work for Living Skills in 3 days, and then have my summer spent on making up school.

-Accept the fact I'm going to fail, fail Living Skills, and take my classes again next semester. I wouldn't get my diploma until I passed all my classes at the end of the Fall 2015 semester. This would free up my summer, but then I would have to take full-time classes, deal with the embarassment from peers that I didn't graduate/I'm a super senior, and honestly I just do not like my high school. It would also throw me off schedule for college, but who cares. My good friend and I would actually be a year apart and have some chance at having shared classes.

- Not the most ideal, but dropping out of High School and taking the GED test at the end of the summer. This is a bit of a grey area, as I'm not sure if many businesses would hire a dude who dropped out of high school until he got his GED. But, I think it might also be the least stressful option for me. I dont have to worry about classes, coming back to my High School, not having my summer free, or having to deal with PAUSD (my school district) any more. I just need to prep a little for the test during the summer - something I could do with my best friend since she plans on taking the GED, then hope I pass. I would still end up in the same place as both other options, too. After I get my GED, I could apply to community college, then transfer into a four year just like everyone else. Honestly, the only real drawbacks is not having the high school graduation experience, and possible shame from my friends and some family members (I know my mom would probably cry if I didn't graduate high school).

What do you think I should do? I'm leaning towards GED but I don't know if there's some catch out there (such as I can't transfer in to a four year on a GED)....so lemme know!

[Abyssal Echo]

Ultimately the decision is yours.
I have a friend in New York that was in a similar situation a couple of years ago. He chose to quit his job and concentrate on the classes he could make up the work and pass.
Even though most of his peers knew he wasn't getting his diploma, he was able to participate in the graduation ceremonies. Yes he spent all summer in summer school, but he got his Diploma.

[Microcosm]

Spending community college years with your friends can be a neat experience. Personally, I would power through it and go on to graduate. All the hard work would be over once you'd picked yourself back up and gotten the diploma. I think you'd be more happy and feel more successful this way.
As Mattie said, though, the decision is ultimately yours to make.

[James Dean]

Without going into your situation that much, I'll give my suggestion.

Rent and get practice GED tests and books from the library.

If you have trouble doing those, go back to school.

If you are able to understand the GED material, find GED testing places on google and pay I think the hundred dollars or so to take it. But be careful, if you fail, you will not get the money back, and you could have used that money for classes.

To me, a GED and a HS Diploma are the same thing.

[Cognizant]

Without going into your situation that much, I'll give my suggestion.

Rent and get practice GED tests and books from the library.

If you have trouble doing those, go back to school.

If you are able to understand the GED material, find GED testing places on google and pay I think the hundred dollars or so to take it. But be careful, if you fail, you will not get the money back, and you could have used that money for classes.

To me, a GED and a HS Diploma are the same thing.
I agree. I don't think people down the line are really going to care that I got my GED vs HS Diploma, especially if they let me explain that it was because I got really ill senior year and the system wasn't flexible enough for me. What matters more would be how I fare in college, and how that would affect me in the real world.

My GC also said I could just take extra classes in college, and while it wouldn't count towards credits in my major/transfer agreement, it would count for PAUSD credits and then I could get my high school diploma. So I might just do that instead, unless I'm paying for those classes out-of-pocket.