What should I do for my future?

Question

I born 1993 so I'll be 18 this July. I immigranted to the U.S on November 13, 2009 however I AM a U.S citizen now. But, because I came here in the mid-school year, therefore I only attended half sophomore year and pass all the classes with 90% A, now I'm in my junior year. I suppose to graduate in May, 2012. However my counselor and I make a check on my graduate requirements and firgured out that even though I pass this junior year and the next senior year, I still have 15 credits short. She shows me some solutions:
1. Attend after school program to earn creadit, which me and my family dislike, and I'm serious dont have time after school, so forget this.
2. Attend summer school which mean I'll go to Skyline College and take whatever classes, just make sure I pass and got 5 college credits which will solve my shortage problem. But the issue is my family said that college is very very hard and I'm not good enough to pass the class, and if I failed it will permantely go to my record and I will not be able to transfer to University later, so they told me that I have to go ask my counselor for one more year high school extend, which I personally don't believe. Because like I said, now I'm junior and I'll be 18 this year, so next senior year I already 18 which means I already late for a year, and I don't think that high school they will let me stay until I got all credits and graduate(especially in this kind of cutting budgets situation) , I believe that I will have to get out of high school at the end of my senior, not able to get my high school degree and go for the GED which I don't want either.  
But my family keep telling me like I have the right to stay in high school for about 1 or 2 more years until I got all high school credits to get high school degree. Of course I'll ask my counselor, but now what do you guys think?
I also want to join the Armed Forces, and start to do some research, if any of you guys have experiences about this please tell me, which branch of the Armed Forces (A.F, Army, Navy) that I can join in case something happen and I cannot graduate now, or I can join as fast as possible? I prefer options in the Airforce but any ideas would help! Thank you so much for your help

Tom · Accepted Answer

I would not worry about  Skyline College, a junior college being too hard, that is unlikely. If you just immigrated here a year ago and are attending a San Mateo County  High School and got all A's, Junior College will be relatively easy. There are lots of high school students who are 19 years old. Your family is correct, the school will let you stay unless you are a discipline problem, which it does not sound like you are. They get more money from the state for each student in attendance. It helps the schools budget,  it does not harm the school's budget. California High School Students can also take the California High School Proficiency Exam. 
http://www.chspe.net/
Once a student is 18 he can enroll in any Junior College in California even if he has not graduated from high school or does not have a GED. 
Junior college students can participate in Afrotc and Rotc at nearby universities. USF is the closest to Skyline with Rotc and Berkeley is the closest with Afrotc. Berkeley also offers Nrotc. An Rotc or Nrotc Scholarship pays full tuition regardless of amount. Most Afrotc scholarships are limited in amount but will usually pay for the tuition at a public university. Some private colleges also will pay the room and board of Scholarship Afrotc/Rotc/Nrotc Cadets and Midshipmen.  The issue would be that students need competitive Sat/Act  Math and  Cr scores to successfully compete for the Afrotc/Nrotc/Rotc four year scholarships and also need to have participated in extracurricular activities especially athletics. Athletic participation is very important to the Scholarship Selection committees. They also like to see participation in at least one non athletic extracurricular activity, especially one relevant to an officer such as Debate or Drama. To a certain extent a job due to financial hardship can be considered in lieu of extracurricular participation.  The Sat Math section tests Algebra 1 and 2 and Geometry. The Act Math section tests Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry and Trigonometry. Also, the Afrotc and Nrotc Navy Option high school scholarships are mostly awarded in Engineering, Math and some Science majors. The in college Afrotc and Nrotc Navy Option Scholarships are not as concerned with the major. 
https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/scholarship_criteria.aspx#Navy
http://afrotc.com/help-center/faqs/scholarships/#q_10
The Rotc and Nrotc Marine Option four year scholarships are not awarded based on the planned academic major; however, the Marine Option Scholarship like all Marine Officer Commissioning Programs requires a 1st class Marine PFT, 225 minimum. Word is that few Marine Option Scholarships are awarded with less than a 280 PFT score.  For Rotc, Afrotc, Nrotc Navy and Marine Option, the Sat Cr and Math scores are  very important and this is where an extra year of high school would probably be the most beneficial. It would also allow you to participate in sports. The age limit in  CIF CCS is no older than age 19 on June 15, so this will allow you to participate 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. 
See Sec 203:
http://cifstate.org/governance/constitution_bylaws/pdf/200%20Series.PDF
An extra year of school would allow you to participate in athletics and further your knowledge of English and Math and prep for the Sat and/or Act Exams. For schools that require Sat Subject Exams, UC no longer does after Fall of 2011, it would give time to take them. They should be scheduled to coincide with the Ap or Final Exam in the course. 
Reading outside of class will help with the Sat Cr and Writing scores. Read with a dictionary and look  up the meaning of unknown words and write it down:
http://reading.berkeley.edu/
If you do this, you can even become competitive for the Air Force Academy, West Point and Annapolis. Vietnamese is a critical language for the military and a native proficiency will help with admissions. If you are currently a HS Junior, consider applying for the Air Force Academy Summer Seminar, West Point SLS and USNA Summer Seminar now. Can only apply as a Junior. If you will be considered a Junior next year apply then. This will establish a desire to earn an appointment from an early date even if not currently competitive. Can apply for an Academy Appointment from college  and again next year and the following year. 
http://www.academyadmissions.com/#Page/Summer_Seminar
http://admissions.usma.edu/moreinfo/summer.cfm
Good description of Afrotc:
http://airforcerotc.berkeley.edu/_afrotc-program.htm
Good understanding of Nrotc by reading the FAQ on the website of the nation's first Nrotc Battalion:
http://navyrotc.berkeley.edu/faq.shtml
You may also be eligible for Cal Grant A or B and UC Blue Gold Opportunity Plan:
http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=916
If you have questions about the above, let me know.
Good Luck!

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What should I do for my future?

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