Opinion: As a first-generation student, making it to college was all about confidence and experience. Early College helped me to gain both.

To be prepared for college, you must envision yourself as a college student and believe in your own ability to succeed. One of the tools that maximized my college experience is Early College; a High School program that allows students to take college courses along a sequenced pathway for free with additional support. I began my Early College program as a freshman at Lynn English High School, and earned 17 credits related to my interest in health care. My Early College experience provided me with a substantial amount of knowledge about my specific academic interests, my growing passion to work in healthcare, and essential skills to get through college. I improved academically and developed confidence in my education and capabilities as a first-generation college student. As a high school student, I got to enroll in college-level classes for free while receiving college credits to discover my intellectual and personal interests. I was also able to network with instructors and classmates, providing me with a completely different perspective on college.

Believing in yourself is one of the most important tools for personal and professional success; Early College courses were one of the experiences that helped me realize that I am capable of overcoming collegiate obstacles. I came to realize that my background as a first generation student would not hinder my future success. As a first generation American student, my parents are inexperienced with the American collegiate system. Trying to maneuver the world of school was intimidating, and I questioned my ability to succeed, but Early College provided the confidence I needed. I began taking Early College classes in my freshman year of high school and proceeded to my senior year, understanding more and more about my educational capabilities. I would not be where I am now, at Boston University with 17 college credits if it hadn’t been for Early College, since it was one of the underlying aspects that helped me develop self-confidence in my academics. I believe Early College is a great resource for high school students in Lynn to proceed to college.

While I was in High School, I got to study Cultural Anthropology and Medical Ethics at North Shore Community College and Anatomy and Physiology at Salem State University. These courses facilitated me in establishing my professional interest in healthcare. Though combining college and high school academics may be tough, I acquired time management skills to make the most of my busy days balancing both courses. Early College assisted me in understanding the dynamics of the healthcare system and intellectually pushing myself in order to be well equipped for four-year college. I took three Early College courses, which were intellectually demanding but also helped me cultivate study techniques that I currently use to get through my college courses. Striving to be the best versions of ourselves takes hard work and persistence and being part of the Early College program has helped me become the person I am today. In order for our future generation of Lynn students to thrive in academics and become the best versions of themselves, they can use Early College as a source to ease their journey like me. Early College is likely to grow due to its  recent success and potential to change students’ lives, hence why it should be made available to all students. I hope you’ll keep supporting the Massachusetts Early College Initiative.