Friend considering leaving school

LegacyUser

My best friend is in 6th year and shes going to drop out of school in the next few days. I can't convince her enough how valuable the leaving cert is and how stupid it would be to drop out after coming so far. Any advice appreciated
- thanks guys

passive

a friend of mine did that last friday...wasn't able to talk him out of it...
it is herchoice and unless you're really close to her you'll probably have trouble making enough of an impact to get your point across (though in the case of the guy i know some impact might have helped...ie:beating some sense into him)

hopefully you'll be able to get through to her..but if not it is her life and she probably has some idea what shes doing (or at the very least is certain of what she doesn't want to do)

good luck

Hobbes

The leaving cert is worth dick. If anything the kids are told there is a serious stigmata with not sitting your leaving. Total BS. Unless your going onto third level education the leaving cert is pretty much ignored after a few years work.

Granted sitting on your ass isn't an option either, but it is not the end of the world and sometimes not sitting the leaving can be better then sitting it.

If she wants to drop out ask her what plans does she have for the future?

LegacyUser

In fairness even for the most basic jobs, a person with a leaving cert will appeal more to the employer than someone without.
Id disagree that after a few years its worth "dick" because you can put it on your CV for the rest of your life. It stands to you.

Hobbes

Originally posted by abcd1234
In fairness even for the most basic jobs, a person with a leaving cert will appeal more to the employer than someone without.

Only if..

a) You have just recently left school.
b) You have no other real work experience.

Take IT for an example. It varies a little but anything past 3-5 years on a CV in general is ignored unless you are still working in that area.

To be honest, I left 3 months before my Leaving (just like Bertie ).

It pissed me off no end people telling me "You have destroyed your life, you will amount to nothing" just because I didn't sit my leaving cert.

Well after a few years with experience and training myself (in stuff I liked) it meant dick. In other countries too it means dick.

Your friend probably doesn't know what to do with her life, you would be better asking her that and seeing how she can plan to that without the leaving cert.

In closing, I am not saying "do not sit the exam". I am saying "not sitting the exam is not the end of the world".

jongore

Not doing the leaving limits your options, most goverment jobs require the leaving at least, you have no option to do third level education and many in the private sector still like to see a leaving cert.

Unless you have a job lined up or are leaving to become an apprentice it's not a good idea.

Hobbes

Originally posted by jongore
Not doing the leaving limits your options, most goverment jobs require the leaving at least,

Not true.

Bertie Ahern as an example never sat his leaving and I worked in the Department of Education for some time.

LegacyUser

In fairness hobbes just because you never did the LC doesn't mean it's worthless.. If I was an employer in any field, and 2 applicants had the exact same skills but 1 of them had their LC also, I know who I'd choose for the position. It is worth doing if your friend is in 6th year she only has 7 months left to do it then she could decide to choose her career, this would give her a lot more options and open more doors.

catspring

a friend of mine went through the same thing at the start of our last year in school, but i managed to persuade him that after spending the last 12 years studying, another 6 months wasn't going to be that difficult, and that he might as well just stick it out.
at the end of the day, it's useful to have some kind of official qualification.

i also disagree with hobbes.
it does limit your options of going on to third level education, and it does take away from your cv too.
i just think it's a bit pointless having spent so many years working up to your leaving cert to drop out at that stage.
everyone gets pissed off with school and exams, but you just gotta get over it and get on with it, like many other things in life.

it's a bit like running a marathon and deciding at the last mile that you just couldn't be bothered anymore (i aplolgies for the similie, don't know where that came from!!)

Hobbes

Originally posted by El Vampiro
In fairness hobbes just because you never did the LC doesn't mean it's worthless..

I am not saying it is worthless, I am saying it is not the end of the world not sitting it, and yes it eventually does become worthless.

If I was an employer in any field, and 2 applicants had the exact same skills but 1 of them had their LC also, I know who I'd choose for the position.

Then they are not the same people are they?

Prehaps you should ask the person why they didn't sit thier leaving cert? No? Dismiss them straight away? What did they do during that time they didn't sit thier leaving cert?

How about the guy without the leaving cert has more work experience in the time they didn't sit the leaving cert?

Not sitting the leaving cert does not equate the person to a quitter or throwing thier life away (despite numerous people telling you).

Granted she might be but labelling someone that is basically what is fuked up with the LC in this country.

marrakesh

Also in a similiar boat as hobbes however i left in transition year a little earlier. Sure the leaving is great for college etc. But if u know what u want to do and have a clear idea of how to achieve it then the leaving cert might not be your cup of tea and disregarding it may be an option.

I myself didnt like been talked to from preaching teachers and educted myself. Leaving cert is not looked at on CV's in my experience.

If i was to be asked now should i have done my leaving cert i would say yes if i wanted to do medicine or pharmacy but no for anything else.


IMHO experience is what counts.

IgnatiusJRiley

In my previous job, with a semi-state company, they never once mentioned the leaving cert. In my current job, in an American multi-national, it was a very big part of the interview. So you could get lucky and not actually need it but then again, you might not. So it's better to have it to be sure.

Boston

If someone has a plan, an ambition and the confidence to follow it through, then sure go for it. But if someone hasn't any real plans then the leaving is has the potential to be quiet usefull

Sangre

Originally posted by Hobbes
Not true.

Bertie Ahern as an example never sat his leaving and I worked in the Department of Education for some time.

My God how old is Bertie Ahern?
Different times, different requirements.

Just try and get them to do it, having done my LC last year I know what a serious ****ing pain it can be, but the studying and lead up to it are far far worse then the actual exam itself. Trust me.

Why not do it? If they're dropping out because they want to do it, not because they have a plan that is a waste.

spooiirt!!

for christs sake!! 6th year is only one year , and it goes real fast.
all you have to do is study a bit, do a bit of work for 2-3 months, and then its over! once youve done the leaving thats it, youre finished with school. if you dont do it, itl keep coming back to screw you over!

what was it that otto from the simpsons said:
hey dont worry kid, i got a D once, but it dont matter, now i drive the school bus!

matrim

I've known people who only went through the motions of the leaving because they were pressured into it by people saying how important it was. They didn't care about it so the didn't try and ended up failing 2 or 3 subjects.

Now what would look better to an employer someone who left and got a job/trade or whatever they wanted to do and someone who done the LC and failed some subjects.

If your friend doesn't want to do the LC or go to college they don't force them. It's not very important unless you want to do more study.

Agent Smith

one thing you should remember. there is alway's a back door.
fectac,plc's, England are a few that come to mind.

take my father for a example.

left school at 14. did a aprentaship at 16 for building, it's what he enjoy's and now he run's a Damm well sucsessfull contracting business.

Never Doubt your self i you didnt do the lc.

mine's in june and looking aboot the classroom is just horriable. All the girls are like
"if i dont get 590 i'll just die".

and they are getting all stressed out.


i'm at a stage in life that i Fuc|(ing Hate school but i'm sticking with it so i can just at -least say that i did it.


If i felt like i feel right now a year ago i would have left. but i have desided to stick it out and just do the Bloody thing.


tell him to relax, do the bloody thing and think of the time when he can just chill out, spark up a J in a coffe-house in amsterdam and think back of all thoes **** times in school and think of the mate'd for life he mad and Laugh at them in the rat race.

It's not the End Of the World, it' help's but it aint the end of the world.

Lolo

Just want to get my oar in on the "it's not the end of the world" side - if your friend does decide they want to go to 3rd level education after all, it's possible to get in as a mature student with no leaving cert, depending on what they've been doing with their life since leaving school. I took a "year out" which turned into 5 years out before I knew it, went back and did just 1 LC subject at night and got accepted into Trinity and DCU.

cecil

Originally posted by Lolo
I took a "year out" which turned into 5 years out before I knew it, went back and did just 1 LC subject at night and got accepted into Trinity and DCU.

What subject? What course did u get into? I really doubt you would get a place in a good course having just done 1 subject, and wouldnt you have to pay full fees aswell?

SheroN

We all know it's possible to get on with the leaving cert, and we all know it's possible to come back and do it at a later date, it's alot more difficult however.

Try persuade your friend to just do the leaving cert, it's only a few months of work. It'll be worth it in the long run.

de5p0i1er

I never did the leaving cert and I must admit that I regret it as I'll never get a decent job without it and most companys don't want you unless you got some collage education, there are some ppl who do alright without it but alot more that end up working deadend jobs for the rest of there lives. just keep at her to finish, its only a few more months.

Boston

Originally posted by cecil
What subject? What course did u get into? I really doubt you would get a place in a good course having just done 1 subject, and wouldnt you have to pay full fees aswell?

Yes you can, as a mature student/. Girl i know wanted teaching, and after repeatign like twice still could get the points she needed so she said she would wait a year and two and just go in as a mature student. Just say lolo's course required french then all lolo woudl have to do is french then entre as a mature student

Beruthiel

Originally posted by de5p0i1er
I never did the leaving cert and I must admit that I regret it as I'll never get a decent job without it and most companys don't want you unless you got some collage education, there are some ppl who do alright without it but alot more that end up working deadend jobs for the rest of there lives. just keep at her to finish, its only a few more months.

if you regret it so much de5p0i1er
would you not think of going back and doing it at night?

John2002

Originally posted by yeasoda
one thing you should remember. there is alway's a back door.
fectac,plc's, England are a few that come to mind.

PLC stands for Post Leaving Cert. Not quite an option without the LC.

de5p0i1er

Originally posted by Beruthiel
if you regret it so much de5p0i1er
would you not think of going back and doing it at night?

I work nights, its the only way that I can get decient money.

Beruthiel

Originally posted by de5p0i1er
I work nights, its the only way that I can get decient money.

catch 22

de5p0i1er

Originally posted by Beruthiel
catch 22

Thats life. Now that I've got a taste for money I'm not going back to being poor.

spooiirt!!

where do you work? im intersted cos im livin abroad, (im 18) and am planning to move back to dublin at new years. unfortunatly ill have to work in some dump full time to pay for the crap room that ill be renting.

ferdi

can some one please give spooiirt!! some helpful suggestions:

he's 18
wants to move back to dublin from germany
he has a very good leaving cert
wants to get a job here
has the possibility of freeish short term accomadation here

what job could he get which wud pay decent money fast si he could get on his feet here?????? (not IT or prostitution pref.)

i'm sorry its off topic so go here if you can help a guy in need, this is a serious thread btw.

thanks.

Beruthiel

spooiirt!!
go to the work forum on this site for information

spooiirt!!

die wanna wanga!

Beruthiel

Originally posted by spooiirt!!
die wanna wanga!

spooiirt!! I have already put you on a warning for posting muppetrous* comments on this forum
do it one more time and I'm banning you

*man tm

Melodic_Sin

i think if your friend wants to drop out of school you should let her and stop interferring.maybe she hasnt got everything planned out but then whos to say she doesnt?i mean its like someone else up there said - its not the end of the world.there are plenty of options available to her. i was even considering it myself - the leaving cert is a joke and people make a big fuss out of nothing. your life REALLY doesnt depend on it and because you dont sit it it doesnt mean you have no future.so just chill.

Sangre

Yes there are still options, but a low fewer, so my limit yourself to save a few months hassle?

The Lc is only a joke if you want it to be, and dont just 'chill', this is a serious decision for someone this age.

I worked my ass off for 5th and 6th year, did it this year, now I got my 1st pref, in college and loving every single minute thanks to the LC, now noone even mentions the Lc accept for a brief recheck period.