bored with homework, apathy and getting real about parental support

Diane55317: Anything you want to talk about?Sean55374: To let you know ahead of time, I'm probably going to have a lot more Fs.Diane55317: Why?Sean55374: Because I don't want to do it.Diane55317: Do what?Sean55374: The homework.Diane55317: why not?Sean55374: Because I'm not interested in it right now, I suppose would be the most accurate reason.Diane55317: So, become interested. I know that sounds flip, but you can choose to be interested.Sean55374: I don't take that approach.Diane55317: Although I am disappointed in your line of thinking, you have every right to think and do what you want, as you are an adult. Because you are an adult, your father and I do not have to financially support you. We choose to financially support you because we love you and want to help you "launch" yourself. Diane55317: u there?Sean55374: yesDiane55317: Let me be very plain. There are a lot of reasons to continue with college, but I'll just focus on the financial ones.Diane55317: If you do not want to continue in college, you need to have another plan. You can not live at home at no charge if you are not a full time student. So, if you choose to discontinue college, you will have to get a job to either get your own apartment or to pay toward room and board at home.Diane55317: Is that your thought--that you want to discontinue college?Sean55374: ...yes.Diane55317: Well, let me spell out the financial implications.Diane55317: What you get, financially, by staying in college--just looking at the next 3 years: Your dad and I will support you by paying for $6,000 of schooling for 4 years (3 more years is 18,000) and allowing you to live at home at no charge during the summer. By maintaining a B average you also get another $500 a semester to offset costs (another $3000 over 3 years). Diane55317: Plus, you probably would qualify for a grant for next year (not sure of the amount, could be upto another $4000 next year, I'm not sure about future years). So, if you decide to throw in the towel because you are "not interested in doing homework, " You will lose about $25,000 over 3 years (18,000 we will pay toward college, $3000 remaining scholarship and maybe $4,000 in grant money)..Diane55317: Actually, it will be more. If you want to live at home and not go to school, you do not get to live at home for free. We would expect you to pay toward your own room and board. Good luck getting a job without a college degree in this economy. And no car. Oh, yes, 6 months after graduating or leaving college (even without graduating), you have to start paying back college loansDiane55317: Better to bide your time in college and wait for the economy to turn around. The economy will probably be much better in 3-4 years!Diane55317: Now being in school will cost you about $20K over the next 3 years, which can easily be financed through low-cost college loans and working part time. And hopefully, when you graduate you will be able to earn significantly more than the generally low wages of a high school graduate.Diane55317: Have you thought about these things?Sean55374: I do not have a plan regarding what to do.Diane55317: Well, try this plan on for size: there are 3.5 months of school left this semester. Why not do the best you can for the rest of the semester and then you will have a few months of no school to decide what you want to do.Sean55374: I'll think about it.Diane55317: It's good to keep an open mind and to keep your options open. I do think finishing out this semester "strong" will keep the most options open for you. You will have one good year of school completed, so it will be easy for you to continue (as you won't have spoiled your grades or your scholarship money, if you have a B average), or, if you decide you'd rather work than go to school, you can also easily change your mind and go back to school at a later time if you didn't ruin your GPA. Diane55317: I think if you think about it, you will realize that 3.5 months is not that long and finishing up the year gives you the most options.Diane55317: I know that school can be a drag at times, but it helps if you decide you are going to do your best and be interested.Diane55317: Do know that we don't have a plan to "kick you out in the cold" if you decided to quit college and come home. You would have to be making plans how you would be contributing financially to either our household for your support or to your own fund for living on your own.Sean55374: That's good to know.Diane55317: Yes, and this would be a terrible time to be "kicked out in the cold" in Minnesota!:-) It's really cold!Sean55374: :) That it is!Diane55317: Well, I hope you will reconsider your attitude toward homework. You don't have to love the subject or even be highly interested in it to do well. I sometimes just played a little game with myself for those classes that were, well, boring to me. My game was to get the best grade I could by making sure I met all the requirements and studied just enough to get an A (which really meant having to "overstudy."). I did find satisfaction in playing the game. Diane55317: And for some classes I actually found satisfaction in learning the material! ;-)Diane55317: Well, I need to say goodnight--I get up at 5:30 AM!Sean55374: night. Getting up early what for?Diane55317: I get up early on M-W-F to work out with Peggy J at anytime fitness.Sean55374: oh. night.Diane55317: night!