Should I listen to my parents and drop out altogether?

I am in first year of sixth form and I got sick mid way through the year and I want to leave now because there’s nothing I can do about it and I can’t concentrate or remember subject content, shame because I was good before. My parents are saying for me to drop out of college altogether and do nothing with my life. I am 17 and I don’t think leaving altogether and doing nothing is allowed unless you have a valid reason. They say you fell ill so you’re going to have to leave, you’re stressed so don’t bother revising now. Just fail and leave, whatever happens happens for the best. should I listen to their advice?

What would you like to do with your life if you were well?

Have you spoken to anyone at your college?

Study A levels. I feel like one subject got a bit too much for me even before I got sick though, and that involves spoon feeding at AS (taking out notes from textbook), and I am now considering whether uni is even for me. Somehow wasn’t struggling in the other 2 before I got sick which require reading around.

everyone has setbacks but it doesn't mean you should quit altogether!
speak to teachers, counsellors, your doctor etc, get to the bottom of your health issues and keep on going!
taking a break from your studies could be a last resort but absolutely not quitting!

Speak to your college about what would be best. There's no reason you can't take your A levels over 3 years if you've been ill - or maybe swap out the A level you were struggling with for a different subject or qualification completely (maybe something more coursework based like a BTEC - most university courses are mainly based on coursework marks not exams so struggling with A levels isn't a sign that university isn't for you!). It might be that your college will suggest you focus on taking 1 or two of your A levels this year or sit AS exams instead and then finish off over the next year or two - or they might agree that taking a total break and restarting afresh in september would be better.

You need to catch up asap. Talk to your teachers about how you can do this effectively.

I don’t think I can manage studying anymore, I coped fine when I wasn’t sick with A levels, so I am sure btec won’t be too much if I wasn’t ill. I feel like now though a btec might be too much. Only other thing would be an apprenticeship, but that on its own requires part time studying, and usually it’s a btec or another qualification, that would involve throwing away my dream of university. I don’t think I can manage studying and will affect anything I do in life like work life, adult life, physical functioning etc.

I don’t think I can manage studying anymore, I coped fine when I wasn’t sick with A levels, so I am sure btec won’t be too much if I wasn’t ill. I feel like now though a btec might be too much. Only other thing would be an apprenticeship, but that on its own requires part time studying, and usually it’s a btec or another qualification, that would involve throwing away my dream of university. I don’t think I can manage studying and will affect anything I do in life like work life, adult life, physical functioning etc.

If you're struggling to study in person then it might be worth looking into Open University - you could take a module or two just to keep your interest up and stay in touch with studying. Because it's distance learning they're used to students coping with balancing study with illness and if it suits you then you can use the university modules to either stack up to a qualification or degree or to apply for brick space university courses.

My teachers tried helping me but can’t unless it involves telling me the answer. It’s affecting written work too.

First of all what are you studying? Secondly, if you're off on medical reasons, just drop out and resit the year and take the time to revise what you already know and recover.

a levels sociology English lit and maths. Good at English and maths, sociology is not for me though, was for me before, now it isn’t. Went wrong even before I got sick but was fine in my other as levels.

First of all what are you studying? Secondly, if you're off on medical reasons, just drop out and resit the year and take the time to revise what you already know and recover.

Too late to drop out. I have to sit my AS exams and then leave, probably for good.

No it isn't too late to drop out. Is your school telling you that? Take it up with the exam board.