Opinion: Early College changed our lives. Let’s make college a reality for many more Lawrence students.

As former Early College students in Lawrence, we are writing to highlight the importance of this program at Lawrence High School, and emphasize our hope that the district, community, and state continues to support Early College programs. For us, Early College was a life-altering experience, and we see tremendous value in even more students in Lawrence taking advantage of the program. 

While neighbors, Lawrence and North Andover have different racial and economic makeups, and there is a significant gap in degree attainment. The Early College program in Lawrence is a strategy to bridge that gap, encouraging more students to earn degrees and, ultimately, higher-wages. 

Early College tackles intersectional social injustice issues, including the common challenges faced by first generation students of color, and those from low-income communities. Early College recognizes the significance of those challenges and seeks to break down related barriers to better support students like us in reaching our full potential.  

For Lisbeth, Early College was an opportunity to have an authentic sneak-peak at the collegiate experience which helped her anticipate what to expect. As a first-generation student, she had relied on YouTube and Google to learn about college, but after joining Early College she was able to gain firsthand experience and close the gap in her lack of knowledge about college compared to other students who grew up in college-oriented families.

For Sabrina (Sabi) Marte, a freshman at Merrimack College, her Early College experience encouraged her to explore academic and career interests in a supportive environment. She was able to take classes and meet peers and professors that helped her realize her passion for social justice and social work. After recognizing this passion, Sabi has been able to focus on a degree that will help her address the structural forces that contribute to institutionalized racism and injustice. 

The same is true for Wiralba Pichardo, a freshman at Grinnell College, who discovered her passion for Political Science through a class she took senior year of high school with Professor Dobbs at Merrimack ColIege.

Early College has played an important role in our lives and futures. But we are only three people. As the leading state in education, Massachusetts has a responsibility to all students to provide a high quality education. Early College is a way to do that. 

We are the intersectionalities that everyone talks about: Black, Latinx, low-income and first-generation. 

We are proud Lawrence residents. 

We are the students that the state most frequently fails. 

But, Early College stepped in and provided opportunities that we previously lacked. It made all the difference in our lives and we hope Lawrence and Massachusetts continue to invest in Early College programs, their promise, and the opportunity they provide to all students – regardless of background – to have a real chance at a college degree.