Los Angeles Leadership Academy

My L.A.L.A my life

Elizabeth Ortega
English 12
Nicholas Steed
April 28, 2016

Students in high school underestimate the importance of high school education

and the importance of graduating high school. Earning your high school diploma has a
major contribution to the life as a student. It is proven that earning your high school
diploma are more likely to meet with success in college, career and life. Graduating high
school opens more doors to becoming productive and engaged members of society. Your
choices and your future not only affect you but it has an affect on their community and
your nation as a whole. Once you complete high school life after that isnt just about
working. Earning a high school diploma makes you have choices of a better life style and
future success. The biggest factor contributing to students graduating from high school is
the many opportunities that open after that.
Not getting a high school diploma isnt the end of the world but it does close
many of the high paying jobs. Without graduating high school you close many
opportunities of having a different life style. According to Lisa Finn the types of jobs you
can get without having a high school diploma is retail, writing. Construction,
cosmetology, Delivery, and Restaurants. All of these jobs are very tiring and only pay
minimum wage. Due to many people seeking these types of jobs because they didnt
finish high school or dont have a working permit there are many people in the line of
getting these type of jobs. Another problem is that some of these jobs can be seasonal and
its only possible to stay there for a limited amount of time so sooner or later your going to
be without a job. Graduating high school increases your chances of going to college and
earning a college degree and by doing that you open a door full of choices and
opportunities that couldnt be given to you without finishing high school.

Not only is career opportunities a big factor contributing to students graduating

from high school but also it is important to further on your education. Furthering you
education has many benefits for example it teaches you many great skills where u can
apply it to every day work weather it has to do with school or work. You will have a
different mentality of how to problem solve the difficulties you may come across and find
many effective solutions. All of these are benefits of just graduating high school and
earing a high school diploma to increase your chances of being able to further your
education.
There is also additional incentives as to why graduating high school is
important not only will you feel good about yourself when you graduate from high
school, but it helps protect your physical health. Graduating high school youll be more
than likely to access to medical care or health insurance for your job and will be able to
produce the funds to pay for it and it would be a lot easier. You will be able to pay for it
because you will more than likely have a better salary by graduating high school. Other
additional incentives is that you will be a great role model for you family and sibling it
will encourage them to stay in school and if you further your education there is a higher
percentage they will do the same. The more you learn the more well rounded you will be
as a person and open more opportunities.
Statistics show that that individuals who complete high school in four years are
less likely to be unemployed. In a 2006 statistic study students that never completed high
school had a 16.3% unemployment rate eight years later. Although life may be okay when
you dont get your high school diploma the negative affects can be long term. It may not
have affected you right away but it will catch up to you and as this statistic shows in eight

years those students that dropped out were unemployed. Another study showed that in
those eight years the unemployment rate among those who earned their high school
diplomas with in the four years of high school dramatically lowered at inly 4.7%.
There are many big factors contributing with earning you high school diploma
but the time you earn it is important as well and has a major affect. It is best to earn your
diploma in the four years given to you to graduate. It is not recommended to drop out and
decide to come back later on to finish or earn your GED instead of your high school
diploma. Taking longer than four years to earn your diploma can have even more of a
negative effect. Individuals who spent more than six years pursuing their high school
diploma experienced a massive 18.1% unemployment rate. It is important to just finish in
the time your given it will have a much better impact than waiting and taking longer to
graduate.
Every year more than 1.2 million students drop out of high school in the United
States alone. That is a very high number that is one student every 26 seconds or 7,000 a
day. The drop out rates are really high. They have decreased but not enough. Since 1990
to 2010 drop out rates has gone down 3%. A high school dropout will earn $200,000 less
than a high school graduate over his lifetime that is almost a million dollars less than a
college graduate. That is a lot of money student could make by not dropping out of high
school and continuing to study. In the United States 75% of crimes are committed by
students that did not obtain a high school diploma. The reason for these crimes is because
they werent taught the importance of school and because thy struggle to get by in life.

There are many reasons why students dont graduate high school for example
boredom, academic struggle, lack of parental support, and money. According to the
article Phycology Today high school student dont graduate high school because of
boredom because they dont find school interesting or find a personal connection with
their teachers. Other interest may be in their minds such as getting a job and wanting to
start a career already. Another reason as to why students dont graduate high school is
because they struggle in their academic work. Having a low GPA or not having the
amount of credits to graduate makes them give up and just quit. Lastly, students drop out
due to lack of support if there parents. The lack of parental involvement is a problem with
students that often leads to higher dropout rates, especially with high school students
because it is proven that they do better when they have there parents supporting them and
pushing them to do better. Parents play an important role when it comes to high school
students. Students that dont graduate high school often have parents who weren't
engaged or concerned with their academic success. If a parent doesn't encourage her child
to stay in school or show interest in classes and teachers, communicate with
administration, or pay attention to homework assignments, the student wont be
committed to do there classwork or homework. When parents don't prioritize their child's
high school education, the child may choose to drop out, according to an article on the
United Way website.
In conclusion, there are many factors contributing to students graduating high
school. Getting you high school diploma should not be underestimated on the importance
of it. There is many benefits that will be gained by graduating high school and earning

your high school diploma. Taking advantage of these opportunities with help you gain
high success in your future jobs and life.

Work cited
"Benefits of Having a High School Diploma." Benefits of Having a High School
Diploma. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2016.
"Causes of High School Dropouts." LoveToKnow. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2016.
"Demonstrating the Benefits of High School Completion | Community Guidebook."
Community Guidebook. Web. 29 Apr. 2016.
Fireside, Bryna J. Choices for the High School Graduate: A Survival Guide for the
Information Age. New York, NY: Ferguson, 2005. Print.
"Top 10 Reasons to Get Your High School Diploma Through Advanced Academics
Online School." Top 10 Reasons to Get Your High School Diploma Through Advanced
Academics Online School. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2016.
"Wahm Articles." 6 Reasons for Getting Your High School Diploma. N.p., n.d. Web. 19
May 2016.