Senior students who are enrolled in COS classes share the struggles and advantages of dual enrollment.
By Justyne Sanchez
College Of The Sequoias provides many opportunities for High School students at Redwood High School. Dual enrollment provides early exposure to advanced education, a GPA boost, and allows students to explore academic interests beyond the High School curriculum. Not only earning college credits in High School it provides students with a head start in their academic and professional journey. Although it helps students there are challenges of dual enrollment while still fulfilling high school requirements and being involved at school. It requires a lot of time management, adaptability, and determination.
Three Redwood seniors, who are enrolled in dual enrollment, share their experiences and difficulties that come with being enrolled in dual enrollment.
Keira Bixler ’24, says how she maintains her high school workload while taking COS classes, “I try to be honest with myself about my capabilities during any given semester. For example, I limit my courses during football season because of cheer.”
Bixler explains how she deals with stress, “Of course taking extra college classes comes with stressful times. I find it imperative to use time blocking so that I stay on top of my work while still allocating time to myself. Still, taking extra classes comes with sacrifice; but I find that it is worth it to push myself and learn something new.” She says.
When working with her high school schedule and college classes Bixler says, “Most of the COS classes I take are online so, I usually dedicate one day out of my weekend to my college class work for the upcoming week. Then, throughout the week I will check in and study when I have extra time.”
Bixler shares the pros and cons of taking COS classes, “Dual enrollment provides students with a wider variety of class options and the chance to challenge yourself intelligently. You also can receive credits that will make your future college experience less expensive and possibly shorter as well. However, every commitment comes with sacrifices. For me, that sacrifice has been having as much time to socialize with my friends. At the end of the day, it comes down to what you choose holds the most importance in your life.”
Keoni Estévez Morales ’24 is currently enrolled in dual enrollment. He says, “Dealing with stress can be challenging, especially when you have to balance high school and college courses. Some strategies that may help you manage stress include practicing mindfulness and getting enough sleep. It’s important to take breaks when you need them and to reach out to friends, family, or a counselor if you need additional support.”
He says, “When you decide to attend COS classes, it’s important to understand that it comes with a certain level of sacrifice. Balancing your academic obligations with your other activities, such as work, social events, and personal time, can be a challenge. You might find yourself having to rearrange your schedule, prioritize your tasks, and make some tough choices to keep everything in check.”
While Dual enrollment comes with its pros, it also comes with its cons. Morales says, “Dual enrollment in high school with college courses has both pros and cons. The pros include getting a head start on college education, experiencing college-level coursework, and standing out on college applications. However, the cons include stress and difficulty balancing academic and personal obligations. Despite these challenges, I find dual enrollment to be a valuable experience.”
Christine Lastimoza ’24 explains how she deals with stress while being involved with the marching band and being the assistant drum major, “I have an online to-do list so I can list out when assignments are due and how urgent they are. I like to work on the easy assignments first that way it’s out of the way and I have more time to focus on the harder, time-consuming assignments.” She says.
Lastimoza says, “My schedule last semester consisted of an in-person class and online class. My in-person class was on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:45 pm to 5:00 pm. My schedule this semester only consists of one online class.”
Justyne Sanchez
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