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Graduating Early
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I would love to hear some tips, advice, stories from those who have had a teen graduate early. Did you feel like it was worth it? How difficult was it? Why did you do it?
My second child is in 9th grade. She will have her math, foreign language, history, and science requirements in by the end of 10th grade. Four English credits are required. With the amount of literature and writing that happens in our CM style schooling, I think I can get her the credits she needs early.
Her older brother has so enjoyed every moment of tradition 4 year high school and has a plan to get one and a half years of college credits in before high school graduation at his normal time. Then he plans to attend Liberty University.
My oldest daughter, however, is unsure about college. She want to be a professional ballerina. She is good, but it is a cut throat process. There are many good dancers out there and not enough jobs that one can survive on! So, we are not sure. However, she would have more opportunities to attend intensives, and maybe a ballet company school if she were done with high school early and that could help her get into a company.
Even if none of that pans out, she could attend the local technical college for 2 years free with the “Seed” program. She could dance with a smaller local company and teach dance locally. Not her first choice, but not a bad plan B.
Praying God will reveal what is best for this child and give us wisdom and open doors. Looking for advice from those who have traveled the road of early graduation.
Sorry you’re not getting replies. I haven’t done that so have no advice. Just wanted to mention that I believe I saw a similar question on the Well Trained Mind Forums. I’ll try to find it later if I remember:) I can’t recall all the advice, but only concern I remember is if they get too many college credits in high school and decide to go to a 4 year university it negates a lot of scholarships open to freshman.
But if she’s sure of this path I think it’s awesome she has such passion and drive and it sounds like homeschooling/graduationing early can have some distinct advantages!
Thank you, momto2blessings. If you happen to see that post and can direct me to it or a copy of it that would be great. I am not a member of that forum.
I know of someone who graduated her two kids very early (in their pre-teen years/early teens). Both did undergraduate and graduate degrees locally, graduating with honors (one in philosophy, one in Engineering), then went abroad to Oxford to do their PhDs in their early 20s.
That route worked very well for them as both aspired to be (and are now) college professors. Both now-grown-up students and the parents are very happy with their decision. It’s not for everyone, surely, but it can definitely work out great for those who want that experience.
For your daughter, if her heart is in pursuing a professional dancer career and if she has a solid plan B in case all goes wrong, then I’d say, go for it! Dancer careers are relatively short due to the physical strains and the body and the younger she gets started the longer of a potential career she’ll have in her. But make sure that this is really what she wants to do. Even if it isn’t, or even if she isn’t successful, as long as she has that solid plan B, then it should work out fine for her.
All the best! God bless.
At the Dallas Teach them Dilligently Conference last summer, Jeannie Fulbright (author of some of the Apologia science books) shared her daughter’s path. She did finish early, started dancing more and more, went to the auditons and was moving up the ladder to become a professional dancer. In the case of her daughter, she burned out and decided she wanted to pursue college. Jeannie was so grateful that they had made sure to give her a college prep education, but also allowed her to finish early to pursue that dream. If I remember correctly, she finished high school at the same time as your daughter, and then ended up going to college at about the same time as all of her peers. I don’t typically share stories second hand, but I thought it might help.
Here’s the article I remember seeing, if you can access it. I don’t know if it’s helpful to your situation….it gives tips/input mainly on college logistics of graduating early.
http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/540811-thoughts-on-graduating-early/
Thank you so much momto2blessings for that link. It did work and has been helpful. I am leaning towards not “officially” graduating her early, but rather having a very different school schedule than I originally planned. Dual credits and a lighter schedule to allow her time to attend intensives and extra classes. That way the pressure to start college right away is not there and buys her some time, so to speak.
The free “seed program” at the tech college would have to start the fall after graduation. So if I hold off on officially graduating her, that option remains open until we see what opportunities are there for her with dance.
Quite untraditional, but that’s the story of her life so far!!
Glad I happened to see this one Benita! I have not been here much lately. My dd (the archer) has decided to continue competing for a while longer but has changed her path and now wants to start an archery lesson business. We have just ordered the supplies and equipment for her so she will probably get started next month. She is working at her own pace and she will graduate when…she’s finished. She wants to take art classes and learn how to do framing to go along with the art classes. Homeschooling has given her opportunities to explore different alternatives and she wants to eventually make her living somewhere in the art industry and have the archery business on the side as a second stream of income. Lots of choices.
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