The dilemma is simple; Rick wants to drop out of school, but his friends and family disagree about whether this is a good choice. He is not as shallow as one might think; Rick is not considering the dropout because of pure laziness. Rick has interned at the local jazz station for two years now, and is on his way to becoming a full time DJ. The owner of the station listened to Rick’s segment yesterday afternoon and offered Rick a slot on the morning show which averages seven hundred listeners. It would be a huge step forward to achieving his goal to become a career DJ, but he would have no choice but to abandon his last two months of high school.
Risk’s parents are the biggest advocators against dropping out. They argue that the job will still be there in two months, and that a high school diploma is key to moving into higher positions. The principal of Rick’s school is also against the idea. In addition to losing a student from his school, the principal knows that Rick will lose all the credits for his senior year.
Rick’s friends, however, fully support the plan. Their argument is that Rick’s boss is clearly ready to make decisions on a whim, and could find someone else to take the position before Rick can graduate. The radio station needs a morning DJ, and the world won’t wait for Rick’s graduation. They claim that Rick can get his GED and use real world experience to move up in the business. They say that people will understand why Rick made his decision. Rick agrees with them, but his parents and principal refuse to budge. Rick can’t do this on his own, and it is clear that a compromise is necessary.
In the end, it was Rick’s pastor that developed a plan that had a chance of working. Rick could switch to homeschooling and finish his second semester using an online program called Florida Virtual School. He would lose a month of schooling, but he would be able to