en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:56:20 GMT 15 By Staff Editorial
While the majority of high school students are finishing off their TAKS tests, AP exams and other classes, a select few have already begun their college experience through a new program offered by some colleges. The Richland Collegiate High School (R.C.H.S.) program gives teenagers the opportunity to leave their normal high school setting and attend a college where they complete the requirements to receive a high school diploma, while also receiving a college associates degree. Students can sign up at the end of their sophomore or junior year and go through an interview and application process. We believe even though this opportunity could benefit certain people, it proves unsuccessful in the mental and emotional development of a high school student getting ready to graduate and head for college. Some of the high school experience is lost when a teenager decides to transfer to a division of R.C.H.S., where they leave their friends from the secondary education environment to be surrounded by college students. There is a certain amount of maturity that teenagers gain when in high school, and being around teenage peers develops that maturity more than being surrounded by older college students. Even though students participating in the collegiate program have a high level of maturity and responsibility, they still lose some of their learning experience by leaving the high school environment. The difference of maturity between high school and college students is a drastic difference, and it can only be gained by going through the high school experience. Even though R.C.H.S. is excellent for receiving two types of credit, there are still disadvantages of missing out on memories made in the corridors of a high school. Seniors have the opportunity to go to prom with their classmates, participate in senior events, and most importantly walk across the stage wearing a cap and gown to receive a diploma. When involved in the collegiate program, students have the opportunity to attend prom and other events, but when a senior prom is not personal to the student and they can’t be there with the kids they have grown up with, the meaning and purpose of the dance loses some of its sincerity. Also, R.C.H.S doesn’t provide things like a “Senior Day,” honoring the soon graduating seniors with a special day off campus to relax. Those participating in the program have to be willing to take chances by dropping everything they have known in high school. In order to solve the issues with the program, anyone interested in leaving high school for a bigger environment should be aware of all the benefits and also costs that follow. An informational meeting on an assigned night could provide teenagers with the chance to learn about R.C.H.S. while also contemplating what they will be leaving behind in high school. In our opinion, not all students are aware of how much they are losing by participating in the educational organization, so it would be beneficial if they were given the chance to hear from the administration of R.C.H.S. what they are getting themselves into before actually making a final call. The application and interview serve as ways for the candidates to learn about the program, but some might not take into account how many high school memories and events they will miss out on if they are accepted into R.C.H.S. High school is not just about receiving the credit needed for a diploma. It’s not just the chance for students to hurry and get out of high school so they can go to college to be on their own. It’s best to cherish high school while it lasts because college is a different experience, presenting new challenges and worlds of opportunities high school kids may not be ready to face. We feel teenagers in high school should gain the necessary maturity before rising to the level of difficulty required for the next task required. If a student is so determined to graduate early in order to go to medical school to become a doctor, law school to become a lawyer or any other career that requires extra graduate studies, by all means participate in R.C.H.S. If someone just wants a chance to get on a college campus early because it’s cool, they should reassess their feelings about the memories they will be missing with their friends, peers and teammates. ]]> Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:13:00 GMT