Early College Advice
The Early College system is unlike any other traditional high school, and it can sometimes be difficult to adapt to the new system. Here is some advice to keep in mind as you go through your academic year.
By Akshara Bachu
Have a Balanced Social Life
Similar to other schools, fostering strong and healthy friendships allows school work to be more enjoyable and less of a hassle. Though it may seem like your options are limited as there are few people in each grade, make sure you get to know each other (after all, you probably will be stuck together for the rest of your Early College experience). Discussing your schoolwork with your friends can help you keep track of important dates and deadlines. The classes where I had someone to work with were a significantly less hassle. Since many Ohlone classes are asynchronous, it is important to have human interaction. Use the extra time flexibility and set up meetings where you can study together or just hangout together so you don’t feel too lonely. It may not even have to be in-persons; gaming together and bonding online is also very beneficial. Along with maintaining good friendships, participating in school activities helps you feel more connected to the community. Seeing peers in an environment that is not work related can better develop your understanding of their personality.
Manage your Academic Workload
In my experience, I found that there is significantly less homework in Early College than in middle school. The busy work was replaced by work that requires more effort and attention to detail. Unlike Alsion middle school, Ohlone classes are generally more test orientated and less dependent on homework for the overall grade. If you are not a good test taker, it is best that you try to figure out a plan that works for you as soon as possible. Canvas is the main site you will be using for Ohlone, so make sure you feel comfortable with it– take some time to explore each feature. It is also helpful to turn on Canvas notifications. If you use an online calendar or such as google calendar, you can connect canvas to it to give you notifications about assignments. The freedom of managing your time leaves an open door to explore other areas that interest you. It is wise to acquire an internship or participate in volunteer work. Whatever you do, make sure that your parents are updated. Though the schedule is sometimes irregular, and the work you have to do is a little tedious to explain, it is better to keep your parents/guardian in the loop to avoid any misunderstandings. They will be your best advocates besides yourself and will aim to provide you with the resources you need to succeed.
Plan wisely
Having so much autonomy over your education may begin to feel overwhelming. To avoid burnout, try talking to your parents/guardian and Mr. John. It may be helpful to to contact a college counselor and consult them about your academics to figure out what the best plan is for you. Another good resource for planning your academics is talking to older students and finding out what they did and what worked for them. When you start high school it is important to start taking note of what interests you to try to figure out what pathway you want to take. If you don’t like anything, try observing what you don’t like and work your way from there. Even if you have a strong sense of which path you would want to take, find projects or programs that explore the subject in depth and strive to make an impact in them. Getting hands on exposure to the minutiae of the subject may change your preference. However, remember that when planning courses, you want to challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone. At the same time, know your limits and make sure you don’t overload yourself. Keep in mind that it is better to have A’s in easier courses than many B’s and C’s in more rigorous courses. Don’t strain yourself too much and find a balance between your academic life, your extracurricular life, and your social life.