I'm going to assume you neighbors up north have the same problems in your public (and some private) school systems with marxist teachers fomenting the "hate your parents" attitudes. Helmet issue? Just mho, but if I had a 17 year old kid I'd sit him down, tell him I'm not going to yell at him, but explain that it's because I love him and care about him that it tears me up when he takes unnecessary risks, that I know there's pressure on him to "look cool" and that young people think they're indestructible, a fantasy he already knows is not true from (your) previous discussions about head injuries. If it's a girl he wants to impress, tell him that by wearing the helmet he's being intelligent so it's a nice way to weed out the stupid, shallow, cult-of-personality girls he really doesn't need dragging him down into other bad decisions going forward.

Ask him to consider himself twenty years from now, settled down with a woman he loves, a family of their own and how would HE feel if his kid were taking unnecessary risks. Ask him if he had a little brother that was doing something risky where he could get severely hurt, maybe permanently, to consider how he would feel.

Also ask him point blank if he feels he doesn't have a good future. I think a lot of these blase, disaffected attitudes of young people come from their marxist teachers (and/or general manipulated society) telling them that striving for excellence is pointless. They get told that there really is no good future for them so that their motivation will be throttled. He's probably stepping into one of the most amazing time periods in history where motivation and hard work will actually reap just, fair rewards (once we get through this horrible storm and quash the DS).

Finally add that it's ultimately up to him to make his own decisions as he's nearing the age when he's going to start forging his own future. Whether he chooses to listen to others and carefully consider all advice given to him or not, he's ultimately the one who has to live with the consequences of his choices.

A question for you (if I may be so bold). . . Are you pushing him into a certain field (like law?) when he may want to be a musician, for example? He seems to have a passion for music. When I was that age my parents kept telling me that the education and career (in my case engineering) was a means to build a life which would allow me to pursue other passions, that it was a safety net. College may help him focus because he will be around others his age who have chosen to pursue careers and are working towards those goals.

Just spitballing some thoughts. I'm no expert, just an anon with some ideas on the topic who has seen this in many youth over the years. Sorry for this being so long-winded. Good luck.