All of my high school career I thought that dual enrollment sounded stressful. I also thought that it was not going to be useful.
But here I am the summer of my senior year and I'm dual enrolled.
Half way through my junior year I started college classes at Baker College. I started these classes so that I could get my associate's a year after I graduate high school. The beginning of my first college class , Psychology 101, was one of the most stressful weeks of my life. I learned that you are more than likely to end up with a professor that doesn't actually teach you. That is exactly how my first professor was.
After the first week of my class I realized that as long as I stayed on top of all of my assignments, I would be completely fine.
How do I feel now that I have completed my first class?
In all honesty I'm excited to see what next year's classes hold for me. This class prepared me for what other classes have in store for me.
Most people think that being dual enrolled is going to be stressful and won't allow them to do anything but school work and they are completely wrong.
This year I was not only enrolled at Baker but I was also taking an AP class at my high school and taking a high level health science course. On top of all of the educational things I was doing I was also a part of my school's theater department and had two part-time jobs.
So no, you don't lose your social life when you are dual enrolled. If anything, your social life gets better.
Why I am taking college classes?
I have chosen to go to school to be a surgeon. As most people know it is a very long process to become a surgeon. Approximately 12 years. So to try to shorten that time I decided that it would be best to take some classes now so I won't have to take them later.
Also at my high school we have a program in which you extend your high school career by a year and strictly go to Baker and they pay for your associate's. So free college.
So what am I in for my senior year?
During my senior year, I will be taking 3 college courses and getting even closer to my goal.
Overall I'm really glad that I decided to dual enrolled. I can't wait to see where this takes me.
