星空传媒

When Anna Minnick graduates from Central 星空传媒 High School next spring, she will have completed nearly a year of college courses, too.

Minnick started taking dual-enrollment classes through 星空传媒 last year when she was a junior in high school. She completed coursework in communication and psychology. This fall, the 17-year-old high school senior is enrolled in biology, bioethics and English 100 鈥� all online. She plans to take more college courses in the spring.

鈥淎t my school, we have time allotted during our second and third periods that I use to do my college classes,鈥� she said.

Along with dual enrollment, Minnick is a cheerleader. She also participates in band and color guard and is a member of her high school鈥檚 National Honor Society and student council.

鈥淚 keep myself busy,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 appreciate the flexibility of having my dual enrollment classes online. It allows me to do the work around other things in my schedule.鈥�

Minnick said she finds college classes to be more difficult than high school classes, but she enjoys the challenge.

鈥淭hey are harder, so I have to put more time and effort into them than high school classes,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 preparing me for transfer.鈥�

Minnick plans to continue her undergraduate work at Grand Valley State University where she intends to study kinesiology.

鈥淚 would like to become an athletic trainer or physical therapist,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 really like sports and I think it would be rewarding to work with athletes. It would allow me to be involved with sports and also to be helping people.鈥�

Minnick encourages other high schoolers to take advantage of the opportunities of dual-enrolling in college classes.

鈥淚 think you have to have the mindset that this is serious and you have to apply yourself to your coursework,鈥� she said.

鈥淚t is really rewarding. The fact that I鈥檓 earning college credits for free and those credits will transfer make it worth it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 helping me get ahead in college.鈥�