# Back to School **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 9, 2001, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-school/92323 "2001-11-09T00:49:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-school/92323/1 "2001-11-09T00:49:59Z")
I’d completed the 8th grade and gotten half way through the 9th grade when I dropped out of school a few years ago. I never really regretted dropping out of the public school system because, in all honesty, I just couldn’t do it. When I wasn’t busy defending myself to the teachers and administration, I was busy adjusting to yet another new school, getting kicked out of several schools and transfered only to be kicked out again. I fully admit to making several mistakes and being a pain in the ass at my first school but think that it’s terribly unfair that, because of that, I automatically had a reputation in every school after that. So I don’t regret leaving it. At the time, it seemed worth it to me; an even trade - sacrifice my diploma to maintain my sanity. What I didn’t know then is I would have lost my sanity anyway. 😉 Fast forward to the present. I don’t know why but all of a sudden my diploma has become very important to me. Maybe I’ve grown up a little, become a bit more mature in the last couple years. I’ve always wanted my diploma, just never enough to actually _do_ anything about it. Until now. Tomorrow at 1:30pmCST I have an interview with the people at an alternative program for adults who never completed high school. It’s not a GED, like every other “alternative program” out there, but an actual diploma. You can even set it up so that once you earn your credits you can A) participate in the local graduation ceremony, or B) try to get your own high school to agree to let you participate in _their_ graduation ceremony. I’m terribly excited. I’m unsure of what the outcome of this is going to be, since I’m very impatient and become easily discouraged. I’m hoping I don’t back out, that I can stick with it and earn my diploma. But, to be honest, I’m already insanely proud of myself for making it this far. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-school/92323/2 "2001-11-09T00:53:35Z")
That’s about the best news I’ve heard all day. We all know you will make it. ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-school/92323/3 "2001-11-09T00:55:24Z")
Can we make flash cards and quiz you in chat? I miss flash cards! That rocks, **slvr**. All my best to you–you can do this, and you know it. Go you! ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-school/92323/4 "2001-11-09T02:22:00Z")
But now you’ll never know the pain of . . . Oh, what the hell does it matter? That’s one less person has to go through it, is all:) Good luck, and don’t take any wooden nutmegs. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-school/92323/5 "2001-11-09T02:28:51Z")
Very cool. I hope you do good. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-school/92323/6 "2001-11-09T02:29:08Z")
Okay **Rasa** , you can make flash cards. 🙂 One hour of class per subject each week, and one is only allowed to take three subjects simultaneously. So three hours of class a week isn’t too bad. I do believe I will start with science, math, and english (since they’ve always been my favorite school subjects). ---
**Author:** ![Tattva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@Tattva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tattva)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-school/92323/7 "2001-11-09T03:20:43Z")
That sounds very nifty! How long will it take you to complete your coursework?? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-school/92323/8 "2001-11-09T03:54:39Z")
Heh, good question. Which is why I’m so nervous and doubting my ability to stick with it without becoming discouraged- I have no idea how long this is going to take. It’s completely up to me how quickly I want to work, which is “as quickly as possible”. I’m _really_ hoping it doesn’t take longer than 12-18 months. Two years **tops**.