Richland Collegiate High School students are sharing what it means for them now that the program is ending.
The opportunity to take college-level courses while finishing up a high school diploma is something RCHS students do not take for granted.
Kenny Nguyen, a senior in the program, said, “Having this new experience of college it’s, it’s life-changing because you get to get your associates and you get your high school diploma. At the same time, at what cost? No cost. It’s free.”
Nguyen expressed his discontentment with the end of the program. He said he wished it had gone on long enough for his younger brother, a sophomore, to enroll.
Similarly, Jason Sanchez, a RCHS junior, said his family wishes his younger sister was able to enroll in the program. Instead, they will be making the commute to the Collin College early start program.
“If I would have stayed in my old high school, I probably wouldn’t have the experience I’m getting here,” Sanchez said.
He explained that RCHS brings experiences and rigor that a traditional high school is not able to provide.
Various students agreed that because RCHS has less than 300 students, the experience feels more personal. Nguyen said it’s easier to make friends because all the students are there by choice, making them like-minded and driven individuals.
The added ability to roam a campus surrounded by nature helps ease students and adds freedom, according to Nguyen. “In my old high school I felt almost confined,” Nguyen said.
Hanok Resom, a senior at RCHS, said the program helped him feel more confident about tackling university courses.
“Not only do you get an associate degree with a high school diploma, but, like, you also get to experience what college is like and then when you go to university, you’ll feel more comfortable, and you know you’ll feel right in place,” Resom said.
Students mentioned that it becomes too stressful for some and so the program experience is not the same for everyone.
Some students such as Christian Martinez, a junior at RCHS, said they weren’t affected personally because they still get to finish their two years.
“There’s some cons and pros to the program, but I think I’ll be all right.”
