Meet Mia, a member of the Class of 2020 from Normandy High. She is on track to graduate in 2023 from Bowling Green State University! How can she do this in only three years? Mia was able to graduate high school and Cuyahoga Community College last spring. She took 63 college credits with her to Bowling Green (plus a few credits from AP Courses, too). She did this by participating in College Credit Plus. Be on the lookout for an announcement about College Credit Plus Information Sessions (typically held in January). Her advisor was able to ask her a few questions about her CCP involvement.
College Now: When do you remember / how did you first hearing about CCP?
Mia: My aunt participated in a similar program called post-secondary, so I always knew it was a possibility for me but never had any real interest in it, as it was “cool” at that time to do AP classes instead.
Why did you want to do it?
I really did not at first! My aunt “forced” me to try it, as she believed that I would like the format and the structure of college education more. I was never really a normal high school student, as in I never went to parties, did not play any sports, had very little friends. When my aunt explained that college is basically about learning and nobody expects you to be popular, I liked the idea, and when I placed high enough for college English, it empowered me to take that leap of faith and try.
What did you like better about college classes? What were the challenges?
I really liked the ability to schedule classes differently and having the option of online and evening classes, and a choice of professors for the said classes. My favorite part of college (and the reason why I am going into the social work field) is the diversity in the classroom. There were kids my age that were still in high school, there were true “college-aged” kids, there were older adults pursuing their second or third degree, there were retired folks who were getting their first degrees. It taught me how to make connections with everyone and exposed me to more experiences than just stereotypical high school. The challenges were not as memorable as the highpoints. Sometimes I felt intimidated to ask for help. As a first-generation immigrant and college student, my parents could not really help me with anything, but that time also taught me to use my resources like tutoring and office hours.
What do you feel like you gained from your CCP experience? Do you feel like you missed anything about not taking the classes at NHS?
The most memorable and important gain form CCP is my Associate of Arts diploma. I received it a couple of weeks before my high school diploma and to this day it is probably my biggest accomplishment. Other than that, Tri-C helped me to grow up quicker as I learned to assume responsibility for my actions. In college, syllabus is the most important piece of paper that you will get from your teachers and as long as you stick to deadlines, you will do great. I learned how to balance my personal and academic life better and how to reach out to people when I was lost.
