So it dosen't pay to even talk to a white person because always in the backs of their minds they're probably thinking...wow, I bet they didn't finish high school. My odds aren't the same as anyone's odds, but I will say this, maybe to give your post some validity, I thought about dropping out because of my family situation. Luckily I had councellors in school and teachers who cared about where I'd end up. I had a lot of outside help in deciding against becoming a statistic.
What was your situation and how did your school help you?
My situation has been talked about a lot here. My mom was abused by her ex boyfriend. My brother, sister and I were also. Because I was the oldest, whenever he was angry, he'd pick me to beat on, after he was done with my mom. He usually hit me because I tried to defend my mom. He also use to kick us out a lot so we never knew whether we were going to be gone or not. But he mostly hit me because I was a developing female. Well going through all of that made my life hell, inside the 'home' and outside at school. I was distant at school. I was also failing miserably because my thoughts were never at school and on my studies. I was always worried about what he'd make up as an excuse to beat us.
One day, I made up in my mind that I would just drop out of school, convinced that no one loved or cared if I lived or died. With that thought in my head, I went to my councellor and told her how I was feeling. She told me that she was sorry that I was going through what I was going through at home but that I should reconsider dropping out of school because there was more ahead for me than what I was going through. More positive things. She also informed me that once I finished high school, I'd be free to go to a college far away from my situation. So I hung on for one more year (as I was a Junior when I thought about dropping out), and psyched myself out when I went to school. School became my second home because the people were different, the teachers were caring, and I got to be me. My opinions mattered and it reflected in my schoolwork. I graduated with one more credit than I needed and was accepted to a city college where I'm from. I dropped out...because I couldn't afford to attend but I worked for two years, got married, had kids and 13 1/2 years later, I'm happier than I'd ever been as an abused child.
My counellors at school helped me by listening to me and not judging my situation. It also helped to have my best friend since 7th grade by my side encouraging me also...as she was in the same predicament not too many years before I was. Now she's a 5th grade teacher in our home town. And I'm in school at present, recieving my A.S. in Interdisciplinary Education-Paraprofessional. (Big word for Teacher's Aide)