At the age of 16 when I was a junior in high school, I decided that I wanted to take dual credit classes at our local community college. Little did I know, the next two years of my life were going to lead to two diplomas in 8 days. Over those two years, I took on 14 high school classes and 17 college classes, including two summer classes. This is what I've learned beyond the classroom.
1. Sleep is for the weak
As lectured by every parent ever, the average teenager is supposed to get between nine and ten hours of sleep a day. Over the past two years, my average sleep time was about six to seven hours. I even found nights where I slept as little as three or four hours multiple days a week. The late nights are worth the good grades!
2. There is no such thing as too much coffee
My daily schedule consisted of college in the morning, high school in the afternoon, and work and extracurricular activities at night. After a late night (every night), I found myself at the coffee shop ordering my usual 'large peppermint mocha macchiato'. My search for the world's strongest coffee continues.
3. You don't have to start assignments early
Like every other teenager in the world, I am a horrible procrastinator. During my first semester of dual credit classes, I would start my homework a week early so I wouldn't be stressed later on. By the beginning of my second semester, I began waiting until a few hours before the deadline to start.
4. Sometimes you have to put your friends first
I am a person that focuses almost all of my attention and time on my passions and my academics. But during my senior year of high school, I realized that I wasn't giving my friends the time that they deserved. So while I did start hanging out with my friends more, I continued to focus most of my attention on my academics.
5. It's all worth it in the end
On May 19, 2017, I became a college graduate and on May 27, 2017, I became a high school graduate. While not many people can say that they were a college graduate before even graduating high school, one of my best friends and I can say we were. I am so grateful for the opportunity that my high school and the community college gave to me and would do it all over again if I could.