Taking a year off od schoo -- high school, that is

[Rufus T. Firefly]

This is a board full of relatively young folks, so I thought I'd bring my current dilemma here.

My daughter is hellbent on doing an International Baccalaureate program during her last two years of high school. (If you don't know about IB programs, you can look at the link I just provided, but they are in short a two-year integrated study program culminating in a thesis). The problem is that after her sophomore year, I may have to return to DC for a year before going on to my next post -- and IB requires you to do your whole junior and senior year at one school.

Faced with this problem, young Miss Firefly has said she would prefer to take a year off between sophomore and junior year rather than miss out on IB. But aside from wearing a paper hat and flipping burgers, what would a 16-year old do for a year in the US?

Does anyone have any experience with this? I know there are many more opportunities and alternatives for students now than there were back during the Carter administration, when I was in school. I've begun the tedious process of Googling, but if anyone has a lead on good ideas for a year away from high school, I'm all ears. TIA.

[OzzyKP]

Self-directed learning. She can just get a hobby, or several. There are so many things you can learn when not in a formal school environment. Taking a year off will free up her time enough to pursue her interests wherever they lead.

[Asher]

I only did partial IB (computer science only), but I knew many people who did full IB in school.

Looking at what it's done and comments from people who have done it, most seem to regret it. It eats up massive amounts of time compared to regular or AP classes and doesn't really teach anything more.

What these kids did get to miss were some nice GPA-boosting introductory courses in University.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by OzzyKP
Self-directed learning. She can just get a hobby, or several. There are so many things you can learn when not in a formal school environment. Taking a year off will free up her time enough to pursue her interests wherever they lead.

True, but there are two problems there. One is that, though extremely bright, she's not that much aof a self-starter; she thrives in structured environments like, well, school (she comes by this honestly; I'm very much the same way). The second is that her chief interest, theater, is not something easily undertaken alone.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Asher
I only did partial IB (computer science only), but I knew many people who did full IB in school.

Looking at what it's done and comments from people who have done it, most seem to regret it. It eats up massive amounts of time compared to regular or AP classes and doesn't really teach anything more.

That's my sense, but I think there's some value in her doing her last two years in high school at one school, even without IB. And, frankly, the best public schools in teh greater DC area don't hold a candle to a good international school. So even without IB the problem remains.

[Mao]

Hmmm...there's lot of options I'm sure. I had a friend go off to work at an animal sanctuary for a year before starting college (although I don't think a high school diploma was necessary anyway). If she's really interested in theater, maybe she could join a troupe or do a show? I've known people to have taken off a year or so to take theater classes/perform on/off Broadway and such. It all depends on what she wants I guess, there's plenty of options.

Oh, and what about doing the junior year in her current school and then doing the IB for two years? It'll mean she'll "stay back" a year, but does it really matter? Also, is there a Mrs. Firefly that can live with her in DC while you're on your other post for one year? Would that be very difficult on you guys? (emotionally and physically)

Just some suggestions, I'll try to think up some more later.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Mao
Hmmm...there's lot of options I'm sure. I had a friend go off to work at an animal sanctuary for a year before starting college (although I don't think a high school diploma was necessary anyway). If she's really interested in theater, maybe she could join a troupe or do a show? I've known people to have taken off a year or so to take theater classes/perform on/off Broadway and such. It all depends on what she wants I guess, there's plenty of options.

Oh, and what about doing the junior year in her current school and then doing the IB for two years? It'll mean she'll "stay back" a year, but does it really matter? Also, is there a Mrs. Firefly that can live with her in DC while you're on your other post for one year? Would that be very difficult on you guys? (emotionally and physically)

Just some suggestions, I'll try to think up some more later.

They're good suggestions, Mao. I don't think doing five years of high school is the right solution; she's a pretty advanced student, and would only get bored. Some special course work in an area not usually covered in high school might be good, though. And we're looking into the theatrical troupe thing. But we don't want to be separated as a family; we entertained that idea (I even thought about heading to Baghdad or Kabul, since those are one-year tours), but it would be too hard on us. The other idea we're entertaining is a year of meaningful volunteer work; there's certainly pleanty of that in the DC area.

[Mao]

Oh hell, volunteer work would be great. There's organizations like City Year (I'm not sure about the age requirements for that though) and loads of grassroots organizations to work for if she's interested. The orgs themselves probably won't pay her, but there's grants available and such so she can even make a little bit of money. www.idealist.org is a good site, but IIRC a lot of their job prospectives are left-wing oriented. I'm not sure how her views fit in with that. Oh hell, and you're in DC, go intern for a few senators/reps, it may not be "meaningful" (and I speak from experience), but it sure as hell looks nice on a resume.

[Starchild]

If she were just a wee bit older, I'd say just send her off on a gap year. Most of the websites (http://www.gapyear.com/) are pretty UK oriented because it's becoming almost expected of students here to take a year off between A-levels and University to see the world a bit.

In the old days, we used to ship them off to India. The tradition really hasn't changed all that much .

[Jon Miller]

have her do a little bit more then normal when in DC, then have her graduate highschool in 3 in stead of 4 years, and go on into college

college is better in every way then highschool, and it is better to have more years of college then of highscool (if you want to do more years)

taking an extra year to finish highschool is just a waste, far better to take a year less... (point out that she can do college, which a good one will be quite a bit better then IB, after a year instead of wasting time in IB after a year)

Jon Miller

[Sikander]

Can she attend a community college and knock off some of her Uni work or even h.s. requirements? A friend of mine graduated from h.s. early because she took a lot of community college courses, and many of those credits also transferred to university later on.

[Pekka]

So she's 16? Send her to travel around the world with super low budget. Adventure. She might a bit young though, especially if there would be no one to go with her. But if she would have like few friends too, it could be the greatest thing that ever happened to her.

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly The other idea we're entertaining is a year of meaningful volunteer work; there's certainly pleanty of that in the DC area.

I can think of some good groups in the DC area she can volunteer for......

*cough* http://www.youthrights.org *cough*

[Aabraxan]

If I understand the problem correctly, & please correct me if I've misunderstood, she wants to take a year off so that she can start the IB program at whatever post you get after DC? I was totally unfamiliar with the IB until I read this post & looked at their website, so take that into account with regards to the rest of this post.

IMO, the opportunities in the US for a 16-year-old are somewhat limited. As you pointed out, there's always the option of flipping burgers and asking people if they want fries with that. Not exactly intellectual stimulation, but two points should be made. One: I laid out of college for a couple of years, working as a waiter & a bartender. Obviously, she can't be a bartender & I don't recommend waiting tables because there's very little money to be made when you can't sell alcohol. Anyway, for me, a couple of years of that was pretty good motivation to go back to college & get a degree. Two: On the other hand, I was probably the exception. For many people, it's very hard to break away from any sort of steady paycheck (or cash tips) to go back to school. If she wants to work during that year, there are also clerical & office jobs. There's no shortage of paperwork, filing, etc., in the legal and medical fields. Not to mention the various internship opportunities in the DC area that Mao mentioned.

I would be somewhat leery of the self-directed learning path. You said that she's not much of a self-starter, which, to me, just means that she's like most teenagers. Self-directed learning sounds good, but I think it takes an exceptionally disciplined teenager to make anything useful of it, in the absence of any structure. The lack of self-motivation, IMHO, is pretty much just part of being a teenager.

What about being an exchange student? I noticed on the IB webpage that the diploma program has a second language component. I was an exchange student (twice) back in the late 80's, and, in terms of language acquisition, there's no substitute for total immersion. If you go with one of the recognized programs, they'll find her a family to live with, a school to go to, etc. If she does go the exchange student route, it won't be easy, and it may be particularly tough for a 16-year-old girl. However, it's one of those experiences that, good or bad, really changes you for life. Is there any way to find out wherer you'll be posted following DC? Maybe she could go on ahead & do a year as an exchange student there before starting IB there? That's sure give her a head start, language-wise. I realize that that would involve separation as a family, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

[OzzyKP]

[SIZE=1] I would be somewhat leery of the self-directed learning path. You said that she's not much of a self-starter, which, to me, just means that she's like most teenagers. Self-directed learning sounds good, but I think it takes an exceptionally disciplined teenager to make anything useful of it, in the absence of any structure. The lack of self-motivation, IMHO, is pretty much just part of being a teenager.

Not true.

The problem is people have too narrow an understanding of learning. Sitting down with an algebra text book is not the only way to learn something. Heck, think of what everyone here has learned just from posting here in the OT and reading other people's thoughts and their links. That's self-directed learning and every teenager can, and most often do, stuff like that.

Helping out around the house involves learning. I'm amazed at how incompetent my 40 year old female housemates are at some simple household repairs. Maybe your daughter can learn how to replace the filter on your furnace or A/C or something.
Learning to program the VCR is learning.
You can learn by watching tv.
You can learn by playing video games.
You can learn by reading a book.
You can learn by surfing the web.
You can learn by following your interests and joining a community theater or whathaveyou. That counts.
If she's never worked before, you actually can learn quite a lot about the world just by flipping burgers.

Just don't be trapped into thinking listening to a lecture and reading a textbook is the only way to learn. Some people learn best that way, but honestly, most don't. Most (not all) people would learn MORE by not going to school for a year or more.