Feelings: Alief Early College High School

          The Early College lifestyle is glorified due to the experience we gain and the opportunities we receive. However, a lot was given up by many students when they made the choice to enroll in Alief Early College. One student, Valerie Vidana, a senior, comments, “I had to give up acting. I miss being on stage, performing [in] a play and trying out costumes.” The opportunities we all receive from attending Alief Early College are undoubtedly great benefits, yet for many, the ideas of what they could have pursued elsewhere, and what they are missing out on still reside. There is a lot to gain from attending Alief Early College, but also a lot to leave behind in order to be successful.

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          Being at an early college is no easy feat and as tempting as a free associates degree sounds, it is paid for by our many personal sacrifices. Whether it is giving up being on a competitive sports team or in an orchestra you have participated in all your life, sacrifices are something we know all too well at Alief Early College. At the same time, we are all aware of the opportunities we receive by being students at this school that exceeds a degree which shows you graduated out of high school and college simultaneously. Early college holds an intimate community that connects you with your teachers, allows for one on one time with your counselors, prepares you for life beyond high school, and fosters close friendships bonded by four years of an early-college lifestyle.