Why didn't you finish high school? At a young age, Americans are enrolled in elementary school. There is no choice whether to participate; It's a Monday through Friday event. Teachers, parents, and administration fill your head with thoughts of walking across a big stage at the end of your senior year of high school and receiving your high school diploma; everyone was set on a path to achieve the same goal. As education continues throughout elementary, middle, and high school, different situations break down in people's lives and education is put on the back burner. Nowadays in America, without a high school diploma or equivalent, you are automatically unqualified for 90% of jobs. It is said that without a high school diploma you will not get a good job, earn money, buy a nice house, provide for your family, or get anywhere in life. When students drop out of school, they enter an abyss of negative assumptions. Many times, when you hear that someone has dropped out of school, the first thing that comes to mind is that they are lazy, stupid and take the easy way out. After hearing 17 different stories about why high school didn't get done, I can determine that the basic stereotype doesn't do everyone justice. There are many factors and reasons why a teenager would consider dropping out of school: pregnancy, responsibilities, drugs, prison, motivation, failure, lack of interest and many others. One of the most common reasons for abandonment is pregnancy. Pregnancy is the main reason why girls drop out of school. Of the 17 dropouts who shared their story with me, many of them had to grow up faster than children their age. “It was difficult to go to school, work, spend time with my son and keep my grades up. I knew the reasons and factors that lead teenagers to drop out of school. America's high school graduation rate ranks 22nd out of 27 developed nations. This is a problem and should not be taken lightly. Over the course of the week, I heard many different stories about why a teenager would give up something they spent so much time with. Those who automatically think that high school dropouts are lazy, stupid, or poor are wrong. A person can be very successful and respected in society without earning a diploma. High school is challenging and doesn't fulfill everyone's life, especially when you have children or have a drug addiction. The pressure of receiving a high school diploma within a four-year plan shouldn't be so stressful and excessive. Everyone has a different story, background and situation in their life and school cannot always be balanced within the equation.