I will support you (emotionally and spiritually. Sorry, can't do physically or financially), no matter your decision, but two words expresses my fear for you with this plan -- "preexisting condition." Health insurance! You really need it, it's expensive, and if anything (please, Lord, never) happens, you'll need a support system and insurance big time!
Have you thought that far into this? And, if not, why do you think I've been glad you've been stuck where you're stuck? I worry about the just-in-cases of life, because John and I have hit 80% of the list for "things that can go wrong."
Most young people just starting out in life probably never need health insurance. You may be one of that number, but past events say you have to have some kind of plan for that one. If you tell me you do, that will go to the back burner for stuff I worry about for you.
Sooo, besides "diploma" what's the plan? Much of this planning stuff has to do with after the diploma. If you're the kind of student I think you are, (good grades), you can do what my Dad did -- go on to college early. (Okay, so he started college at 16, but he is a genius, and didn't pass that on to any of his kids. lol) Bu there really are full-rides for colleges if you have perfect grades, and "perfect grades" usually mean in your junior and senior years. (With good grades before that.)
Full-ride means tuition, room and board -- aka "A place to eat, sleep and have something to do for the next 3-5 years." Then "all you have to do" is keep getting great grades, and pick up a part-time job for everything else. (You'll still need clothes, toiletries, a chocolate bar here and there, and spending money.)
And if college isn't your plan after graduating, then what? A diploma for a girl doesn't even mean quite as much as the same thing for a boy. Businesses are more likely to take on a 17 year old guy because they can do more physical labor. They see a 17 year old girl, and the words "minimum wages" stick in their minds. You survive on minimum wages. You don't live. So you need a plan on what you want to do after that diploma.
I've worked with emancipated minors. There's a reason I always pushed the kids into eking it out at home as long as they can stand it... because I've worked with emancipated minors. Have you ever seen those cheapo, lousy looking apartments on TV shows where you know the person is poor and will be living like that for quite some time? (Usually also a convict.) Yeah. The apartments on TV are better than where I've seen those emancipated minors.
I know your plan isn't to be emancipated. (At 17, I don't think you need to be.) but 17 + girl + no skill sets = BAD!
You have two years. That's enough time to pull this off. Don't think I'm trying to talk you out of it. BUT you really need to know what you're setting your sights for. I don't want you to live in a rat-infested, (okay, it was loads of mice, mouse turds, and fleas, because those mice had fleas), partitioned-off-garage/shed that makes Detroit look like heaven.
So, Step One: Have a bigger plan than "get my diploma."
