I would like some very good advice.

[Aeola]

You have to really think about this before you give me some advice yeah?

I'm currently doing my A Levels and I'm going no where in them, I'm failing and have been failing at an E grade since September last year. I've been close to leaving three times. I do not want to go to University and I'm not looking for a job where A Levels come into it.

I want to be an Author above everything, I am well aware of the struggles of it but I know I can do it, successful or not, I am have such passion towards it. I have been novel writing for about six years now and I have alot of techniques honed etcetera, I am quite a skilled writer for my age (apparently).

What I want to do is either finish my AS Levels (the first year of A Levels) and then get a normal full time job (I really want to work in Body Shop) and earn around 300 - 600 quid a week and in my spare time, begin on professional writing. Or I could quit now and I start a full time job and do writing now. To be honest, my Mother wants me to leave Sixth Form, she believes it's not right for me and that it's keeping me young, holding me back from maturing properly, and I totally agree with her. My Dad however, thinks I'm going to ruin my life if I quit Sixth Form, but he doesn't understand I can't deal with it, I'm not good at it and I have TRIED so hard to get a high grade but I've gotten no where. University does not interest me in the slightest and I don't really want a big shot job because then I'll be working like that endlessly until I retire, which is boring. I would rather get out of Sixth Form, out of school and go into a work enviroment around non-judgemental adults and actually get some cash to look after myself.

There is also the possiblity of myself renting out a place near my Mother's house. Her and my Stepdad had renovated this house round the corner from them and they're renting it out to people and told me that one day I can rent it out to live in. Also, Sixth Form holds me back on affording driving lessons. I turn 17 this June and my parents refuse to pay for them or a car, I want to be mature and grow-up, start driving so I can look after myself properly, but to do all of this, I need to quit Sixth Form, it's the root of all my problems at the moment and the only thing thats keeps me from being depressed is my passion and hope in my story-writing.

I don't know what to do though, it's a big decision.

Advice?

[mr.parasols]

Probably not good advice (its me) but, you probably won't ever get the chance to do you A-levels again if you leave now, you won't have any grades at all and therefore it will me much harder for you to get a job now, and in the future. Especially if people are applying who do have A-levels (which could be worse than what you would get if you stay on). Even though you may be failing at these you should atleast stay on untill the end of AS, it shows you have the will-power to an employer and that you can keep going.

For instance my dad had worked in the police for 30 years, he was pretty highly thought of when he left the police. He went in to a more part time job as he used to work ALL the time, he enjoyed it for a bit but eventually he wanted to go back to the police. He sent his application in and immediately it was rejected because he hadn't done the equivalent of AS-level/A-level grades. I'm afraid the world is turning in to something where they begin to judge people on there grades rather than personalities.

I hope that had some help, good luck on whatever you choose to do. :)

[Mirkwood]

Probably not good advice (its me) but, you probably won't ever get the chance to do you A-levels again if you leave now, you won't have any grades at all and therefore it will me much harder for you to get a job now, and in the future. Especially if people are applying who do have A-levels (which could be worse than what you would get if you stay on). Even though you may be failing at these you should atleast stay on untill the end of AS, it shows you have the will-power to an employer and that you can keep going.

For instance my dad had worked in the police for 30 years, he was pretty highly thought of when he left the police. He went in to a more part time job as he used to work ALL the time, he enjoyed it for a bit but eventually he wanted to go back to the police. He sent his application in and immediately it was rejected because he hadn't done the equivalent of AS-level/A-level grades. I'm afraid the world is turning in to something where they begin to judge people on there grades rather than personalities.

I hope that had some help, good luck on whatever you choose to do. :)

You can do your A Levels at any age, people have taken then with course programs and as a mature student at a higher-education college - the only difference is that you have to pay for them.

To the original poster, if you want to work in a body-shop then might I suggest perhaps an apprentice or a BTEC/NVQ style course, one where it is more practical and vocational and not an academically routed course as A Levels are.

Also, just slightly off-topic if you want to be an author, have you tried writing fanfiction - there are literally hundreds of thousands of reviewers who will critique your work harshly and you could use that to improve.

[Aeola]

Yes, I have written fanfiction. I've written mainly everything over the years to gain experience and to experiment what style fits me best. I've come to realise that horror/suspense/romance/fantasy are my strong points.

I wouldn't mind going back to do A Levels later on in life. I want to enjoy myself while I'm young and not complain that I didn't do anything I could of done while I'm at this age. Leave the serious stuff for the future.

[StripedTiger]

Okay i've thought about this carefully.

If that was me, I would honestly finish my AS levels first. It is worth getting even an E in an exam, because it is something to put towards your CV for jobs, and it does show people that you have tried further education, but it just hasnt worked out. A-levels are hard, and i think many adults and parents dont unerstand or respect that. Neither of my parents have a-levels, neither went to university. I'm the first, and maybe the only one in my intermediate family that will do a-levels. so dont lean on your parents too much for now.

Obviously, after your as-level exams, you can drop out and leave. Start a job, and when you save up, consider driving lessons. Losing a few months wont harm, may do some good for your ensurance really. It is sky high when you start, my older sister waited a few year before she started driving. Shes 21 now n is in uni training to be a nurse.

I know a few who want to be authors, i wouldnt mind it myself. so yeah :) finsih as-level, then find a job :P

[,Jess,]

I would definitely carry on, sometimes it gets a bit sucky doing A levels but it's 2 years and at least after that you have more options available to you and any qualifications you get stay with you forever or if you stay until the end of this year you get AS levels which is great too.

If you make a quick decision now you may regret it and although you can go back and do A levels at any time a lot of people would actually never go and start again (you may be different as I do not know you personally).

You're just about half way through now so to stop all the work and leave would be a waste of all that time and the effort you've put in which would be a shame.

Good luck with whichever decision you make and with your writing to become an Author (: