By Marisol Juarez
Staff Writer
the Hillside Chronicle
Hillside High School
This commentary appeared originally in the Hillside Chronicle, the school newspaper of Hillside High School, which has partnered with the Durham VOICE.
Many students in the United States struggle to graduate. Not graduating is a huge problem all around the world. Therefore, we have to do something to decrease the dropout rate.
Here in the United States, one-third of students who enter high school as ninth graders will not graduate within four years. Hillside’s four-year graduation rate for males was 64.2 percent and for females 77.3 percent.
Graduation rates in North Carolina have been improving since 2009, but yet, they are still low. Why is this?
Students attending high school need support from close friends, counselors and family to encourage them to graduate. The majority of students do not get enough support so they don’t feel motivated toward education.
In the United States, there is a high dropout rate. Each year about 1.3 million students drop out of school. Those who do not have a high school diploma are most likely to suffer from poverty.
High school dropouts affect the country overall; for example, businesses don’t have qualified workers and communities with a lot of dropouts might create an environment that encourages others not to finish school.
To reduce the high school dropout rate in North Carolina, the Prevention Campaign was introduced in April 2008. Also, the “Message: Graduate” campaign was created for young people to motivate them to graduate.
The point of my article is to point out how there is a high dropout rate. In order to fix this problem we have to take some actions. Many people can make a difference if they choose to do so. In order for this to happen, I think that parents should be more aware of their teens.
They should talk to them about how education is a big part of life. All students need some kind of motivation and the best is getting motivated from their own parents’ experience.
One other thing that is needed is support from the counselors in the schools. I think that if counselors talk to the students and give them a little support, the students will want to do some good. What are counselors for if they don’t do anything to help out students?
I have seen many students struggling. Most of these students struggle because of their lack of education, not having support or other problems in life.
People, counselors, parents and even friends all can do something to lower the high school dropout rate. This dropout rate affects not only the student dropping out but also the country overall.