Sushee; I probably come from the other direction. I was always an above-average student and decided at age 13 that I wanted to be a primary school teacher. I continued through high school; never really contemplating leaving school as I was very sheltered; but not feeling particularly engaged by anything bar the music department. (ie. I played in a lot of bands)

It was always assumed I'd go to Uni and go on to become a teacher. Imagine my suprise when my OP (Qld version of HSC score) was not as high as the school counsellor had predicted and I could not get into a local university to study what I had always planned? Anyway, I ended up gaining entry through another course with lower requirements and then transfering. Basically it ends three years later with a BA in Primary Education when I decided after all of that time, that I did not want to be a teacher!

This probably sounds weird, but I wish I HAD taken a year off after school and worked. I had not had a job during high school and I wish I'd gotten one whilst still under 18. Suddenly, despite my scores at school and my eagerness; I was almost un-employable.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is to encourage you (as others have!), to have faith in your daughter's intelligence and the upbringing you've given her. I imagine it's no parents idea of a perfect situation to see your child leave school at the end of year 10; but she may find avenues open for her through traineeships etc.

I suspect a few years working full-time role (probably in a retail role - as most under 18s do) she'll realise that if she wants a higher earning potential she will likely have to go back and finish her high school education and do a degree at tertiary level. Hopefully by then, she'll know where she wants to go and will feel totally motivated to stick to it. IMHO, I'd rather my child take that option than do what I did and end up with a $12,000 university debt for a degree that effectively gets her nothing.