My name is Allyson Hurtado Fernandez and I am currently a junior at Tempe High School in the Dual Enrollment program. My day as a dual student starts off like most of my peers’ days, but I get the opportunity to earn college credits for some of my classes.
When I get to school, I usually go to my first class to get ready for the day. My schedule for the week is a mix of honors classes and dual enrollment classes. Being able to earn college credits for classes I already take makes me feel more prepared for my future after high school.
Honors Chemistry
My first dual enrollment class of the day is Honors Chemistry. No day is ever the same. Some days my teacher is explaining a new concept while we take notes and other days my class is doing a lab about burning cheese puffs under a can.
Chemistry can be challenging at times. With all the college level work we get it can feel overwhelming, but the work also pushes me to stay focused and do my work so I understand the concept in order to move on to the next one. Then I can earn a good grade in both a high school and a college class.
IB Junior Literature
Another important part of my day is my last class, IB Junior Literature. In this class, we focus on analyzing different forms of literature whether that be poems or plays, then we do assignments based on what we were reading that week. Once we finish the literature, our last step is writing an essay based on the way we choose to interpret the reading as a whole.
Junior English is also a great way for me to enhance the skills I need beyond high school. Being able to write essays and have the power to support the arguments I make through evidence helps me get a head start on the work I may encounter in college.
Balancing Classes
Having Chemistry and IB English Literature in my schedule gives me a chance to learn two very different, very important skills. Chemistry is focused on scientific concepts and learning them through problem solving, while English encourages me to figure out what I believe through communication, reading, and writing at a more advanced level.
It’s important that every day I stay organized and keep track of any assignments I have in both those classes and the rest of my classes. All these classes challenge me to not only learn more but to keep up with my education in the future.
Being a dual enrollment student allows me to experience this while still being in high school. I can attend classes, earn college credits, and build skills that help me feel more prepared for whatever college has to offer.
Watch Allyson's Day in the Life video.
Allyson Hurtado Fernandez is a marketing and communications intern with the Rio Salado College's Institutional Advancement Department this academic year.