This time of the year students take a step back and evaluate the credits they need to complete, to be able to graduate at the end of their fourth year of high school. However, some students won’t have a fourth year. As the norms for high school change, options open up. One of these options is to graduate early.
Nixa High School senior class counselor Carrie Stormzand works with students who are interested in graduating early.
“I have about 30 seniors that are planning to graduate at semester and then I have some juniors that I’m also working with – that Mr. Mincks and I work collaboratively with – if they are wanting to graduate early,” Stormzand said.
Junior Carolynn Marroquin is planning to graduate a year early.
“I chose to graduate a year early because I thought it would be a better option for me,” Marroquin said. “I felt like I was ready to take on the next season of my life.”
Marroquin said that she planned out her high school career well in advance but was open to changes if needed.
“For me, I kind of made two plans for myself on a Google Doc and I said if I take four years, these are all the classes I’m going to take and if I take only three years then this is how I need my schedule to show up,” Marroquin said. “The summer of freshman year I thought about it … I was like, ‘I’m going to start on this journey and if I don’t graduate in three years that’s fine, but at least I’m trying.’ ”
There are many reasons why some students may want to graduate early, but it can throw a heavy workload on them.
“My view is, if you want to and you have determination for it then go for it,” Marroquin said. “It’s definitely not for everyone. It can definitely be very stressful at times, but it can also benefit [your] mental [health] and other reasons.”
Stormzand said that the choice to graduate early depends on what a student wants to achieve.
“Every student is different…” Stormzand said. “I think it really goes to what is your goal. Because the other thing is, if you’re a typical student who does really well and wants to get scholarship money, then stay here and get all the opportunities you can, do the dual credit [classes] at a cheaper rate; It’s really having those individual conversations to see what’s the best fit for you as a student. And for some students it might be the best decision to finish early and based on what’s happening … there’s not a right or a wrong decision. It’s just what’s best for each individual student.”
Junior Sydney Adams had to take a couple of extra classes to be able to graduate early.
“I took an English class and another math class and I’m taking two college classes,” Adams said.
At NHS, students need 24 credits to graduate.
“If you are a student that wants to graduate at the end of junior year, that would require taking summer school each year … or taking an additional course outside of the school day,” Stormzand said. “Which you can take through a variety of organizations but that would be a cost; It is possible to graduate early, the biggest piece is with the English requirements.”