The future of your children

On the other hand, I sort of like it that there's not so much 'if you don't go to uni you have no future at all whatsoever' here.  Going to uni straight after secondary school definitely isn't for everyone.  I went and it was a waste - I wasn't mature enough to have figured out what I wanted to do in a career.  I'd have been better off w/some quality vocational training and working for a while. 

My uncle in Penicuik is a great advocate of taking some time off to follow your dream between secondary school and uni.  He actually left home and went to work for Salveson (sp?) whaling company, back before whaling was banned.  After many years at sea, he returned to Scotland, went back to school, became a psychiatric nurse, and eventually retired very comfortably.  He figures it will either work out or it won't.  If it does, fantastic!  If not, well then you know that your dream didn't work out and you can get on w/life....

I think is different for me because I grew up in Italy and we have a similar high school system so having to choose what to study at 16 seems normal for me.  What I saw growing up is that all the kids that had support at home did just fine.  It seems to me that high school in the US is more fun with sport activities and dances  etc...  But since I didn't have that I don't care if my children do it either.   
I have being looking at the National Curriculum and at different schools and they seem to have sports and clubs and fun activities.  It doesn't seem like they are asked to do much more that the kids here in California.
    I am not worried about high school as much as University and just for them to be able to become what they want to become.  If they want to be teachers or lawyers or just being a mother like I am.  I want them to be able to be that .
Marilena 

If they want to be teachers or lawyers or just being a mother like I am.  I want them to be able to be that .
Marilena 

It's not a problem here, Marilena, it honestly isn't.  Most people here aren't so fixated on what you do for a living, either, so there's less pressure when it comes to making a career choice in some ways. 

There are plenty of sportiving activities for young people here - at primary, secondary and university levels.