My Daughter is 17 years old and what most would call a drop out. I don't refer to her as that. In fact I say she graduated if anyone ask. Why? Because she is a fantastic kid.
The week she dropped out she went to enroll for her "GED". Passed the pretest with flying colors and was advised by her instuctor to stay home and sleep. The test was 3 weeks away and she would pass. Flying colors pass. And she did. Then went for her first "job interview". Has had 2 jobs for the last year.
Well it affect her "future"? Maybe. It may make her have to work harder. But only because "society" says a drop out has no future. I don't believe that.