<p>Okay, I'll try to make this as short as I can to avoid rambling.</p>
<p>I am a junior in high school and want to graduate this year rather than next year. I have done freshman and sophomore year home schooled, and am hoping to attend public high school for the second half of this year. I will have four years of all subjects and enough credits to graduate by the end of this year. Thus, I see no point to continue through senior year of high school; it would just be ALL unneeded electives and pointless in my opinion.</p>
<p>Because of the way my birthday falls, I'm usually the youngest in my class anyway (i.e. now I'm 15 and a junior). Thus, I would be 16 going on 17 if I were to graduate high school this year. I know that this is very young, but I honestly see no point to just do another year of high school and languish. Right now I'm taking a class at community college, and I LOVE it. I'm treated like an adult, I'm not talked down to, I can simply do my work on my own time, and everything is my responsibility. I did go to public school when I was younger, but didn't like it because of the lack of freedom and not being able to take accelerated classes.</p>
<p>I live with my aunt (have lived with her since I was 11, and we have a really good relationship). In addition to graduating early, I want to go to Japan for university. I have inquired at the ones I want to apply to, and they said it would be fine to apply after graduating high school early. The reason I'm planning on going to public school for the second semester of this year is because they need a high school diploma and don't accept home schoolers without a GED. There is one I'm looking at in particular. There is housing and food on campus, it's VERY safe (there are literally cameras everywhere, very strict about visitors and curfews, no alcohol and each gender is separated from the other). Everything combined, it would be about $20,000 a year. They have a grant you can apply to along with your regular application, which would cover $10,000 for the four years; they also have financial aid. I am applying to a bunch of scholarships, and whatever's left I will pay with either loans or a part time job, or both.</p>
<p>I know it is HUGE to go to another country, especially at such a young age. However, my aunt doesn't want me to go; she says to either go a year here and transfer, or do another year of high school and then go. The thing that really bothers me is that a few weeks ago she agreed to let me go, and suddenly she's changed her mind and gets angry every time I try to talk about it with her. I would need her to agree to it because I'll still be a minor, and I'll need her to sign for flights, visas, etc.</p>
<p>I guess it would make sense to explain why I want to go to Japan so much... I've wanted to go there since I was around 7, and I've been studying Japanese on my own (now nearly fluent) for three years. I really love the language and the culture and I feel like I'm being held back, having to stay here. I don't want to transfer because I would miss out on getting to know everyone the first year and would feel like an outsider; plus, many grants/financial aid opportunities aren't available to transfer students.</p>
<p>So, I guess I just need some input. I know it's her decision in the end, and she said she wanted me to talk to other people for input. I'm going to talk to family members, but just wanted to see what you guys think.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for reading. :)</p>