Taking college credits while in high school is a great opportunity for students to get ahead. Taking these credits is free, through school, unless you fail the college course. Many teachers and parents are all for students taking these credits to ‘dip their toes in the water’. In our high school, there have been many students who have taken college credits during their high school years. Amanda Rolling has taken four college classes, which count for 12 college credits, and counts for 3 high school credits as well. Austin Uppena and Brooklyn Friedrick have each taken .5 credits. Stevie Kliebenstien has taken 3.75 credits. 

These credits can be beneficial to students, but it can also be their downfall. A student must be able to find the balance in their high school and college credits, and if they are in extracurriculars, the workload can become even more strenuous. Brooklyn Friedrick is on the volleyball team and basketball team, forensics, and several clubs. “I have been stressed a little but it’s not a bad thing.” 

“Making sure I budgeted my time for homework between high school and college homework, and my personal life, really helped me, as well as setting goals for my time,” Stevie informed me. Creating lists and, “making sure I was always being productive and getting things done,” is how Austin managed his time and classes.

Every student who decides to take on a college credit must be willing to devote extra time to that class and give up a piece of their free time. Though students must apply themselves a little more, “[taking these credits has] put me in a position with higher work expectations and exposed me to working with people from different backgrounds, so I would highly recommend taking some college courses if you can,” said Stevie. Brooklyn makes sure to “do the majority of the work on the weekends and a little after practice during the week.” Making sure you have a routine for getting your work done seems to be the secret to success. 

To sum it all up, Zach Stuart says that, “nothing is going to just fall into your lap. You have to give extra to get extra.” Any student who wants to take the extra credits must be willing to give more of their time and effort if they want to earn the extra free college credits, but those students have a great advantage by the end of high school.