My running start on making a difference.
High school is often seen as the pregame warm-up for your next step in the “real world,” be it college, trade school, the military, or a steady job. But that’s not the case for everyone, certainly not for me. I’m a high school student taking college classes, and while it’s becoming more common, it’s nothing to take lightly. You need to prepare mentally and physically like never before, including a strategic sleep schedule and time to relax, although these things are often left on the back burner. There are many pros and cons to being a student with more college credit, but any drawbacks that come your way are often outweighed by the results: going into the world with a head start and being able to make a difference more quickly.
The large number of professionals who accompany taking college classes early could not be discussed in this document alone, but the general conclusions are relatively clear. First, you can cut the time it takes to earn your bachelor’s degree in half. I will be able to graduate with a full bachelor’s degree when I am around 21 years old; if you don’t know, that’s a big problem. And on top of that, most of the time it’s free! Taking these classes could save you money during the first two years of your college career. Another advantage is the fact that you are almost completely independent, unlike regular high school students. You are trusted to do your work, and the teacher will help you if something doesn’t add up. Overall, the benefits of being a college credit student are countless, not to mention the experience and preparation it takes.
As with most things, some downsides go hand in hand with being a student with higher college credit. While you are getting a semi-college experience (even more so if you attend classes on campus), you are also missing out on a chance to have a normal high school experience. You are still a part of your high school, which means that dances and other events are open to you, but if you don’t take any other classes there, you can start to feel a bit disconnected. One way to avoid this is to have lunch with your high school classmates or to think about where this will take you in the future; And look at the evidence, it will be worth it. Additionally, there is an expected fear that college classes will be a considerably heavier and tougher workload. More is expected of you, and if you do not meet that level, the results are not pleasant. However, if you can stay organized, on top of things, and prioritized, the workload shouldn’t overwhelm you as much as you fear. In short, the downsides of being a young college student are daunting, but they can be overcome.
In the end, there are two main reasons I’m taking college classes as a sophomore in high school: to learn and to have an impact. As I said before, I will graduate with a bachelor’s degree up to a couple of years before my peers, which will give me the opportunity to go out and find a steady job that I am passionate about. Whether I choose something in the marketing or business fields, work for a publisher, or whatever else you can think of, I will have an advantage in making my dreams come true – an advantage in being the change I want to see in the world.
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