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Jessica Watson says school can wait

Jonica Bray
Monday, August 23, 2010
Jessica Watson says school can wait
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Has Jessica Watson made the right decision to put her promotional tour before her studies?
“I’m a bit behind with my skills and it’ll take me a bit longer to finish it,” says Jess.
 
Jonica Bray

She’s far too busy, with a book to promote, a world full of fans to meet and a new sailing adventure on the horizon, Jess tells Jonica Bray.

She spent seven months battling the high seas and mastering knowledge of complex charts and tides, but unfortunately for Jessica Watson, these skills won’t appear on her school report card.

While she succeeded at age 16 in becoming the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the globe solo and unassisted, Jess admits her mammoth achievement has come at the cost of her studies.

“That’s been a bit hard,” Jess, now 17, tells Woman’s Day. “I’ve hardly been home but I’ve been doing distance education.”

Jess admits she won’t complete her studies this year, but isn’t worried with everything else she has going on, joking that she has blisters from signing autographs.

“I’m a bit behind with my skills and it’ll take me a bit longer to finish it,” says Jess. “But it’s not something that worries me too much. I’ve got a book that’s just been the bestseller in the country so that’s quite incredible.”

Related video:


Read more in this week's Woman's Day,
on sale August 23 2010:
- Jess's plans for her promotional tour of tour of the US, Europe and Brazil.
- Her plans for her next world recording breaking sail
... and more!
User comments
Negativity much? I can't imagine you sitting around every second of every day thinking up ways to save the dying soldiers or feed every homeless person crossing your path either so how does it hurt the world for a young girl with a dream to do something, that, frankly, is a difficult thing, that less than a handful of people have ever done. Nobody's hurt here. Instead of choosing to demean what she's done, why don't you try being a little less cynical. You might like it.
would people care about her if she did this at age 21? no. so I agree with those saying she isn't a hero, she sailed around the world by herself, wow, what a hero. sure she accomplished something big, but she could've done it at any age, she just chose to do it at the age that would garner her the most attention by doing it. we have soldiers in a war. these are our nations heroes, those that have lived away from their families and died protecting their country, not some gap toothed teen who can sail a boat to get herself 15 mins of fame.
I get that some people believe education is the most important thing for our futures and yes to a point it is but you do not NEED to go to year 12 nor do you NEED to go to University or have an apprenticeship to succeed in life. You need commonsense and the spirt of life in you to want to succeed. I know of many who have degree's yet are alcoholics and drug addicts or who work in low paying jobs..because they do not have a drive. I know many who did not get a full education and who are living life in great jobs with great attitudes. I went to grade 10..I started out in retail and my last paying job was as a banking and investment senior consultant with. I left that job 2 and a half years ago and now run my own successful business (not in the same industry). Yes education is important but so are life skills and the drive to succeed. Jessica has a lot of that. I'm not a huge fan of hers but I admire her courage and determination, that will get her places.
jessica is making money but when the money and her 15 minutes of fame wear out then what? Try to break another record? if you haven't got an education you will find it hard in this world. I'd rather my kids looked up to someone who is saying school is important and learning is important then someone saying it can wait!
I wonder has Jessica ever been told NO - Seems like a nice enough kid but pretty over indulged .She achieved what she set out to do - great for her but i hope the next child is so lucky after all she has now set a presedence
I agree with Big Steve. Jessica hardly performed miracles. She sailed, she survived, she's back. Yes it was a huge accomplishment, at the time, and now it's over so why are we treating her like a deity? Why is she still in the news? I too am sick of hearing about all the radical plans she has and her illogical views on education. No doubt she'll end up as one of the multitude of penniless dole bludgers begging us to do her a favour or give her a break because she was famous once.
What has this girl ever done to deserve so much glory? People who are supporting her are stupid. Just because she was lucky and survived what makes people think the next young person that goes out will have the same luck? Noone should be encouraging her, she does not deserve to be called a hero in any sense. She is glorifying something that has a huge potention of killing someone. How about people start looking up to the real heroes in life and stop paying attention to her. Our soldiers are out their fighting for people, our police officers are finding themselves in dangerous situations every single day and our nursers are working long hours to save the lives of loved one. People need to recognise these real heroes!
Sick of hearing about this failure called Jessica Watson. Tried to sail around the world, didn't meet the requirements and now blows off her schooling. Simply another uneducated village idiot the tax payer will need to support in years to come.
I would like to see some of the people who are knocking Jessica's decision to postpone her schooling for a while, navigating a boat in the worlds oceans alone as she has. Jessica has drive she is "smart" and has ambition. I have no doubt that when she decides to continue her education - she will succeed with no problems. Her skills in the boat -- her poise and confidence shown during her interviews upon landing back in Sydney should show that she is streets ahead of some "educated" girls her age, who can't even put a sentence together !! Jessica will do just fine !!
So she's discovered the cure for cancer? Risked her life for the advancement of mankind? Lets keep this in perspective - how about we honour all those who truly do our country and society a real service. Our soldiers, police, nurses - even those who work in our manufacturing industries, because without these people we wouldn't have a society at all. Too many are those whose deeds are unsung that have real value. I will never understand why we lavish praise and riches upon those who can maybe kick or throw a ball around, be mildly interesting in film or television, or potentially (as in this case) risk one's life for some personal achievement that will benefit no-one in a substantial way. If all these people fell off the face of the earth, would anyone notice? It is a dire and sad endictment upon our society that we debase the term "hero" and worship those who's achievements have so little tangible value.

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