If I Counld Change Just One Thing

If I could Change Just One Thing………

In life there are always moments that we wish we could take back. If given the chance to revisit the past and change the outcome of a situation, I would have not dropped out of school and later gotten my GED. I made this decision at a young age, unaware of how this decision would change my future greatly. In deciding to drop out of school I missed out on the experience that high school gives you and how it would have helped develop my character. If I stayed enrolled in school I would have had more doors opened for my future and the assistance that I would have needed to make those life choices such as college. I would have been able to feel the sense of success when finished with the fours years of high school and know that all my hard work has paid off.

The knowledge and skills obtained while in high school could have assisted me in my future with things such as college or employment, because in high school I would have learned social skills. This is information and skills that could have assisted me in my future and helped me define the type of person that I could have become. A student is taught ethics and problem solving skills. How to correctly present a problem to a college professor or to a potential employer and also how to present themselves. These are important skills that would have assisted in making me successful not only in high school but in all aspects of my life. The social experience is just as important as the educational part of high school. Young adults are taught how to interact with each other and face problems that they will encounter. The friends and bonds that I could have made would have followed me forever. All the chances I missed out on such as attending football games, homecoming and prom. These are things that I have only been told about and was never able to experience. In choosing to drop out I cheated myself the experience of the average teenager, the knowledge and the opportunity to have guidance in my future.

In addition to the life skills and experience that I would have gained while in high school, the guidance that is given would have been beneficial to my future. As a student you attend high school for four years and within that time you receive a guidance counselor that will follow and assist you for those four years. While the student meets with their guidance counselor they are given an outline for potential college plans and which type of college plan is best for them. Whether they should do technical college or four year college. These are choices and decisions that I was unable to make. If I could go back I feel that I would take advantage of this opportunity and find out what my options were for college and what I could have done to further my education. Knowing now at this age how important and helpful college can be, I regret giving up the chance. Even though I am currently in the U.S Army, in high school they also provide the information to students who feel that the military is best for them. High school counselors can help give you information that will help you gain college education while going into the military. Which has always appealed to me. I would have been able to have support in my future that would have helped me succeed.

Success is a wonderful feeling. The feeling to have finished something whether large or small its the sense of accomplishment. Purchasing the cap and gown and going through the four hour ceremony just to get an empty folder. The sense of success and accomplishment walking across that stage as I get to shake the hand of the principal. Knowing that every hour, minute and second of homework was all for this. This is a feeling that I was unable to feel. For many people that have their high school diploma it might not seem like a real sense of accomplishment or they may not feel successful, but as person who didn’t get to experience such things it is a great accomplishment. I would have loved to been able to walk across that stage for my seconds of glory and have the feeling of success.

In conclusion, my choice to not continue my education by going to high school and to drop out has left me regretful in the things that I missed out on. I will never fully know the type of person I could have been. I will never have the skills and experience that high school gives to kids, the joys and the tough times that teens go through. College is now in my future, but I will never have the resources and support that those in high school get. It is up to me to make sure I am on the right path in life. Although, I am successful in the U.S Army now high school could have helped me be further then I am. If I would have attended high school and joined the U.S Army after graduation I could be of higher rank and have more college under my belt. This is a decision that I wish I could change however, all I can do it learn from the past and know that decisions you make can effect the outcome of your future.