Should I stay at school?

[jaymzw]

So I value the opinions of some on here. It seems that opinions are often polarized but you seem to get a middle ground from which to draw conclusions.

So here's the story. I went back to school yesterday. 7th form. I know that next year i will be beginning a 2 year diploma in Aviation. I am in the process of enrolling for this at the moment as there are no prerequisites. I am fairly confident of being accepted.

However this year I have already had disappointment. Not being selected as a prefect has dampened my enthusiasm for school. I am also taking some easy subjects this year and find myself in classes with people who, to be honest, are at school to eat their lunch. I am a goal driven person and dont like to feel like I am doing nothing.

This year I cant see what I am achieving at school. I am not a prefect, which was a goal i had for a long time. I am not taking many challenging subjects and already in 2 days have found my brain absolutely idle in class. I also cant play rugby this year as I have surgery half way through the season.

So my question for the KB populous would be, should I stay at school and hope things get better. Or should I get out and start working 55+ hours a week? This would be to save for my student loan which would be close to 6 figures by the end of my training.

James

[Jantar]

Stay at school, but change your subjects to more challenging ones. Particularly concentrate on physics, chemistry and those maths sujects that include algebra and trigonometry. the aviation course is not a pushover and those subjects will help you with Nav, Aerodynamics, Met etc.

[yungatart]

What about doing some "Star" courses, while you are at school? My son did his baristas certiffcate, and bartenders course, which led to a full time job for him on his return from Europe (he left half way through Yr 13 to do a student exchange).
It could be a way to pick up some valuable skills for part time work while you are studying.
Alternatively, why not change your course to something a little more challenging?
Have you talked to your Dean or careers advisor about it...this year I mean?

[soundbeltfarm]

I'd say there is no guarantee with future work or your diploma.
you say you are goal driven make it a goal that the people in your class wont bring you down a level .
when i was younger everyone used to say stay and school and learn heaps.
i did do seventh form and then thought i was pretty good at sport, i made a bit of money through sport but man o man i wish i pushed myself harder and learnt as much as i could while at school.
but thats just me, everyone is different.
alot of the big players had sweet FA of an education or should i say quals and letters after their names but so many others have.

[Ragingrob]

Just putting it out there... Think also about how many university + school leavers that are already out there, unable to find a job cause companies are still trying to find their feet.

Have you already got whatever credits you need for uni entrance later in life if your aviation plans go astray?

[jaymzw]

Stay at school, but change your subjects to more challenging ones. Particularly concentrate on physics, chemistry and those maths sujects that include algebra and trigonometry. the aviation course is not a pushover and those subjects will help you with Nav, Aerodynamics, Met etc.

Am taking Statistics and Calculus as well as 6th form Physics (because I havent done it before). I hate this class with 6th form kids and because I am taking a 6th form subject I need to make up credits in other subjects to pass 7th form. Thats why I have taken these easier subjects which offer huge amounts of credits. It does my head in being so boring but I cannot pass the year without them.

[steve_t]

Stay at school, but change your subjects to more challenging ones. Particularly concentrate on physics, chemistry and those maths sujects that include algebra and trigonometry. the aviation course is not a pushover and those subjects will help you with Nav, Aerodynamics, Met etc.

Good idea. My mate has been doing aviation stuff for a while and his last test asked him stuff like what does sine(30 degrees) equal. He had no idea, but just scraped through

[Str8 Jacket]

Wow, you definately have your head screwed on mate! I left school during the first term of 7th form and not really any relevant qualifications. I also didnt know what I really wanted to do with my life... 10-15 years later I have had to work my arse off at low paying jobs and have finally worked my way up to a career in Procurement with a good wage and excellent employment opportunities.

Life would have been alot easier if I had have stayed at school and got the qualifications I needed to go to uni. At the end of the day everyone is different and goes through life differently. Sounds like you know what you want to do with your life so I reckon stick at it and do what yungatart has suggested. The more perseverance you learn now, the easier your life is going to become!
Good lcuk mate!

[mashman]

Am taking Statistics and Calculus as well as 6th form Physics (because I havent done it before). I hate this class with 6th form kids and because I am taking a 6th form subject I need to make up credits in other subjects to pass 7th form. Thats why I have taken these easier subjects which offer huge amounts of credits. It does my head in being so boring but I cannot pass the year without them.

If you need to finish the year then you're kinda stuffed and stuck at school. If you're truly up for a career in Aviation, do as Jantar suggests, find out what arena of aviation you'd like to have a go at the core subjects and learn as much as you can before you get there... it'll make Uni life a little easier if nothing else...

If you get acepted and don't need the year and you're not too worried about the amount of cash you need to generate, try finding some work experience within the Aviation industry. Offer them a cheap ass slave that they can't say no to and get that all important experience...

Have fun

[jaymzw]

Just putting it out there... Think also about how many university + school leavers that are already out there, unable to find a job cause companies are still trying to find their feet.

Have you already got whatever credits you need for uni entrance later in life if your aviation plans go astray?

One of the possible places I can get Commercial Pilots licence also offers to do another degree with it as a 3 year course. I would most likely do commerce. I have enough credits to do this already. After that my options would be to use my uni qualifications or join the Police force, which only requires 6th form.

I understand what you mean about jobs being scarce, especially in this economic climate and the industry I am considering, however this is what I want to do regardless.

Also, its not just the people in the class that are bum but also the subject which is extremely easy. The teacher is slack. Today the entire class left at 2.45 without the teacher even saying so. They just went home. All the credits available are internally assessed so virtually everyone passes. However as I said I need this subject to pass 7th form.

[Mom]

Get your self busy at school James. There will be no end of "other" activities that you can be involved with that will help you keep the brain working, maybe not academically but busy all the same. I think the 7th form is a great levelling year. Sticking at it also shows a level of committment too. All 3 of my kids have gone through 7th form, one worked really hard even doing scholarship exams, the other two went to eat their lunch, but they got valuable maturing and learning time to boot. Hang in there mate, find lots of thigs to keep your frustration of not being elected a prefect at bay, and show them that you really were the right choice afterall

Good luck mate!

[Headbanger]

Have you considered beer and wenches?, I assume you already dress like a pirate?

[R6_kid:Me]

Stay at school. Get in touch with NSAC about doing PPL/CPL theory night courses. It'll keep your brain ticking over and will push you further down the path that you already know you want to travel. It'll look good on your CV, and it'll save you time and money in the long run.

If in 6 months time you don't feel that staying at school is worth your time then you will be in a better position to make the call, rather than doing it within the first week when things are going slowly. Make sure you at least have University Entrance before you leave as you may want to return to study later on. The only reason I'd leave school would be because you aren't actually learning anything - i.e actually wasting your time.

Get a part time job and save as much cash as you can. Spend less on bikes and more on flying if that is your real passion. I'd be half way to my CPL if I wasn't spending all my money and time on bikes! My suggestion is that you use the money you save to get a few hours up, but mainly to have as buffer for when you move out so that things are a bit more comfortable and you can focus on your study rather than worrying about being able to pay the rent and getting fed.

Out of interest, where are you planning on doing your flying?

[jaymzw]

Stay at school. Get in touch with NSAC about doing PPL/CPL theory night courses. It'll keep your brain ticking over and will push you further down the path that you already know you want to travel. It'll look good on your CV, and it'll save you time and money in the long run.

If in 6 months time you don't feel that staying at school is worth your time then you will be in a better position to make the call, rather than doing it within the first week when things are going slowly. Make sure you at least have University Entrance before you leave as you may want to return to study later on. The only reason I'd leave school would be because you aren't actually learning anything - i.e actually wasting your time.

Get a part time job and save as much cash as you can. Spend less on bikes and more on flying if that is your real passion. I'd be half way to my CPL if I wasn't spending all my money and time on bikes! My suggestion is that you use the money you save to get a few hours up, but mainly to have as buffer for when you move out so that things are a bit more comfortable and you can focus on your study rather than worrying about being able to pay the rent and getting fed.

Out of interest, where are you planning on doing your flying?

Yeah i think that is the sensible thing to do. I spose another year at school wont hurt, especially once I get calculus and physics. May think about doing theory at NSAC as you are right it will keep my brain ticking over and make getting accepted to a flight school easier. Bike is almost finished too so I will have disposeable income in a couple of months. After I PM'd you a couple of months ago you convinced me to look around at other schools. I have narrowed it down to training at AirHawkes Bay through Eit or Mainland Air in Dunedin. Both due to possible employment opportunities post training and the eventual possibility of multi time.

James

[Jantar]

I can highly recommend Mainland Air. The CFI is John Penno, one of the most experienced "A" cat instructors in the country, and when you do your mountain flying, it will be real mountain flying, not just a few take offs and landings at high altitude.