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Quitting school in order to pursue a professional career or to become famous?
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Being famous.

Who wouldn't want to be known all over the world for your profession or talent?
Sounds good, right?
I mean, who likes school anyway?

All the money, adoring fans, flashing cameras and popularity — a dream come true.

But should you really quit school to take this path and pursue your dreams?
Is discarding your most reliable backup plan truly a smart move?

Yeah, I don't think so.

Seriously, it's great and all if you're confident in your talents and have the courage to enter a national talent or casting show. Really.

But please, please, wait at least until you're finished with school.

So, just humor me for a second.
Let's just assume that you have the indeed entered a casting show, and you're invited to the pre-auditions.

You should be aware that you might pass to the next audition, only to become the laughingstock of an entire nation, millions of judging eyes and never forgetting cameras.

Now let's say the very unlikely scenario actually happens, and you pass the pre-auditions and all the following rounds filled with emotional roller coasters, scripted and cut footage, extreme pressure and completely unrelated, unnecessary background stories.

Because just everybody wants to know the tragic story involving the goldfish you had when you were five.

And then — Congratulations! — you apparently won the whole damn thing!
Who would have guessed?

(Not even kidding though, we all thought it'd be the overly dramatic guy who lost his precious little puppy a year ago and who had only competed so he could afford to help his sick, old Grandmother with the prize money. But whatever. That's not relevant.)

Now that you've won, you've got the prize money and a contact in the bag.

But hold on, wait a sec. Did you even bother to read the contract of the record label you just signed?!
You're literally their slave now.

Isn't this exactly what you wanted?

And this is where it all goes down the drain.

Tell me, what cost did your dream come?
When's the last time you went home?
I mean, have you looked in a mirror lately?
Aren't you supposed to smile?
Look, there goes the another flash of a camera.
Smile you idiot, didn't your dream come true?

After a while the possibility rises that you'll be forgotten.
Anyone remember the winner of Britain's Got Talent 2010?

No? Yeah, I figured as much.

It's like, out of sight, out of mind.

About two years later or so no one even remembers your name.
You're a so-called one hit wonder.

Of course you won a season on a famous casting show but, dude. Haven't you heard?

There's this awesome new kid on the same show you were on two years ago and , damn, he might even be better than you back then.

News flash: you're officially a plain, old, boring no name.

No one wants to hear about you anymore.
You're so three centuries ago.
Ugh, just get with the program already.

So, what are you going to do now, huh?

Your prize money is slowly, but surely running out.
You go to therapy at least three times a week because you can't deal with yourself.
You don't have a private life.
And I t's been ages since you last called your family and friends.
Also you're probably on drugs. And have an alcohol problem.

At this point I bet you seriously regret quitting school.
Your entire life would've been different.
Now you don't even have a degree.

Basically, all you can do now, is choose between working at Burger King and McDonalds.
A healthy choice isn't it?

So, before you decide on quitting school for fame and fortune, please reconsider carefully.

Is your mental state and loss of your privacy really worth it?
Are you willing to neglect you family and friends for the possibility of becoming a celebrity?
Do you actually want to end up spending the rest of your days surrounded by soggy food, dipping oil, burned out coworkers, raging managers and obnoxious customers.

So wait.
Take your time.
And think.

After all, this your future we're talking about.

By Lena Schober, 19 Feb. 2019