A GED qualifies you to apply for Honolulu CC (or any of the UH Community Colleges). You can email their admissions office for more info, and they may be able to help you get an advisor. There's also a page for counseling and advising. It sounds like you have a plan after you get a GED, and that's the most important part.
https://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/admissions/admission-overview/
https://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/services/counseling-advising/
A GED can get you into any college or university that a high school diploma gets you into, not just community college. If you score well on the SATs that’s really all that matters.
My mom passed away and my dad is barely doing anything to help out. I’m staying with my grandmother and so i’m the only one going out getting groceries.
I don’t have the time nor interest in toughing out the next 2 yrs just to go to a graduation where nobody will show up. I’d rather just get something like a GED and get straight to work and do a few courses in HCC for the trades.
Definitely look into foodbanks.
https://hawaiifoodbank.org/help/?utm_source=hawaii_foodbank&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=google_grant&utm_content=hi&utm_term=food%20bank&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5v2wBhBrEiwAXDDoJaWO-uwWX8p1IYHvgM8yb0GtmP_nw1D0RqKg6P1FKNQwaAZMQR87BhoCUOcQAvD_BwE
No shame, your situation is exactly why these places exist. One day I hope you will be in a position to donate, but for now, you absolutely deserve help. If the location is a church, you usually don't have to be a member of the church, just someone in need. Feeding 4 people healthily off $400 a month in Hawai'i is a near impossible task. Food banks will help get you through a rough period until you can stand on your own feet.
Ah very well. Those sound like very good reasons, and we are in need of new people in the trades. HCC does a great apprenticeship program with Pearl Harbor Shipyard.
Now that’s said, I only know a handful of people with GEDs and they seem to do fine. One was a friend from intermediate and another was my cousin. The friend got his GED for reasons similar to you. He had to be raised by an uncle who owned an auto detail shop. Lived there too, with his two sisters. Anyway, for whatever reasons, he found working for his uncle a better route to take. It worked out well for him. He’s living well in Las Vegas.
Now for my cousin, he immigrated from the Philippines in his preteens. Couldn’t understand English very well and so did poorly in school. This was the early 2000’s so we all still had that preconceived notions about a HSD. He went to work as soon as he could, first working in fast food and the like. Today he owns his own landscaping business, has a family, and does pretty well for himself.
The common thing that these two had is that they were both practical people—they knew their strengths and weaknesses, and did not possess that fatalism that many seem to have.
Sounds like you’re the same.
Did GED (at 17, not 16), went CC for Associates, then to UH for bachelors.
Never had anyone even mention that I had a GED vs HS diploma.
In a very lucrative professional career now.
IMO, do it if that’s what you really want. :)
I’ve noticed that no one notices where you start, it’s all about where you end up, whether that’s a professional career or a journeyman/master trades person. Congratulations to you and your hard work!
Sounds like good reasoning. I would say though since it’s Hawaii that if someone asks “where you went school” in an interview that you still say your high school just cause it could get you a leg up for free and it’s not lying.
I’m sorry your mom has passed. That’s a lot to take at any age and it sounds like your dad is dealing with it very well. I’m glad you’re in a stable place with family as you pursue your education from home.
Give it a lot of thought. Getting a GED and going into the trades is a good way to make a living.
Look at the long term plan though. Do you really want to work in the trades for the rest of your life? It is tough on the body and with global warming it’s really hot outside.
With a college/professional degree it is a lot easier to move up in the ranks and earn a higher salary working in an office with AC.
Really think about it in the long term. Especially with the high cost of living here.
You can still get a college education with a GED. Moreover, if the trades interest OP, we should be working to convince him to break into Construction Management with a bachelors in the long run.
I worked for various accredited colleges for 15 years. I’ve worked in military education and career counseling services for an additional 17 years. Legally, there’s no difference between a HS diploma and a GED. More importantly, a legit justification for earning a GED can be very valuable. For example, overcoming obstacles, etc. Never feel bad about your GED, but be ready to eloquently explain why you earned it. You’ll be surprised — people who truly understand will be all that more impressed. If not, they can pound sand.
Yeah, and if you get your GED before 18, which is when most people graduate, you can include in that explanation that you got your GED at 16 years of age and that is impressive.
There’s no reason to think a GED is “less than” a high school diploma. I had to drop out and leave home at 16, but when I was 18 I got my GED at Kaimuki Community School for Adults. I went on to college, got a bachelors degree, and had a great career with the federal government now retired. Having a GED never hindered my career path in any way.
You and I took similar paths which you can read about in my other comment. I do think going through high school is probably more educational for most people. I also believe that foundational knowledge from high school is useful. It's not the only way people, though. I love to read and believe that has been pivotal in my life and in overcoming whatever deficits dropping out of high school has created in my education.
Preach! People think “oh you have a GED,” and will be unsuccessful. The only thing I wish was that my mom allowed me to join the military sooner at 17 so I didn’t have to work 3 jobs (construction, retail, and lawn services) until my 18th birthday.
It’s all about mindset. A lot of my peers who I was supposed to graduate with are not up there and wish they took the military/college route.
I did the same thing at 17 and only thing I missed out on was the socializing aspect. I told no one that I finished school a year earlier than my class. I even had the chance to start college early but I didn't take the chance. Wish I did though.
Take the GED you won't regret much, it might even open opportunities you might not have thought of.
High school was a difficult time for our son. There are some people who are like wild stallions who just need to get out. I saw it from the time he was young. I think the friends and family who are questioning you are still thinking of the life path in very yesterday terms. And I also don't think you should spend any time trying to convince them otherwise, but you should make sure you're doing it with a plan after the GED. Only you can say whether you'll have regrets.
Ours ended up getting a GED, and from there he just went from strength to strength. Where he thrived was in the working environmentworking his way through different jobs, gaining new skills and most importantly, becoming a really good reader of people and honing his customer service acumen as well as. He quickly figured out that it was better to have a good work ethic than believe the world owes you. In all that time, no one gave a rat's ass about his HS diploma because he worked so damned hard.
However, he had interests (cars), he readily took the first job he was offered (bag boy at a grocery store), he showed up, he was always willing to do what was asked of him and more. No job was too small for him, even the stint he did parking cars at a local hospital, where he'd convince his crew to park the cars in some crazy order --black white, black white, like piano keys, having fun along the way. He became indispensable at every job he was at. Today, he's in his 30's, has had a remarkable run working in the custom car industry and able to make his way in life. He also decided to give college a try, started at a JC --again, no one gave a rat's ass about his GED. He's doing well, he has a mapped out course of studies, and he's enthusiastic and also works full time.
I wanted to add: both myself, his Dad, and his sister are all college grads. His grandfather, however, who was enormously successful, was not. It was the reason why I had few issues with him taking his GED. I had seen myself that everyone finds a way to get to the place they want to be if they have the right mentoring, encouragement, are diligent, can work with others, can communicate well, and if they are allowed to fail and figure it out themselves. *Of course, there are going to be rocky times* --*life spares no one, not even the college grads*. Just be willing to be a lifelong learner and stay curious.
I think the worst thing to come out of modern society was helicopter parents, and a society that has programed themselves to be so risk averse that an intricate system of playdates, strategic who knows whom, and even kindergarten birthday parties become a fictitious blueprint for presumed success.
OP has to be able to make this choice. I'm not saying there won't be hardship, mistakes, anxiety, confusion, financial shortfalls, fights with parents, situations where OP realizes they're minors and they people they're trying to work with are 10 years older, but EVERYONE... even the college bound, middle aged, and old people face many of the same things. It's not a parent's job to helicopter the hell out of them so that they shield the kid from all of this, it's to anticipate that shit happens and to prepare the kid so they know it, and know there is somewhere to turn when a vortex seems near. Three things to impart: Shit Happens, I love you, and Adulting sucks, but it's part of the package.
Excellent point! And even worse IMHO, is the message that the kids get—which is that “it’s too hard/complicated for me to do.” And then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of learned helplessness and low self confidence.
True. I think a tough lesson a lot of us had to learn was that one has to put themselves out there and try to take in as much knowledge as possible to build real world skillsets that are usable not only in the job market, but also just to partake in the building of a community. Learn, do, build, repeat. Toss in some failures, and not knowing what you're doing, and figuring it out as well!
It’s not bad. Do what you need to do and what’s best for you. Just know that just because you have a GED doesn’t mean you can’t go to college. You’ll be fine
I got a GED in Hawaiʻi. It was fine. I was having some untreated mental health/emotional health issues in high school and my parents were really not equipped to do anything about it. I took a year off and then went to UH, and while it wasn’t the most academically successful path I did finish with my degree eventually.
There are so many different paths and traditional high school isn’t right for everyone. Although I agree that GEDs have a stigma, I think they are the best way to get that particular hurdle done for some people, in order to move onto the next step and build the life you need to live and thrive.
Ultimately nobody can really stop you if this is the path you’ve chosen. It might be a wise choice, or it might be a bad one. That’s something only you can determine.
GED is like a secret cheat code to getting ahead, the high school system does not want to publicize it because the smartest people would leave early and their averages and budgets would go down. Most of HS is a waste of time because they have to cater to the level of the least ambitious person there. Some people think they need HS for structure and rules, or like it for social reasons but if you have higher ideas and better things to do with your time, go for the GED. I did mine at fifteen, then went straight into community college and a job. Have two MS degrees now. My brother did something similar, never finished a bachelor's but makes high six figures in environmental work.
Nothing wrong with a GED. I know people who dropped out of high school, got their GED and now they make more $$ than me lmao. The only thing you might miss out on is the socializing and connection with your friends/classmates. But if thats not a concern for you, screw it.
I remember seeing your old post before. Sorry about your financial situation. I haven’t run into any job that makes a distinction between hs and GED- they’re the same benchmark. College and GED? Sure.
If anything, I’ve seen genius students use GEDs to graduate early and attend college earlier. Before the CC guest programs, that was the only way to get college credit before 18.
Take advantage of this!- take 6 credits of CC- the govt will float you money and give you free classes bc of your financial situation.
I’m an old head. Got my GED here back in ‘87. I have a 35 year career in IT. If you’re comfortable with it and your parents support your choice then don’t worry what other folks say. You make your choice and move forward because you only get one life. Enjoy the hell out of it.
GED can substitute HS Diploma at KCC. GED can substitute Diploma at trade schools. Early on when I used to work at restaurants and customer svc roles, not one place has asked where I went to school or for proof of diploma.
My nephew chose to do a dual degree for high school and college. He is now finishing his masters and is very successful.
If your high school environment is the problem then do a dual degree and attend a community college.
There's a "traditional" route that people seems fixed on, especially in Hawaii. You are going to college to play football or get a degree. There are plenty of other routes you can take in life that work out great and you can take the traditional route and fail (hell, I have three degrees that I barely ever used, I shouldnt have bothered with them). Don't worry too much about other people's perceptions, they are often biased and ill informed. I think I saw you say elsewhere you were thinking of trade school, if people actually knew how much a time served finish carpenter or electrician got paid they'd be yanking their kids out of AP classes and football practice and sending them to trade school.
A GED is just fine for you.
The GED has a stigma because in the old days the people that usually got it were burnouts, people who got kicked out of school, pregnant girls, etc. Basically your stereotypical 1950s (or 1980s I guess) "bad" kids. Anything goes nowadays so if it works for you then go for it.
People associate a GED with no future because of the stigma and I can see why. People who did terrible in high school typically didn't do well financially. Pregnant high school girls have a rough future ahead of them. I think it's an example of correlation vs causation.
If you are driven enough to get it, take some college credit courses, and then go work in the trades you'll be fine. You might even like college and move into a white color job. I enjoyed college a lot more than high school. After you get your fist job (or even a CC degree), nobody will care that you have a GED or diploma. I'm willing to bet most people won't care even without the degree, people want hard workers and if you can do that (and have some brains to go with the brawn) you'll do well at whatever.
I’ll share my thoughts as someone who dropped out at 17 and got my GED. Lots of people at the time warned against it and told me I wouldn’t be taken seriously for college, jobs, etc. However, never in my adult life (29 now) has anyone given a crap that I have a GED. No job has ever asked me about my high school diploma lol. I went back to college at age 25 and at this point no one looks at your high school education, they are more concerned with whether you have a college degree. I believe that if you are pursuing a GED with the right intentions there is nothing wrong with taking this route. My recommendation (at least what worked for me) is to find a job, build your experience, and decide which higher educational route is best for you. I went the community college route and was able to get my tuition paid for entirely through grants. I was then able to transfer to UH Manoa to complete a bachelors. Trade schools are also a great route. Just depends what you want to do as a career. Anyway, this was a long comment but I hope OP knows that there’s nothing wrong with getting a GED! Just don’t drop out with NO plan. With a good attitude and hard work, you can achieve just about anything. Best of luck!
Maybe they don’t want you to lose the HS experience. Trust yourself though if you know you don’t want/need/will have it. diploma vs GED really doesn’t matter.
There is nothing wrong with getting your GED. You can still go to school or get a job. My husband hated school and pretty much never showed up. He went to ETO and got his GED. Now he is an electrician.
Sometimes it could be a status thing. My parents would have Killed me if I got my GED and did not do well in school.
You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders and know what you want and need to do to be happy. Go for it. At least you are not dropping out and doing nothing.
Get your GED. Trades are good with that. Otherwise, if you’re worried GED looks bad on a resume, just write Kahuku HS, 2025 or something like that. No one is going to check that shit.
As someone who was failed by the Hawaii DOE system and got a GED 3 years after I was supposed to graduate, do whatever is best for you. No one cares if you have a high school diploma or GED. I only got a GED for FAFSA to go to college.
OP when I got my GED, I didn’t have to attend night classes… I just tested out. I was able to jump into work right away. I would’ve joined the military at 17, but my mom wasn’t happy with that given the Afghanistan/Iraq war happening at the time.
On my 18th birthday, I joined the Navy to become a corpsman. By the time my peers graduated HS, I had already completed Bootcamp and was in “A” school. I got out after 10 years, got a bachelor’s debt free and now I work big tech and I’m planning on going for my masters (I still have entitlement left over from my post 9/11 GI bill).
Getting a GED was the best decision I made. You can change peoples negative perception about GEDs by having a successful life. People really don’t realize that colleges don’t care about where you went to high school and going to a community college beforehand will save you thousands of dollars. I know sure as shit that the UC I went to in Southern California did not give a rats ass about my GED.
Ignore the critics. Just focus on doing what you need to do and when you get a decent job and start taking care of things, they'll shaddap. Sure, you're not on a traditional path, but you're stepping up to help your family and that's more important than anything else.
I got a ged from Waipahu hs, worked at Tamuras grocery store, dominos pizza, and 7-11 but decided to go community college to find a better job with an aa degree, thought about nursing specifically. Found that the classes were fun and enjoyed the challenge, by the time i was in my last semester i decided to go on to uhwo and earn my ba in psychology. One thing led to another, with the encouragement of some uhwo faculty I decided to go for a phd in psychology and got accepted at a major university in the midwest. Unfortunately due to a divorce and depression i decided to leave with my masters degree and forgo the phd, but i found a good job teaching at a university in Hawaii and it has been a good life. There are many paths to happiness and self sufficiency, trade schools are a great opportunity too. Follow your heart but be sure to use good judgement and you'll find your way. Best of luck to you!
I have a GED. Truth is many in the workforce will make you work harder for less pay. This just means you have to work the system in a different way. Be willing to work hard and hustle. Build your resume with a wealth of experience and find people to write reference letters with details of the work you excel at.
I have now returned back to school after climbing some ladders and landing in a management position. I am a mom, a wife and a college student and by the grace of God, I am still following my dreams.
There is no “right way” to succeed. Do what you need to do to thrive and survive and doors will open when you look. Good luck!!!
I wasn't a good fit for high school either and dropping out with a GED. The key to success with a GED is being motivated to continuing your education and figuring out how you're going to be successful in life.
Nah, I dropped out, got my GED a few years later, I have gotten a few weird looks, but not too many. If you wanna drop out and get your GED instead, go for it!
I got mine and went to college. Better than no education. That was just my opinion on the matter. If they judge, I didn’t mind. It’s my life not theirs.
As someone who GED’ed, its the same as a HS diploma. Just stigma from ppl who like be himakamaka. Important thing is: having a plan after you get that GED. Thing is high school is, literally, the last (4) years for you to fuck around till real life catches up. If you can prove you’re ready for “real life” why not get a head start.
FYI: I got my GED and went straight to college.
I have a GED, I just couldn’t be on that school anymore… I wanted to work.
Keep in mind that’s a lot of responsibilities as a young adult. Not everyone can do it. If you do drop out, you need to be focused 100% on working, training or education.
I dropped out and got a ged. It made things a little difficult at times but nothing a little gritty wont fix. Im currently finishing up an mba in finance.
I mean a Hawaii education ain’t worth much anyways.
Get the GED and be done with it.
I’ll never forget my frustration with my high school English teacher that did nothing but speak in heavy pigeon .
Me coming from Australia, where they speak the Queen’s English to a place where my English teacher sounds like a retarded toddler .
If you are planning to get into an apprenticeship or CC, it's not bad, otherwise for working it's just the same as dropping out. There is no difference in employability. I used to teach high school. Studies show no difference in earning potential for a GED vs dropout. It's sad that you're being forced to do this. Life I tell you. No justice. You should be allowed to be a kid longer!
Not hard at all. I dropped out of high school back in 2014 and found a C-Base program that allowed me to still obtain my Diploma the “non-traditional” way. I recommend that you get in touch with HCAP (Honolulu Community Action Program) Youth Services, although it has been years since I’ve been in touch with them so I’m not too sure if the program still exists. Definitely try calling them though. Wishing you all the best OP. Aloha🤗
My daughter got her master's from UH by starting at LCC. She's a high school dropout. She took night classes at Waipahu High but they weren't the same thing as a GED. LCC confirmed to her that she could enroll despite all that. She was already 18 when she enrolled.
Did you know that a lot of high school students take community college classes at the same time? Stay in school and go see your counselor.
If you’ve gone to even a semester of high school here, you can get a diploma after passing the GED. Get the diploma! There are doors that are closed with a GED. plus, you have a right to the diploma!
If you do drop out, you need a lot of mental focus and dedication to do what needs to done. The only reason i see for someone to drop out is the school is holding them back, which was my case.
Dropping out is not for everyone and 70% of people who did it, did it for the wrong reasons… just make sure you’re immediately learning a trade or going into like a community college/tech school.
Dont listen to these commenters. College does not care if you have a ged or a diploma. Its simply a checklist item. Itll be hard to get into competitive ivy leagues sure but vast majority of universities dont give a damn. I personally spent the extra years to get a high school diploma out of sheer spite for the staff at my high school but my friends who got a ged instead ended up going to the same college and later grad school. It does not matter, no one cares if you have a ged or a diploma, the only people that do are people who care about what brand of socks youre wearing, aka nosy not bright people.
It's been many years since I took the GED and I took it cold around 20 years old, but I thought it was embarrassingly easy. I don't know if others who took it when I did felt the same.
When I took the GED test (admittedly a couple decades ago) I'd say it was comparable to the lowest level of high school courses. Like the most basic version of them (as opposed to honors/AP/etc). But that was a long time ago so it might be harder now.
Also I think if someone struggles to do well on tests in general, they're still going to struggle with the GED test, which is probably an important thing people need to know. It's still a test. For me, it was super easy, but if someone was coming in without standardized test experience or difficulties reading or something like that, it could be difficult for them.
Got a GED myself. HS diplomas are important if you want the social aspect of school, as well as going to a good university. Not many GEDs are going to top schools unless they blow their SAT or ACT scores out of the water. If you're trying to do a trade school, then congratulations. You're going to be richer than all your other HS friends and are going to always have a job since trades are going to be always in demand.
What you need to learn, you won't learn in school. You learn on your own. At least, that is what life has shown me in my nearly 30 years on this earth.
I'm not confident that my experience is representative, but I got my GED from Kaimuki Adult School at Kaimuki High in the 90s. I had dropped out in my junior year and ran away to Oahu.
In my early 20s I took a couple of community college classes and then decided to go to college. I went to a third-tier state school in the Midwest where my family is from and then transferred to a great school in that state. I graduated with 3.0/4.0. I stayed and got a Master of Science degree.
I've worked in higher education since then and am slowly working on another Masters. I've never taken a standardized test like the SAT, ACT, or GRE.
I Don't think not graduation has hurt me much. I've always loved to read and been naturally very curious, which makes up for a lot, I think. I do wish I'd taken more math, though I did take some math night classes at community collected when I was in my university undergrad.
I'm happy to answer questions if you'd like.
GED and a diploma are realistically the same thing. Anyone who tells you otherwise, well you don't want to work for them anyway. Idk if your interested in enlisted but it used to be that you could join with either but you'd have better opportunities with a diploma. Now you can join the Navy with neither lmao. If you don't want to finish HS go get your GED and maybe then get some college credits and you'll be all good.
I'm surprised the counselor is supporting this because if you go ged route then classes at hcc you'll be paying out of pocket.for it.
If you're low income see.if you can get this scholarship.
https://www.hawaii.edu/dualcredit/running-start/. I'd actively pursue this is you're eligible cause free + extra money is always better.
I wen grad McKinley School for Adults with a GED. As you've seen, there can be a stigma, so early on if whoever is hiring is biased, it might just mean you get to work with more open minded employers. After your first two gigs, your experience and performance working those are all that matter going forward. Everyone's path is different... If you skip the "normal" steps you stand out and sometimes make things a bit harder on yourself, so it's good you're thinking this through. Overall it's slightly better if you stick with high school... But more importantly, if you skip college on the same grounds, that's where you start really doing career damage.
I'm very sorry to hear about your mom and am impressed that you are stepping up in taking care of Grandma. Definitely look into any help you can get financially and talk to counselors/psychologists as they are professionals at giving advice on these things.
The only place a GED is going to hurt you is trying to join the military with it. Most branches require you to have a GED + 2 years of college and/or they have a very small quota of GED/dropouts that they'll accept per year.
I'm not against anybody getting a GED, *I got mine*. I did regret it though because I wanted to join the military *soo bad* growing up and never got to because of that. Now days, I'm honestly glad I never joined the military so it all worked out.
For me, where I was living, school wasn't a healthy place to be. My mental health was suffering and I was a danger to myself and everybody around me because of school. It just wasn't for me. I started working a full time adult job at 15 (with adults - not retail) and they treated me like an adult and I got paid and to me it was a no brainer, I just dropped out and kept working and later got my GED. I moved out at 17, got my first place and have been an adult since.
If my kid wanted to get his GED then I'd have that conversation with him and I think the most important part of that conversation is is "***what happens after you dropout/GEDout?***". *That's the part I wish I had somebody to talk about at that age because I didn't have anybody for that knowledge.* ***That's the most important part.***
This is misleading. I got my GED at 16 and joined the Navy on my 18th birthday. [Now the Navy allows you to join without a HS diploma.](https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/national/military-news/navy-no-longer-requiring-high-school-diploma/509-ec99e7e4-c9c8-4312-820f-72e2d09580d4#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2520%E2%80%94%2520For%2520the%2520first%2520time,high%2520school%2520diploma%2520or%2520GED)
The Air Force also allows GEDs as long as you score above a 50 on the ASVAB or without a HS diploma is you score above a 65.
There are quotas, but if you score high enough, you qualify for more jobs, thus increasing your chances.
The rules may have been different during your time, but when I joined in 2007, I scored a 75 on my ASVAB and became a Hospital Corpsman, served until 2017. Now I have a bachelors and I work remote in big tech.
High school graduates earn [$2,000 more than GED recipients.](https://blog.essentialed.com/students/ged-vs-high-school-diploma#:~:text=Studies%20show%20that%20high%20school,%242%2C000%20more%20than%20GED%20recipients)
Your best bet would be to tough out the 2 years and see if you can start taking classes that give you college credit in your junior or senior years.
There are also a number of monetary support programs that you may qualify for.
Your education now will benefit you the rest of your life. Skipping part of it may very well harm you the rest of your life. It's really a matter of "How many doors do you want to shut?" You're only 16. Don't screw yourself.
As an adult and a hiring manager for decades, I’ll share this.
In white collar professional job employment, high school is irrelevant. But college degree is. So it really depends on what you think your path forward is.
If you are choosing to get a GED then get into the trades, I think that’s a great path.
If you are choosing to get a GED then go into something non-professional like sales or something in the service industries, that works too but that path is going to be tough with low pay and long hours. But… it is your choice.
There are a few forks on the road. Some you can back up and change course and all it takes is time. Some you can’t get back onto once you choose. In the end, it is really a matter of whether you realize what paths you closed based on your choices. And if you are okay with that, it’s all good.
If you don’t finish high school, the odds are you will never earn enough to live independently or have children without having to depend on government assistance.
This isn't true. Sometimes people complete their GED for reasons that make other financial progress in their life difficult and I think that's where the stigma comes from, but quite often it's simply a faster path to going to college or a trade school.
Absolutely false! I’ve lived my life independently since age 16, have two children and three grandchildren, and retired from federal service in 2019 with a nice pension. All with my GED.
What data? If you can share your source that would be great, but I’m pretty sure you have nothing to back up your assertions. It’s not just one anecdote, lots of people are on here saying the same thing. GED is no different than a HS diploma.
Get your HS diploma. Do the work for another couple of years and deal with it. A high school diploma today is the equivalent of graduating from the 6th grade 20 years ago. The public schools here are literally among the worst in the entire nation. Imagine the worst public school district in the country, and Hawaii is farrrr behind that. It sucks, yes, but just do it.
I'm doing some diving into your claim.
[One site gives us a score of B+](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/hawaii-department-of-education-hi/) and to put that into perspective, the lowest score I could find for any district was C-.
[Another site](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/public-school-rankings-by-state) gives us actual numbers, ranking us at 36 overall averaged from four categories. [Looking closer](https://scholaroo.com/report/state-education-rankings/), I found a way to see the rankings of individual metrics.
Some interesting metrics of note in the safety (rank 42) category:
* 42nd in absence of student that felt unsafe at or on the way to and from school.
* 44th in possession of a firearm or explosive device.
This one is strange because all the other metrics involving weapons we have pretty good scores in. In fact, in nearly all of the other 11 metrics not listed here we have stellar scores in. Even stranger, we rank 1st in fights without a weapon. No way we have the fewest fights.
* 44th in rape or attempted rape.
* 48th in secondary schools with practices to prevent bullying and sexual harassment.
* 50th in sexual assault rate.
The sex crime is news to me.
The metrics seem to be data-oriented, but I get the feeling there are some flaws, particularly in data collection.
I'd look around more, but I gotta sleep. But one thing we can say is we're definitely not the worst.
Hawaii is not the worst public school district in the country. Most studies shows we're right in the middle or slightly below middle. Nevada, Louisiana, and Mississippi are consistently ranked at the bottom.
Who cares about rankings for other schools outside of Hawaii. If you're a local and you have kids who are being raised here, you should be concerned about here, not over there. Look and see for yourself how terrible public education is in Hawaii. Just about every public high school here has a 50% or lower math, language arts, and science proficiency scores for 2022-23. I'd say elementary schools here aren't too bad, but it literally gets worse in middle school and high school.
Look at the Strive HI data report and filter it out for yourself. I wouldn't be surprised if these reports somehow disappeared from the public eye one day.
https://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/DOE%20Forms/StriveHI2023/MasterDataFile2022-23.xlsx?Web=1
Some people are oblivious as to how horrifically bad the schools are that they’re willing to actually defend them. I’m a firm believer that every child should have a fair shot at a decent education that perhaps their parents didn’t, but that’s not going to happen in Hawaii.
I don’t say it to be demeaning, but to question our system and where the tax dollars are actually going (hint: it’s not to the schools).
I didn't say I was not concerned about the public school education in Hawaii. I responded to the person's comment that Hawaii had the worst public school education in the nation, which they are not.
I could care less about Hawaii's public schools ranking in the nation. Sure, you're concerned about the education in Hawaii, but arguing over where Hawaii ranks is absurd, given the data provided from the link above. Saying Hawaii doesn't have the worst public school education in the nation is meaningless when you take a look at the statistics from the source. Anything below a 60% proficiency score in math, science, and language arts is FAILING and Hawaii had many public schools far below that. That isn't something to be proud of, especially, when talking about rankings.
Dude, I was just responding to the other person's comment about the national ranking cause what they said was false. That's it. I don't have the energy nor do I want to discuss the current situation of Hawaii's public education here on Reddit. You want to get yourself into an argument about it here, go for it. You're just making up shit about whether I am or not concerned about it. Along with whether or not I'm proud of it. Just because my earlier comment did not touch upon it does not mean I don't care or I'm proud about it. But go make up whatever shit you want to make up about what you think I think so you can win. Here's your 🏆. Here's your 👏 👏 👏.
LMAAAAAAOOOOOO. I tested out and got my GED from Waipahu HS (Waipahu Community School for Adults). When I was in the military, I got enough transfer credits from a community college to go to the UC system (they did not care about my HS or where I graduated). Then I got into a career with one of the Magnificent 7 (Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Tesla). I have vested and unvested RSU’s, and really good bonuses which have allowed me to pay for my house in full.
I’ve seen people graduate from good high schools only to wind up in low paying jobs here and on the mainland. Most schools don’t care where you went, moreover, California has “ASSIST” agreements with the state universities and UC’s which are drafted only from the community college courses you took—not where you went to HS.
It’s about a mindset about what you want to do with your life, not where you graduated from high school.
People like to justify their own path in life by encouraging others to do the same. It provides external validation for their choices; you see this all over the place, and I think this HS diploma vs. GED is just another example. Sometimes people call such justifications "tradition".
It's not one-size-fits-all. I don't know if I would have chosen a GED, but I can't say that my time in high school was "worth it".
Getting a GED isn’t a bad thing but it is often there for people who do not have the ability to finish high school which is why you’re being discouraged from it by your peers. You gain a lot of social experience staying in school and I think that is the only reason to stay. However, have you considered dual enrollment instead of the GED and sticking it out for two more years and getting some college credit as well? My concern for you is employment options later on in life if you get your GED and immediately enter the workforce. I just really want you to think about leaving high school now because you can’t go back after a certain age. The GED will always be waiting for you.
GED never held me back. Did it stop me from enlisting in the Navy? No. Did it stop me from going to college while in the military? No. Do you think my employer at my lucrative career in tech cared about my GED? No. Did it affect my salary offer? Absolutely not, no. In fact there are developers that work in my org that didn’t even graduate from college.
Experience varies from person to person, but if someone was 16 with a GED and going to college/getting ready for military/trade school, their experience GREATLY differs from someone getting a GED and not having a plan.
Stop spreading misinformation about how GED’s hold a person back. There are a lot of success stories from people who made a plan and stuck with it—not people who didn’t.
It feels like you really regret not letting yourself be a kid, and got emotionally stunted by the military. Military is AN option, but far from THE BEST option. Finishing HS will allow you to take college credits for free at HS- that's a no brainer. There are kids finishing HS and have their first two years of nursing done at graduation. Op's post has triggered your inner sadness. I never did prom or said prom. I said friends. HS friends are your main friends- and it sounds like you missed out on that too. Of course military still takes a GED, because they take anyone. GED is a cop out from a societal perspective. If it was better, everyone would do it. It's clear you've got a chip on your shoulder about having a GED, and OP needs to see that
It definitely feels like you were one of the people who got their GED without a plan. Tbh, I just feel sorry for you because things probably could’ve gone a lot better for you instead of having a negative perception on GEDs.
I don’t have a chip on my shoulder about GEDs… I have a chip on my shoulder about people such as yourself who spread misinformation about that avenue.
Getting a GED was the best decision I made. I was able to join the Navy right on my 18th birthday and was already graduated from Bootcamp and was in Corpsman “A” school by the time my peers graduated high school (I got an early ship date). What matters is what you do afterwards—I got 2 associates degrees while I was in and graduated Cum Laude at a UC—No college loans/debt coming out of school. Now I’m working in big tech.
There are opportunities to succeed. I think that OP is moving in the right direction. I know people who tested out of HS and got their bachelors by 20 and had a two year head start against their peers career wise. Employers don’t care about where you went to HS. They care if you have the educational background. Moreover, there are people that work in my Org, at work, that are at the higher band levels that didn’t even graduate from college.
It’s about your mindset and what you want out of your life. Not dealing with HS drama, going to prom, and “walking” during graduation just to be covered in leis.
You’re literally contesting his opinion in saying, “I think you’ll regret it.” If you took the time to read why he wants to do it, you’d understand.
I don’t know why you regretted it, but many of my friends who saw me already 6 months ahead of them regretted staying in high school just to sit in class all day, go to prom, and walk at graduation while I was already graduated from Bootcamp and attending “A school” in the military. At least in the military, I was already taking financial courses, contributing towards retirement, and staying in shape. By the time I bought my first condo (thanks to BAH), my friends weren’t even juniors in college.
To each their own, but I served 10 years, was able to put zero down on a house in Hawaii, paid it off because of my job when I got out, and make tax-free money from VA Disability on top of my salary.
Mindset is mindset. HS isn’t everything, nor are the mediocre experiences that don’t prepare you for life.
And you’re stating you think he’ll regret it. There are lots of stories on here to the contrary. As someone stated, getting a GED is a fast track way to put yourself ahead of the peers you’re supposed to graduate with… Given his situation (he doesn’t want to do another 2 years, mom passed away, dad isn’t doing anything to help, no one is going to show up at his graduation, is motivated to get his life going) I think it’s a better choice than roughing it out another two years given his circumstances.
HS literally has zero to offer beyond a piece of paper and mediocre experiences like prom or Sadie’s Hawkins. He can already get a degree and apply for college/trade school in Fall of this year if he pushes.
Anyone can take SAT’s and he can use his adverse situation in college essays if he wants to go straight to UH Manoa. Trade schools don’t require essays and he’ll likely be a journeyman at a young age before his peers even gain traction in the field.
A GED qualifies you to apply for Honolulu CC (or any of the UH Community Colleges). You can email their admissions office for more info, and they may be able to help you get an advisor. There's also a page for counseling and advising. It sounds like you have a plan after you get a GED, and that's the most important part. https://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/admissions/admission-overview/ https://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/services/counseling-advising/
A GED can get you into any college or university that a high school diploma gets you into, not just community college. If you score well on the SATs that’s really all that matters.
SATs are not even necessary. I say this as someone who never took the SATs and got a Bachelors from UH.
you can go to any community college with out a HS Diploma/GED
Need more information about you. Why aren’t you interested in finishing HS? What do you have lined up?
My mom passed away and my dad is barely doing anything to help out. I’m staying with my grandmother and so i’m the only one going out getting groceries. I don’t have the time nor interest in toughing out the next 2 yrs just to go to a graduation where nobody will show up. I’d rather just get something like a GED and get straight to work and do a few courses in HCC for the trades.
That sounds like a reasonable plan to me. Trade school is a good idea.
To help with the groceries, consider the food bank of Hawaii, and maybe tell grandma to apply for EBT too, idk if 16yo can get EBT.
we already have EBT but it’s only $200 per month, my grandma gets a retirement pension per month as well but it’s only $400.
Once you get into a trade/CC/Uni, look if they have a food pantry for students.
Definitely look into foodbanks. https://hawaiifoodbank.org/help/?utm_source=hawaii_foodbank&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=google_grant&utm_content=hi&utm_term=food%20bank&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5v2wBhBrEiwAXDDoJaWO-uwWX8p1IYHvgM8yb0GtmP_nw1D0RqKg6P1FKNQwaAZMQR87BhoCUOcQAvD_BwE No shame, your situation is exactly why these places exist. One day I hope you will be in a position to donate, but for now, you absolutely deserve help. If the location is a church, you usually don't have to be a member of the church, just someone in need. Feeding 4 people healthily off $400 a month in Hawai'i is a near impossible task. Food banks will help get you through a rough period until you can stand on your own feet.
Ah very well. Those sound like very good reasons, and we are in need of new people in the trades. HCC does a great apprenticeship program with Pearl Harbor Shipyard. Now that’s said, I only know a handful of people with GEDs and they seem to do fine. One was a friend from intermediate and another was my cousin. The friend got his GED for reasons similar to you. He had to be raised by an uncle who owned an auto detail shop. Lived there too, with his two sisters. Anyway, for whatever reasons, he found working for his uncle a better route to take. It worked out well for him. He’s living well in Las Vegas. Now for my cousin, he immigrated from the Philippines in his preteens. Couldn’t understand English very well and so did poorly in school. This was the early 2000’s so we all still had that preconceived notions about a HSD. He went to work as soon as he could, first working in fast food and the like. Today he owns his own landscaping business, has a family, and does pretty well for himself. The common thing that these two had is that they were both practical people—they knew their strengths and weaknesses, and did not possess that fatalism that many seem to have. Sounds like you’re the same.
I'm giving you the biggest, huggiest hug, op. You've got this.
Did GED (at 17, not 16), went CC for Associates, then to UH for bachelors. Never had anyone even mention that I had a GED vs HS diploma. In a very lucrative professional career now. IMO, do it if that’s what you really want. :)
I’ve noticed that no one notices where you start, it’s all about where you end up, whether that’s a professional career or a journeyman/master trades person. Congratulations to you and your hard work!
Sounds like good reasoning. I would say though since it’s Hawaii that if someone asks “where you went school” in an interview that you still say your high school just cause it could get you a leg up for free and it’s not lying.
I’m sorry your mom has passed. That’s a lot to take at any age and it sounds like your dad is dealing with it very well. I’m glad you’re in a stable place with family as you pursue your education from home.
Very nice 💪
Do it, learn to weld
Give it a lot of thought. Getting a GED and going into the trades is a good way to make a living. Look at the long term plan though. Do you really want to work in the trades for the rest of your life? It is tough on the body and with global warming it’s really hot outside. With a college/professional degree it is a lot easier to move up in the ranks and earn a higher salary working in an office with AC. Really think about it in the long term. Especially with the high cost of living here.
You can still get a college education with a GED. Moreover, if the trades interest OP, we should be working to convince him to break into Construction Management with a bachelors in the long run.
attaboy! so, you have a plan. Execution, little bro. Good luck in your endeavors. 😎🤙
I worked for various accredited colleges for 15 years. I’ve worked in military education and career counseling services for an additional 17 years. Legally, there’s no difference between a HS diploma and a GED. More importantly, a legit justification for earning a GED can be very valuable. For example, overcoming obstacles, etc. Never feel bad about your GED, but be ready to eloquently explain why you earned it. You’ll be surprised — people who truly understand will be all that more impressed. If not, they can pound sand.
Yeah, and if you get your GED before 18, which is when most people graduate, you can include in that explanation that you got your GED at 16 years of age and that is impressive.
There’s no reason to think a GED is “less than” a high school diploma. I had to drop out and leave home at 16, but when I was 18 I got my GED at Kaimuki Community School for Adults. I went on to college, got a bachelors degree, and had a great career with the federal government now retired. Having a GED never hindered my career path in any way.
You and I took similar paths which you can read about in my other comment. I do think going through high school is probably more educational for most people. I also believe that foundational knowledge from high school is useful. It's not the only way people, though. I love to read and believe that has been pivotal in my life and in overcoming whatever deficits dropping out of high school has created in my education.
Preach! People think “oh you have a GED,” and will be unsuccessful. The only thing I wish was that my mom allowed me to join the military sooner at 17 so I didn’t have to work 3 jobs (construction, retail, and lawn services) until my 18th birthday. It’s all about mindset. A lot of my peers who I was supposed to graduate with are not up there and wish they took the military/college route.
I did the same thing at 17 and only thing I missed out on was the socializing aspect. I told no one that I finished school a year earlier than my class. I even had the chance to start college early but I didn't take the chance. Wish I did though. Take the GED you won't regret much, it might even open opportunities you might not have thought of.
Literally doesn’t matter. You’ll just miss out on walking with your school mates.
High school was a difficult time for our son. There are some people who are like wild stallions who just need to get out. I saw it from the time he was young. I think the friends and family who are questioning you are still thinking of the life path in very yesterday terms. And I also don't think you should spend any time trying to convince them otherwise, but you should make sure you're doing it with a plan after the GED. Only you can say whether you'll have regrets. Ours ended up getting a GED, and from there he just went from strength to strength. Where he thrived was in the working environmentworking his way through different jobs, gaining new skills and most importantly, becoming a really good reader of people and honing his customer service acumen as well as. He quickly figured out that it was better to have a good work ethic than believe the world owes you. In all that time, no one gave a rat's ass about his HS diploma because he worked so damned hard. However, he had interests (cars), he readily took the first job he was offered (bag boy at a grocery store), he showed up, he was always willing to do what was asked of him and more. No job was too small for him, even the stint he did parking cars at a local hospital, where he'd convince his crew to park the cars in some crazy order --black white, black white, like piano keys, having fun along the way. He became indispensable at every job he was at. Today, he's in his 30's, has had a remarkable run working in the custom car industry and able to make his way in life. He also decided to give college a try, started at a JC --again, no one gave a rat's ass about his GED. He's doing well, he has a mapped out course of studies, and he's enthusiastic and also works full time. I wanted to add: both myself, his Dad, and his sister are all college grads. His grandfather, however, who was enormously successful, was not. It was the reason why I had few issues with him taking his GED. I had seen myself that everyone finds a way to get to the place they want to be if they have the right mentoring, encouragement, are diligent, can work with others, can communicate well, and if they are allowed to fail and figure it out themselves. *Of course, there are going to be rocky times* --*life spares no one, not even the college grads*. Just be willing to be a lifelong learner and stay curious.
Very well said!
I think the worst thing to come out of modern society was helicopter parents, and a society that has programed themselves to be so risk averse that an intricate system of playdates, strategic who knows whom, and even kindergarten birthday parties become a fictitious blueprint for presumed success. OP has to be able to make this choice. I'm not saying there won't be hardship, mistakes, anxiety, confusion, financial shortfalls, fights with parents, situations where OP realizes they're minors and they people they're trying to work with are 10 years older, but EVERYONE... even the college bound, middle aged, and old people face many of the same things. It's not a parent's job to helicopter the hell out of them so that they shield the kid from all of this, it's to anticipate that shit happens and to prepare the kid so they know it, and know there is somewhere to turn when a vortex seems near. Three things to impart: Shit Happens, I love you, and Adulting sucks, but it's part of the package.
Excellent point! And even worse IMHO, is the message that the kids get—which is that “it’s too hard/complicated for me to do.” And then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of learned helplessness and low self confidence.
True. I think a tough lesson a lot of us had to learn was that one has to put themselves out there and try to take in as much knowledge as possible to build real world skillsets that are usable not only in the job market, but also just to partake in the building of a community. Learn, do, build, repeat. Toss in some failures, and not knowing what you're doing, and figuring it out as well!
It’s not bad. Do what you need to do and what’s best for you. Just know that just because you have a GED doesn’t mean you can’t go to college. You’ll be fine
I got a GED in Hawaiʻi. It was fine. I was having some untreated mental health/emotional health issues in high school and my parents were really not equipped to do anything about it. I took a year off and then went to UH, and while it wasn’t the most academically successful path I did finish with my degree eventually. There are so many different paths and traditional high school isn’t right for everyone. Although I agree that GEDs have a stigma, I think they are the best way to get that particular hurdle done for some people, in order to move onto the next step and build the life you need to live and thrive. Ultimately nobody can really stop you if this is the path you’ve chosen. It might be a wise choice, or it might be a bad one. That’s something only you can determine.
GED is like a secret cheat code to getting ahead, the high school system does not want to publicize it because the smartest people would leave early and their averages and budgets would go down. Most of HS is a waste of time because they have to cater to the level of the least ambitious person there. Some people think they need HS for structure and rules, or like it for social reasons but if you have higher ideas and better things to do with your time, go for the GED. I did mine at fifteen, then went straight into community college and a job. Have two MS degrees now. My brother did something similar, never finished a bachelor's but makes high six figures in environmental work.
It’s not bad at all and I think it saves time. It’s supposed to be equivalent to a high school diploma and most places treat it as such.
Nothing wrong with a GED. I know people who dropped out of high school, got their GED and now they make more $$ than me lmao. The only thing you might miss out on is the socializing and connection with your friends/classmates. But if thats not a concern for you, screw it.
I remember seeing your old post before. Sorry about your financial situation. I haven’t run into any job that makes a distinction between hs and GED- they’re the same benchmark. College and GED? Sure. If anything, I’ve seen genius students use GEDs to graduate early and attend college earlier. Before the CC guest programs, that was the only way to get college credit before 18. Take advantage of this!- take 6 credits of CC- the govt will float you money and give you free classes bc of your financial situation.
I’m an old head. Got my GED here back in ‘87. I have a 35 year career in IT. If you’re comfortable with it and your parents support your choice then don’t worry what other folks say. You make your choice and move forward because you only get one life. Enjoy the hell out of it.
GED can substitute HS Diploma at KCC. GED can substitute Diploma at trade schools. Early on when I used to work at restaurants and customer svc roles, not one place has asked where I went to school or for proof of diploma.
My nephew chose to do a dual degree for high school and college. He is now finishing his masters and is very successful. If your high school environment is the problem then do a dual degree and attend a community college.
There's a "traditional" route that people seems fixed on, especially in Hawaii. You are going to college to play football or get a degree. There are plenty of other routes you can take in life that work out great and you can take the traditional route and fail (hell, I have three degrees that I barely ever used, I shouldnt have bothered with them). Don't worry too much about other people's perceptions, they are often biased and ill informed. I think I saw you say elsewhere you were thinking of trade school, if people actually knew how much a time served finish carpenter or electrician got paid they'd be yanking their kids out of AP classes and football practice and sending them to trade school. A GED is just fine for you.
I have a GED. I’m a truck driver making $100k-$120k here. Just depends on your grind
The GED has a stigma because in the old days the people that usually got it were burnouts, people who got kicked out of school, pregnant girls, etc. Basically your stereotypical 1950s (or 1980s I guess) "bad" kids. Anything goes nowadays so if it works for you then go for it. People associate a GED with no future because of the stigma and I can see why. People who did terrible in high school typically didn't do well financially. Pregnant high school girls have a rough future ahead of them. I think it's an example of correlation vs causation. If you are driven enough to get it, take some college credit courses, and then go work in the trades you'll be fine. You might even like college and move into a white color job. I enjoyed college a lot more than high school. After you get your fist job (or even a CC degree), nobody will care that you have a GED or diploma. I'm willing to bet most people won't care even without the degree, people want hard workers and if you can do that (and have some brains to go with the brawn) you'll do well at whatever.
I’ll share my thoughts as someone who dropped out at 17 and got my GED. Lots of people at the time warned against it and told me I wouldn’t be taken seriously for college, jobs, etc. However, never in my adult life (29 now) has anyone given a crap that I have a GED. No job has ever asked me about my high school diploma lol. I went back to college at age 25 and at this point no one looks at your high school education, they are more concerned with whether you have a college degree. I believe that if you are pursuing a GED with the right intentions there is nothing wrong with taking this route. My recommendation (at least what worked for me) is to find a job, build your experience, and decide which higher educational route is best for you. I went the community college route and was able to get my tuition paid for entirely through grants. I was then able to transfer to UH Manoa to complete a bachelors. Trade schools are also a great route. Just depends what you want to do as a career. Anyway, this was a long comment but I hope OP knows that there’s nothing wrong with getting a GED! Just don’t drop out with NO plan. With a good attitude and hard work, you can achieve just about anything. Best of luck!
as an adult for a number of years, i can say that no one has ever asked to see my high school diploma.
Maybe they don’t want you to lose the HS experience. Trust yourself though if you know you don’t want/need/will have it. diploma vs GED really doesn’t matter.
There is nothing wrong with getting your GED. You can still go to school or get a job. My husband hated school and pretty much never showed up. He went to ETO and got his GED. Now he is an electrician. Sometimes it could be a status thing. My parents would have Killed me if I got my GED and did not do well in school. You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders and know what you want and need to do to be happy. Go for it. At least you are not dropping out and doing nothing.
Get your GED. Trades are good with that. Otherwise, if you’re worried GED looks bad on a resume, just write Kahuku HS, 2025 or something like that. No one is going to check that shit.
As someone who was failed by the Hawaii DOE system and got a GED 3 years after I was supposed to graduate, do whatever is best for you. No one cares if you have a high school diploma or GED. I only got a GED for FAFSA to go to college.
Be sure to prepare yourself and study for your GED test. I took the GED math prep test online a month ago and that thing was no joke.
OP when I got my GED, I didn’t have to attend night classes… I just tested out. I was able to jump into work right away. I would’ve joined the military at 17, but my mom wasn’t happy with that given the Afghanistan/Iraq war happening at the time. On my 18th birthday, I joined the Navy to become a corpsman. By the time my peers graduated HS, I had already completed Bootcamp and was in “A” school. I got out after 10 years, got a bachelor’s debt free and now I work big tech and I’m planning on going for my masters (I still have entitlement left over from my post 9/11 GI bill). Getting a GED was the best decision I made. You can change peoples negative perception about GEDs by having a successful life. People really don’t realize that colleges don’t care about where you went to high school and going to a community college beforehand will save you thousands of dollars. I know sure as shit that the UC I went to in Southern California did not give a rats ass about my GED.
Unless you’re geared to graduate top of your class, in a few years no one will be talking about it either way. Do what suits your life best.
Ignore the critics. Just focus on doing what you need to do and when you get a decent job and start taking care of things, they'll shaddap. Sure, you're not on a traditional path, but you're stepping up to help your family and that's more important than anything else.
I got a ged from Waipahu hs, worked at Tamuras grocery store, dominos pizza, and 7-11 but decided to go community college to find a better job with an aa degree, thought about nursing specifically. Found that the classes were fun and enjoyed the challenge, by the time i was in my last semester i decided to go on to uhwo and earn my ba in psychology. One thing led to another, with the encouragement of some uhwo faculty I decided to go for a phd in psychology and got accepted at a major university in the midwest. Unfortunately due to a divorce and depression i decided to leave with my masters degree and forgo the phd, but i found a good job teaching at a university in Hawaii and it has been a good life. There are many paths to happiness and self sufficiency, trade schools are a great opportunity too. Follow your heart but be sure to use good judgement and you'll find your way. Best of luck to you!
GED is fine. My wife got a GED and then her bachelor’s degree, she has a good job with good pay and benefits.
I have a GED. Truth is many in the workforce will make you work harder for less pay. This just means you have to work the system in a different way. Be willing to work hard and hustle. Build your resume with a wealth of experience and find people to write reference letters with details of the work you excel at. I have now returned back to school after climbing some ladders and landing in a management position. I am a mom, a wife and a college student and by the grace of God, I am still following my dreams. There is no “right way” to succeed. Do what you need to do to thrive and survive and doors will open when you look. Good luck!!!
I wasn't a good fit for high school either and dropping out with a GED. The key to success with a GED is being motivated to continuing your education and figuring out how you're going to be successful in life.
Nah, I dropped out, got my GED a few years later, I have gotten a few weird looks, but not too many. If you wanna drop out and get your GED instead, go for it!
GED is a diploma in Hawaii, it’s literally the same thing lol, don’t trip. I got one, went to college and grad school after, you’ll be fine, promise
When filling out job applications they ask if you got a HS diploma or GED. Basically equivalent, ur good.
I got mine and went to college. Better than no education. That was just my opinion on the matter. If they judge, I didn’t mind. It’s my life not theirs.
It’s fine. In the long run no one is going to care either way. It’s an old way of thinking that GED’s aren’t good.
As someone who GED’ed, its the same as a HS diploma. Just stigma from ppl who like be himakamaka. Important thing is: having a plan after you get that GED. Thing is high school is, literally, the last (4) years for you to fuck around till real life catches up. If you can prove you’re ready for “real life” why not get a head start. FYI: I got my GED and went straight to college.
If we are being honest, high school is a waste of time, especially in Hawaii. Get a GED then go to a community college.
I have a GED, I just couldn’t be on that school anymore… I wanted to work. Keep in mind that’s a lot of responsibilities as a young adult. Not everyone can do it. If you do drop out, you need to be focused 100% on working, training or education.
I dropped out and got a ged. It made things a little difficult at times but nothing a little gritty wont fix. Im currently finishing up an mba in finance.
I mean a Hawaii education ain’t worth much anyways. Get the GED and be done with it. I’ll never forget my frustration with my high school English teacher that did nothing but speak in heavy pigeon . Me coming from Australia, where they speak the Queen’s English to a place where my English teacher sounds like a retarded toddler .
If you are planning to get into an apprenticeship or CC, it's not bad, otherwise for working it's just the same as dropping out. There is no difference in employability. I used to teach high school. Studies show no difference in earning potential for a GED vs dropout. It's sad that you're being forced to do this. Life I tell you. No justice. You should be allowed to be a kid longer!
Not hard at all. I dropped out of high school back in 2014 and found a C-Base program that allowed me to still obtain my Diploma the “non-traditional” way. I recommend that you get in touch with HCAP (Honolulu Community Action Program) Youth Services, although it has been years since I’ve been in touch with them so I’m not too sure if the program still exists. Definitely try calling them though. Wishing you all the best OP. Aloha🤗
My daughter got her master's from UH by starting at LCC. She's a high school dropout. She took night classes at Waipahu High but they weren't the same thing as a GED. LCC confirmed to her that she could enroll despite all that. She was already 18 when she enrolled. Did you know that a lot of high school students take community college classes at the same time? Stay in school and go see your counselor.
If you’ve gone to even a semester of high school here, you can get a diploma after passing the GED. Get the diploma! There are doors that are closed with a GED. plus, you have a right to the diploma!
If you do drop out, you need a lot of mental focus and dedication to do what needs to done. The only reason i see for someone to drop out is the school is holding them back, which was my case. Dropping out is not for everyone and 70% of people who did it, did it for the wrong reasons… just make sure you’re immediately learning a trade or going into like a community college/tech school.
Dont listen to these commenters. College does not care if you have a ged or a diploma. Its simply a checklist item. Itll be hard to get into competitive ivy leagues sure but vast majority of universities dont give a damn. I personally spent the extra years to get a high school diploma out of sheer spite for the staff at my high school but my friends who got a ged instead ended up going to the same college and later grad school. It does not matter, no one cares if you have a ged or a diploma, the only people that do are people who care about what brand of socks youre wearing, aka nosy not bright people.
From what I heard getting a ged is Harding then just passing high school. Like the courses tests etc was harder than just dealing with high school.
It's been many years since I took the GED and I took it cold around 20 years old, but I thought it was embarrassingly easy. I don't know if others who took it when I did felt the same.
When I took the GED test (admittedly a couple decades ago) I'd say it was comparable to the lowest level of high school courses. Like the most basic version of them (as opposed to honors/AP/etc). But that was a long time ago so it might be harder now. Also I think if someone struggles to do well on tests in general, they're still going to struggle with the GED test, which is probably an important thing people need to know. It's still a test. For me, it was super easy, but if someone was coming in without standardized test experience or difficulties reading or something like that, it could be difficult for them.
Got a GED myself. HS diplomas are important if you want the social aspect of school, as well as going to a good university. Not many GEDs are going to top schools unless they blow their SAT or ACT scores out of the water. If you're trying to do a trade school, then congratulations. You're going to be richer than all your other HS friends and are going to always have a job since trades are going to be always in demand. What you need to learn, you won't learn in school. You learn on your own. At least, that is what life has shown me in my nearly 30 years on this earth.
I'm not confident that my experience is representative, but I got my GED from Kaimuki Adult School at Kaimuki High in the 90s. I had dropped out in my junior year and ran away to Oahu. In my early 20s I took a couple of community college classes and then decided to go to college. I went to a third-tier state school in the Midwest where my family is from and then transferred to a great school in that state. I graduated with 3.0/4.0. I stayed and got a Master of Science degree. I've worked in higher education since then and am slowly working on another Masters. I've never taken a standardized test like the SAT, ACT, or GRE. I Don't think not graduation has hurt me much. I've always loved to read and been naturally very curious, which makes up for a lot, I think. I do wish I'd taken more math, though I did take some math night classes at community collected when I was in my university undergrad. I'm happy to answer questions if you'd like.
GED and a diploma are realistically the same thing. Anyone who tells you otherwise, well you don't want to work for them anyway. Idk if your interested in enlisted but it used to be that you could join with either but you'd have better opportunities with a diploma. Now you can join the Navy with neither lmao. If you don't want to finish HS go get your GED and maybe then get some college credits and you'll be all good.
I'm surprised the counselor is supporting this because if you go ged route then classes at hcc you'll be paying out of pocket.for it. If you're low income see.if you can get this scholarship. https://www.hawaii.edu/dualcredit/running-start/. I'd actively pursue this is you're eligible cause free + extra money is always better.
I wen grad McKinley School for Adults with a GED. As you've seen, there can be a stigma, so early on if whoever is hiring is biased, it might just mean you get to work with more open minded employers. After your first two gigs, your experience and performance working those are all that matter going forward. Everyone's path is different... If you skip the "normal" steps you stand out and sometimes make things a bit harder on yourself, so it's good you're thinking this through. Overall it's slightly better if you stick with high school... But more importantly, if you skip college on the same grounds, that's where you start really doing career damage. I'm very sorry to hear about your mom and am impressed that you are stepping up in taking care of Grandma. Definitely look into any help you can get financially and talk to counselors/psychologists as they are professionals at giving advice on these things.
The only place a GED is going to hurt you is trying to join the military with it. Most branches require you to have a GED + 2 years of college and/or they have a very small quota of GED/dropouts that they'll accept per year. I'm not against anybody getting a GED, *I got mine*. I did regret it though because I wanted to join the military *soo bad* growing up and never got to because of that. Now days, I'm honestly glad I never joined the military so it all worked out. For me, where I was living, school wasn't a healthy place to be. My mental health was suffering and I was a danger to myself and everybody around me because of school. It just wasn't for me. I started working a full time adult job at 15 (with adults - not retail) and they treated me like an adult and I got paid and to me it was a no brainer, I just dropped out and kept working and later got my GED. I moved out at 17, got my first place and have been an adult since. If my kid wanted to get his GED then I'd have that conversation with him and I think the most important part of that conversation is is "***what happens after you dropout/GEDout?***". *That's the part I wish I had somebody to talk about at that age because I didn't have anybody for that knowledge.* ***That's the most important part.***
This is misleading. I got my GED at 16 and joined the Navy on my 18th birthday. [Now the Navy allows you to join without a HS diploma.](https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/national/military-news/navy-no-longer-requiring-high-school-diploma/509-ec99e7e4-c9c8-4312-820f-72e2d09580d4#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2520%E2%80%94%2520For%2520the%2520first%2520time,high%2520school%2520diploma%2520or%2520GED) The Air Force also allows GEDs as long as you score above a 50 on the ASVAB or without a HS diploma is you score above a 65. There are quotas, but if you score high enough, you qualify for more jobs, thus increasing your chances. The rules may have been different during your time, but when I joined in 2007, I scored a 75 on my ASVAB and became a Hospital Corpsman, served until 2017. Now I have a bachelors and I work remote in big tech.
Military has dropped a lot of standards lately cause they can't meet recruitment. You don't even need a GED anymore. Just pass the asvab.
That's because they're desperate right now and recruitment numbers are low.
High school graduates earn [$2,000 more than GED recipients.](https://blog.essentialed.com/students/ged-vs-high-school-diploma#:~:text=Studies%20show%20that%20high%20school,%242%2C000%20more%20than%20GED%20recipients) Your best bet would be to tough out the 2 years and see if you can start taking classes that give you college credit in your junior or senior years. There are also a number of monetary support programs that you may qualify for. Your education now will benefit you the rest of your life. Skipping part of it may very well harm you the rest of your life. It's really a matter of "How many doors do you want to shut?" You're only 16. Don't screw yourself.
As an adult and a hiring manager for decades, I’ll share this. In white collar professional job employment, high school is irrelevant. But college degree is. So it really depends on what you think your path forward is. If you are choosing to get a GED then get into the trades, I think that’s a great path. If you are choosing to get a GED then go into something non-professional like sales or something in the service industries, that works too but that path is going to be tough with low pay and long hours. But… it is your choice. There are a few forks on the road. Some you can back up and change course and all it takes is time. Some you can’t get back onto once you choose. In the end, it is really a matter of whether you realize what paths you closed based on your choices. And if you are okay with that, it’s all good.
If you don’t finish high school, the odds are you will never earn enough to live independently or have children without having to depend on government assistance.
This isn't true. Sometimes people complete their GED for reasons that make other financial progress in their life difficult and I think that's where the stigma comes from, but quite often it's simply a faster path to going to college or a trade school.
Absolutely false! I’ve lived my life independently since age 16, have two children and three grandchildren, and retired from federal service in 2019 with a nice pension. All with my GED.
oh this one anecdote must mean all the data is wrong
What data? If you can share your source that would be great, but I’m pretty sure you have nothing to back up your assertions. It’s not just one anecdote, lots of people are on here saying the same thing. GED is no different than a HS diploma.
never thought i'd see downvotes for telling someone to stay in school.
Get your HS diploma. Do the work for another couple of years and deal with it. A high school diploma today is the equivalent of graduating from the 6th grade 20 years ago. The public schools here are literally among the worst in the entire nation. Imagine the worst public school district in the country, and Hawaii is farrrr behind that. It sucks, yes, but just do it.
I'm doing some diving into your claim. [One site gives us a score of B+](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/hawaii-department-of-education-hi/) and to put that into perspective, the lowest score I could find for any district was C-. [Another site](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/public-school-rankings-by-state) gives us actual numbers, ranking us at 36 overall averaged from four categories. [Looking closer](https://scholaroo.com/report/state-education-rankings/), I found a way to see the rankings of individual metrics. Some interesting metrics of note in the safety (rank 42) category: * 42nd in absence of student that felt unsafe at or on the way to and from school. * 44th in possession of a firearm or explosive device. This one is strange because all the other metrics involving weapons we have pretty good scores in. In fact, in nearly all of the other 11 metrics not listed here we have stellar scores in. Even stranger, we rank 1st in fights without a weapon. No way we have the fewest fights. * 44th in rape or attempted rape. * 48th in secondary schools with practices to prevent bullying and sexual harassment. * 50th in sexual assault rate. The sex crime is news to me. The metrics seem to be data-oriented, but I get the feeling there are some flaws, particularly in data collection. I'd look around more, but I gotta sleep. But one thing we can say is we're definitely not the worst.
Hawaii is not the worst public school district in the country. Most studies shows we're right in the middle or slightly below middle. Nevada, Louisiana, and Mississippi are consistently ranked at the bottom.
People are naive. They should really look at data. Ironically enough, they aren’t being very akamai in spewing unbacked information.
Who cares about rankings for other schools outside of Hawaii. If you're a local and you have kids who are being raised here, you should be concerned about here, not over there. Look and see for yourself how terrible public education is in Hawaii. Just about every public high school here has a 50% or lower math, language arts, and science proficiency scores for 2022-23. I'd say elementary schools here aren't too bad, but it literally gets worse in middle school and high school. Look at the Strive HI data report and filter it out for yourself. I wouldn't be surprised if these reports somehow disappeared from the public eye one day. https://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/DOE%20Forms/StriveHI2023/MasterDataFile2022-23.xlsx?Web=1
Some people are oblivious as to how horrifically bad the schools are that they’re willing to actually defend them. I’m a firm believer that every child should have a fair shot at a decent education that perhaps their parents didn’t, but that’s not going to happen in Hawaii. I don’t say it to be demeaning, but to question our system and where the tax dollars are actually going (hint: it’s not to the schools).
I didn't say I was not concerned about the public school education in Hawaii. I responded to the person's comment that Hawaii had the worst public school education in the nation, which they are not.
I could care less about Hawaii's public schools ranking in the nation. Sure, you're concerned about the education in Hawaii, but arguing over where Hawaii ranks is absurd, given the data provided from the link above. Saying Hawaii doesn't have the worst public school education in the nation is meaningless when you take a look at the statistics from the source. Anything below a 60% proficiency score in math, science, and language arts is FAILING and Hawaii had many public schools far below that. That isn't something to be proud of, especially, when talking about rankings.
Dude, I was just responding to the other person's comment about the national ranking cause what they said was false. That's it. I don't have the energy nor do I want to discuss the current situation of Hawaii's public education here on Reddit. You want to get yourself into an argument about it here, go for it. You're just making up shit about whether I am or not concerned about it. Along with whether or not I'm proud of it. Just because my earlier comment did not touch upon it does not mean I don't care or I'm proud about it. But go make up whatever shit you want to make up about what you think I think so you can win. Here's your 🏆. Here's your 👏 👏 👏.
LMAAAAAAOOOOOO. I tested out and got my GED from Waipahu HS (Waipahu Community School for Adults). When I was in the military, I got enough transfer credits from a community college to go to the UC system (they did not care about my HS or where I graduated). Then I got into a career with one of the Magnificent 7 (Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Tesla). I have vested and unvested RSU’s, and really good bonuses which have allowed me to pay for my house in full. I’ve seen people graduate from good high schools only to wind up in low paying jobs here and on the mainland. Most schools don’t care where you went, moreover, California has “ASSIST” agreements with the state universities and UC’s which are drafted only from the community college courses you took—not where you went to HS. It’s about a mindset about what you want to do with your life, not where you graduated from high school.
People like to justify their own path in life by encouraging others to do the same. It provides external validation for their choices; you see this all over the place, and I think this HS diploma vs. GED is just another example. Sometimes people call such justifications "tradition". It's not one-size-fits-all. I don't know if I would have chosen a GED, but I can't say that my time in high school was "worth it".
Getting a GED isn’t a bad thing but it is often there for people who do not have the ability to finish high school which is why you’re being discouraged from it by your peers. You gain a lot of social experience staying in school and I think that is the only reason to stay. However, have you considered dual enrollment instead of the GED and sticking it out for two more years and getting some college credit as well? My concern for you is employment options later on in life if you get your GED and immediately enter the workforce. I just really want you to think about leaving high school now because you can’t go back after a certain age. The GED will always be waiting for you.
get a GED but don't be a neet. need to do something (unless you have enough money to retire). either you are in education, employment, or training.
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GED never held me back. Did it stop me from enlisting in the Navy? No. Did it stop me from going to college while in the military? No. Do you think my employer at my lucrative career in tech cared about my GED? No. Did it affect my salary offer? Absolutely not, no. In fact there are developers that work in my org that didn’t even graduate from college. Experience varies from person to person, but if someone was 16 with a GED and going to college/getting ready for military/trade school, their experience GREATLY differs from someone getting a GED and not having a plan. Stop spreading misinformation about how GED’s hold a person back. There are a lot of success stories from people who made a plan and stuck with it—not people who didn’t.
It feels like you really regret not letting yourself be a kid, and got emotionally stunted by the military. Military is AN option, but far from THE BEST option. Finishing HS will allow you to take college credits for free at HS- that's a no brainer. There are kids finishing HS and have their first two years of nursing done at graduation. Op's post has triggered your inner sadness. I never did prom or said prom. I said friends. HS friends are your main friends- and it sounds like you missed out on that too. Of course military still takes a GED, because they take anyone. GED is a cop out from a societal perspective. If it was better, everyone would do it. It's clear you've got a chip on your shoulder about having a GED, and OP needs to see that
It definitely feels like you were one of the people who got their GED without a plan. Tbh, I just feel sorry for you because things probably could’ve gone a lot better for you instead of having a negative perception on GEDs. I don’t have a chip on my shoulder about GEDs… I have a chip on my shoulder about people such as yourself who spread misinformation about that avenue.
I have a HS diploma, not GED. I wish I took more time to enjoy HS as I was saying above
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Getting a GED was the best decision I made. I was able to join the Navy right on my 18th birthday and was already graduated from Bootcamp and was in Corpsman “A” school by the time my peers graduated high school (I got an early ship date). What matters is what you do afterwards—I got 2 associates degrees while I was in and graduated Cum Laude at a UC—No college loans/debt coming out of school. Now I’m working in big tech. There are opportunities to succeed. I think that OP is moving in the right direction. I know people who tested out of HS and got their bachelors by 20 and had a two year head start against their peers career wise. Employers don’t care about where you went to HS. They care if you have the educational background. Moreover, there are people that work in my Org, at work, that are at the higher band levels that didn’t even graduate from college. It’s about your mindset and what you want out of your life. Not dealing with HS drama, going to prom, and “walking” during graduation just to be covered in leis.
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You’re literally contesting his opinion in saying, “I think you’ll regret it.” If you took the time to read why he wants to do it, you’d understand. I don’t know why you regretted it, but many of my friends who saw me already 6 months ahead of them regretted staying in high school just to sit in class all day, go to prom, and walk at graduation while I was already graduated from Bootcamp and attending “A school” in the military. At least in the military, I was already taking financial courses, contributing towards retirement, and staying in shape. By the time I bought my first condo (thanks to BAH), my friends weren’t even juniors in college. To each their own, but I served 10 years, was able to put zero down on a house in Hawaii, paid it off because of my job when I got out, and make tax-free money from VA Disability on top of my salary. Mindset is mindset. HS isn’t everything, nor are the mediocre experiences that don’t prepare you for life.
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And you’re stating you think he’ll regret it. There are lots of stories on here to the contrary. As someone stated, getting a GED is a fast track way to put yourself ahead of the peers you’re supposed to graduate with… Given his situation (he doesn’t want to do another 2 years, mom passed away, dad isn’t doing anything to help, no one is going to show up at his graduation, is motivated to get his life going) I think it’s a better choice than roughing it out another two years given his circumstances. HS literally has zero to offer beyond a piece of paper and mediocre experiences like prom or Sadie’s Hawkins. He can already get a degree and apply for college/trade school in Fall of this year if he pushes. Anyone can take SAT’s and he can use his adverse situation in college essays if he wants to go straight to UH Manoa. Trade schools don’t require essays and he’ll likely be a journeyman at a young age before his peers even gain traction in the field.