Should I stay or Should I go...

[funkychicken]

I'm thinking about leaving school at the end of this year (year 10) and doing a apprenticeship as a woody. (properly called a Wood Tradesperson or Craftsperson)

So the question is...

Is leaving school early a good choice?

[Burnsy]

First, no one can really tell you what to do, it is a choice you will have to make based on what you want for your future - think in at least 30 years time. One thing I tell all my students is that above all else, ensure your future includes choice. The happiest people are usually those with the most choice and variety. Whether that is provided by your undertaking a trade that has many offshoots and choices of work locations and work tasks, or it is provided by your always doing your best and making yourself a worthy employee in many industries and professions.

I am 37 and my current position of Primary School teacher is the longest time I have ever held the same job (4 years). I have worked in mining as an Environmental Scientist and run (and still do on the side) my own business in Landscape Construction amoungst many other varied things such as truck driving. The current trend is for people to move jobs frequently and work in many different industries. Think about whether this is something you may want to do and whether the trade you chose will facilitate this.

Too many people get hung up on the qudos of a particular job and base their decisions on that - high pay, high profile etc. Been there done that, believe me, it is not for everyone.

My advice to anyone chosing a career or wanting to leave school is simple. If you want a job working with a shovel everyday and sweating your guts out that is great (I quite enjoy this and would not swap the time I spent on a shovel while Landscaping full time for anything) but........ make sure you have choices, a fall back or something else you can do if you do want to opt out of a job after a period of time.

Best of luck with your decision,
Mike

[abitfishy]

As much as what you might want to do does not need yr 12, I think everyone should complete school. You leave more mature, with a slightly better idea of 'life'. Its easier to go on and have it than leave and regret it.

I hated school and wanted to leave too. I stayed on and am pleased I did.

[q9]

My opinion is that you are going to limit yourself severely if you leave before finishing year 12. Plenty of 18/19 year olds change uni courses after the first year as they have a change of heart or decide what they thought would be interesting to study doesn't suit them. That's ok for them. They can get a lot of course credits etc.

In your case, if after a year you don't like it, it will in all probability mean going back to school if you want more options or hoping you land another job. How comfortable would you be with going back to school a year on? The problem with getting another job is you are going to be competing with people that have finished year 12.

At your age it might seem like a long time, but another 2 years is pretty much nothing. Another option might be to get yourself a school based apprenticeship/traineeship. We have put a few students on over the last couple of years and it works out quite well. In some cases it leads to a drastic re-think of career aspirations when they find out the fun part of the job only makes up about 2% of the day, and the crap stuff 98%. It might be a little late for you to start this year though.

[manoftalent]

leaving school early may seem like a good idea now, but later on down the track you will regret it very much so ...as an employer, I can tell you now and quite honestly ....I would pass you over for someone that has completed yr 12.., and many other employers would share my opinion, so that places you way back at the end of the line in the job hunt if several candidates are going for it ....not the best place to be thats for sure .....my advice is simple, you have a long life in front of you, dont start it by handicapping yourself, its hard enough to get the job we want, without doing that to yourself.

[joe greiner]

What they all said. You'll maximise your choices by completing formal school and obtaining your diploma. And even then, most of us have had our careers selected by a semi-ignorant 18-year-old. (No offence intended) Stay flexible, and best of luck.

Joe

[Steve Fryar]

I agree with Manoftalent.I am a supervisor with an oilfield contractor and if it came down to you an the other guy who completed year 12,he would get the nod.
I am sure there are ways now days where you can complete a trade while still at school.Maybe someone can clarify this.
I finished year 12 and nver regretted it.I did however regret wasting 2 years at uni.The whole tertiary education thing wasn't for me.I could have completed my degree but like you,I just wanted to get my hands dirty.
Cheers,Steve.

[underfoot]

what they all said, FC
I finished year 12 and then started an apprenticeship as a patternmaker.
the boss was an old German bloke who had mates in patternshops all over the place,
towards the end of my time he sent me out on a journeymanship,
that is ,I spent a week or two at a whole bunch of different workshops,
I will never forget that experience, it has been invaluable.

Here's what I suggest.

finish year 12, then,
you know there is a lot of serious talent and experience on this forum,
I reckon some of them wouldn't mind volunteering a small piece of their time
( a few days, a week or so) to show you what they do, experience their skills, workspaces and work ethic etc.

Finish school, then do a journeymanship, travel Australia for a while
shed hopping,

I'll start,
FC you are welcome to spend some time in my sculpture studio/pattern shop
cheers John

[weisyboy]

i left school in year 10 and have never looked back.

but it depends on the person i have always hated schooli nevver lisend and i even skiped year 9. passed year 10 with streight Cs.

im now working for myself earning $360+/day doing what i love outdoors all day, with no formal training. it might be bloudy hard work but i love it.

[Calm]

FC

There is no right or wrong answer.

Last December my 17 yo daughter (year 11) said she didnt want to go back to school and do year 12. I told her if she had a full time job she didnt have to go back. If not she was doing year 12. She didnt want to work with computers or in an office so she went and got herself a job at Bartletts tarps in a factory.

She wants to be a policewoman or air hostess and reckons if she waits until she is 22 or 23 she can get into the police force. I dont think she will get into the air hostess because they pick 3 out of 400 at each session and the year 12's will get it. But that is her decision. She loves the job she has and i see her staying there until she tries out the police force in 4 or 5 years time.

My reasons - I figured if she didnt want to be at school especially year 12 she would not really work hard and get a good enter score so she would gain nothing. If she found the job she would be motivated and suceed.

For you i say the same if you have a job dont go back to school if you dont go back and maybe even do a tafe/school course and get the apprenticeship part way through the year.

You can always be a "mature age" uni student at 21 and dont need to have finished year 12.

Good luck on your decision..

[Howdya do that]

i left school in year 10 and have never looked back.

but it depends on the person i have always hated schooli nevver lisend and i even skiped year 9. passed year 10 with streight Cs.

im now working for myself earning $360+/day doing what i love outdoors all day, with no formal training. it might be bloudy hard work but i love it.

I think things have changed a little bit since you left school. please dont take offence.

Funky chicken, my son is in year 11 and is also contemplating leaving school and I am doing my utmost to keep him there but like everyone else say's no one can make you. are you sure you want to be a wood craftsperson for the next 30 years.

Finish year 12 and then do your apprenticeship. Once you have that HSC the option of college or university is always open to you.

For the record, I left school in year 10 and started my working career putting up fences and I was a bloody idiot.

I'm guessing that Weisyboy is around the same age. Back then year 10 was the benchmark, HSC optional and few went to college or UNI. Now I think year 12 is the benchmark, college or uni optional and few do there masters.

Just one more thing. My boss recently said "the school of hard knocks just does not cut it any more. All of our future employees must have a solid education"

[RufflyRustic]

Hi FC

Definitely finish Year 12. It will give you a better standing for your future, whatever you chose to do. It is much easier to finish your schooling now than to come back later. Having finished Grade 12 will also help you if you decide to attend a school/college/tafe for a woodworking course or diploma. Apprenticeships still include a component of study and Year 12 will help you get through that part as well.

Good luck!

cheers
Wendy

[Rossluck]

I agree with Wendy.

It's simple. You're young and have plenty of time to make up your mind about what you want to do. There is a tendency for society to force you into a decision NOW. Don't let anyone pressure you; you have tons of time. In the mean time stay at school and work towards Uni. If you get to the end of year 12 and still don't know what you want to do, go to uni and do a general degree. Do a degree in the arts or science or info tech or business or whatever is the most attractive or least objectionable to you.

Your final two years of high school and three or four years at uni will probably be the best years of your life. You'll build friendships and knowledge that will last you to the end.

When you have a degree you can then decide what you want to do in life. Maybe you could travel. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with a 22 year old uni graduate deciding to begin a career as a craftsperson working with wood or whatever.

[BobL]

Funky, Have you actually tried working for a couple of weeks somewhere near or in the area you are interested in. Before the next school holidays see if you can tee up for someone to take you on (if necessary for no pay, just treat it as an educational opportunity). Don't just look at what you do - look around at what the others are doing on the job and ask yourself is that is what you want to be doing . . . . . . .

Before I had finished year 10 I had done the following jobs for more than 2 weeks:
Sales assistant in a clothing store
Supermarket shelf stocker
Gardener
Plumbers assistant - cleaning out sewage tanks
Concrete slab maker
and Toy koala bear stuffer!
Every one of the jobs convinced me I should stay on in school.
Then before I left year 12 I had been a
Sales assistant in a shoe shop
Cement brick maker
Builders labourer
Doing these jobs convinced me I should go to Uni - during those years I worked as a,
Delivery man (beer)
Cray fish processor,
Night Watchman and
Builders labourer.
Tutor

Cheers

[wheelinround]

Funky it should be your choice
you while doing your time as an apprentice will still be going to school usually for a further 3 to 4 years if you finish in year 10 if you finish year 12 you still have to do the same course for the same period even if you have credits such as Industrial Science subjects etc.

I left in year 10 back in the early 70's, did my apprenticeship and got offered to teach at TAFE with in the first year of finishing Thank goodness I never took it on, I couldn't stand sitting around for days on end to teach one or two classes a week.

Mind you I did sit around a lot but driving around the eastcoast touring and getting paid for it 25+ years of enjoyment a job I loved. When back at the depot it was back into the tools again enjoying almost every minute.

Many apprentices have gone on from year 10 to become CEO's, owners of their own companies, Commanders of Australian Forces, Prime Ministers even. There is no reason you cant still do year 12 at TAFE as well as your apprenticeship if you want taking only 12 months not two years and doing just the subjects you want.

You will if you want to learn do just that for the rest of your life how you choose to do it is just that your choice. You have learnt from this forum and given back just as much from what I have seen.

good luck it is a tough one these days so many people believe your dumb if you don't have year 12 papers a Uni degree or paid over $60k. It only takes a flash in life situations to change any of that.