How do I tell my parents....? -

After a lot of careful consideration I have come to the decision that Uni isn t for me (at least not now anyway)! I ve decided to drop out and change my part-time job to full-time, earn some money then travel to Australia for a year in September. My only problem is how to tell my parents. I don t rely on them financially so they can t do anything hurtful to me but I love them a lot and I m scared they will go ballistic and stop speaking to me. I brought it up before and they told me not to be ridiculous and I should finish my studies. Uni really does make me very unhappy and continuing would only be a waste of my time and money.............How do I tell them!?!?!?!|::::|Im sure they love you too! if you sit down and explain to them that s what your going to do they will understand, may not like it but its understood. i don t think they will banish you for it so just do it. however your parents are wise and one day you WILL look back on this and say it was a mistake. Good luck and don t give up on school, finish it in a year or 2.|::::|Just tell them your ideas and ask them if they have any better ideas or thoughts first. If not, then tell them you really want to do what you ve listed above. It would be really nice to travel to Australia for a year..(i went there before for a month). They should be understanding..just don t argue if at first they don t understand. Just stay calm and be able to defend all your reasons. |::::|Be honest, and tell them it s your life, and you know they might think you re making the wrong decision, and maybe you are. The best thing in life is to live it how you want to. It could end at any day, so have fun while it s still with you! X anya|::::|be honest. can they be upset forever? is it worth yoru happiness? i as a parent would prolly be upset, but i want my kids to be happy and if thats what you need to do, tell them.|::::|why dont you tell them you wont to go on you oe for a year and pick up you studys when you get back that might help .all the best in telling them.|::::|Please don t come over here and take all the good jobs. we have a high unemployment rate. I think Australians should get jobs over working visa people.|::::|You just come right out and say how you feel and what your plans are|::::|Life is about roads we travel and different paths to take, what is the point of sticking another year or 2 in something you absolutely hate, life is to short. Maybe going to Australia and working on a lettuce farm is the way to go for a year. There are a lot of people that go to school and say take teaching or social work, get the job and absolutely can not stand it, so they do something different, education is never a waste, talk to the uni and see if there are some transferrable courses to another program. Mom and Dad probably can sense already something is off, sure they won t be happy, but you have one life and its yours to live.|::::|How are you going to support yourself for a year in Australia? You ll need a work visa if you plan on earning money there for that year, you ll also need to also apply for various visas to be able to stay in Australia for a year s time. Usually they only give out a 6 month visa to visit. Where do you plan to stay? Where are you going to eat? How much is this going to cost? How long do you plan to work and then leave for your trip? If you finish your studies, you d have a degree that could take you ANYWHERE to get a decent job. You ll get paid more in any career job you ll have and you ll be able to achieve this dream with a more leveled head. I think you ve got a lot of big ideas that you haven t thought through very well yet. As you get older, you ll do a lot of things that won t make you happy - but YOU HAVE to do it for your own good and well being. You need to finish school, these days you can t get a good job to live off of if you only have a high school diploma. You tell them what you want to do, when you re actually capable of having these big ideas and the financial support to accomplish them. To your parents, you re pretty much bankrupt if you present them with this idea and that you re quitting school. Make a financial plan, find out the cost of living, food, renting a car, car insurance, renting an apartment / living in a hotel, travelling costs, health insurance cost, visa application costs, entertainment/miscellaneous costs (you ll also be a tourist with the interest of collecting souvenirs), and other costs like entertainment (going to bars, movies, dinners with new people), gas, water use, because you ll be basically living on your own. Think about medical costs, especially when you don t have Australia s insurance coverage, however that may work, you ll have to pay full price if you have an emergency. That s BIG BUCKS! (Also if you live in Australia for a year, you have to pay your own taxes - depending on their tax law, you might need to pay Australia or the country of your true residence). You still have to do your yearly duties. Then compare to the money you ll actually have, how long it s going to take you to make it, and then present all this information to your family. Show them that you are capable of making educated decisions.|::::|Well a gap year is a normal thing to do. Lots of students need it to take a well earned break, and get refreshed for continuing their studies. Tell them that this is a great life experience. Its a fact too that if an employer looks at the applications for potential employees, they will always go for the one that has the qualifications AND a bit of life experience too. It shows maturity in an individual. But your parents have life experience too, and probably worry (and correctly) that you will not return to your studies, and therefore jeopardise any long term goals you had planned. Reassure them you plan to return to your studies, and do your best to get their blessing on this. You might need them while youré away, and you dont want to go on bad terms!! And you never know what life is going to throw at you, you might go and make a life abroad for yourself, you might enjoy the experience for what it is and actually WANT to return to your studies...but whatever the outcome, a year will have passed and your parents panic about your future will be water under the bridge. Good Luck...have fun...my mates did...one couldnt wait to get back, the other didnt come back and is married, with 3 kids and a whole new career out in australia...9 years later!