Annalise Smith is a student of Clark State College in Springfield, Ohio, and a former dually-enrolled student. She completed her high school diploma and her associate of science degree in 2023. She is Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s International President.
Being a high school student is difficult. Between growing pains and seemingly unreasonable and ever-changing expectations, being a young student is complex and can be seemingly impossible to navigate without a handbook. Everyone has a varying experience as a high schooler. However, if you were lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to dually enroll in college while completing your diploma and accepted it, you may understand how difficult it can be to juggle high school, college, and your own life simultaneously.
Being a high school student and college student is a balancing act. More than likely, high school and college aren’t the only things you’re balancing. You may be working, taking care of family at home, are engaged in extracurriculars or sports, or maybe even all at once! College courses typically require a higher level of focus and quality of work in comparison to high school courses, but it’s principal that you do your best in all your classes. Avoid putting yourself or your regular high school courses low on your priority list.
Being dually enrolled is amazing, but your mental health and wellbeing are far more substantial. It’s imperative to understand that college courses are something extra to take on for a challenge. You are not expected to be perfect. You are learning after all! If you find yourself falling behind or feeling too overwhelmed, you may consider reaching out for support or look for ways to lessen the load or redistribute your focus and energy. There is no shame in asking for help or adjusting your workload to fit your capacity and life circumstances!
If you find yourself struggling under the stress of calibrating balance in your life, it’s best practice to implement healthy living habits and use strategies to maximize your capacity. If you are consistently studying late nights to keep up in classes, you may consider changing your study habits. Or think about taking a lesser class load. To ensure your success, it’s important that you are getting a healthy amount of sleep, are eating properly during all meals of the day, and are taking time for yourself.
Brainstorm possible ways to organize yourself to meet all your personal and professional needs, start meal prepping, create a schedule, or even create a simple to-do list. Your habits and lifestyle are your first steps towards navigating stressful and new situations and put you closer to your soon-to-be adulthood.
High school is widely viewed as a time to find yourself, your passions, and your goals. Don’t feel pressured to know exactly what you want to do by the moment you turn 18. Realistically, the majority of us won’t truly understand what we want in life until much later. But use the time and opportunities you have as a dually-enrolled college student to figure yourself out. Whether this means taking a class that interests you instead of a class that would transfer to a four-year college, asking your professors extra questions, joining your colleges student government, or a becoming part of a club, a college setting can offer you a higher level of self-exploration than your high school may. Being dually enrolled may even help you decide your future major if you plan to continue in higher education!
Navigating dual enrollment may be a confusing experience, but it is also a rewarding one. Be sure to take care of yourself. Learn how to balance your needs and priorities, and never be afraid to reach out for support. Taking classes in a higher education setting brings many amazing opportunities for you as a young student to bloom. However, to be successful, self-care must be of the utmost importance. Remember, achieving success is all about learning what works best for you!
