Students experience college, earn credit
When junior Lauren Gentner woke up during the first week of school in January, she did not rush off to school like most students fresh off break. Instead, this part-time post-secondary student waited until fourth period, at 11:32, to arrive to class. As most students continue their old schedule even as the new year opens up, several Revere students enter into a new semester of classes at post-secondary institutions.Seventeen students have joined Revere’s post-secondary program, a state-run initiative that allows students to receive high school and college credit by taking courses at college. Linda Weigand, the guidance counselor at Revere High School in charge of the post-secondary program, explained more about what students are doing in the program.
“Eight students are taking classes full-time, while nine are taking classes part-time,” Weigand said.
Additionally, while most Revere post-secondary students take classes at the University of Akron, a few take classes at Cuyahoga Community College and Kent State University, and other options remain. Weigand said that students can attend any school they want “if the institution will accept the student.”
Gentner, who attends the University of Akron part-time, takes several classes at Akron before coming to Revere for the last two periods of the day. She first became interested in the post-secondary option because of the freedom but is now taking advantage of it so she can pursue a degree in occupational therapy.
“Last semester I took English, speech and psychology. This semester I am taking sociology, English and medical terminology…. I have classes Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” Gentner said.
Gentner compared her Revere classes to her classes at the University of Akron.
“My English class at Akron is a thousand times less difficult than [a Revere English class]…. [My Akron classes are] a lot easier than AP classes. I am going to have eighteen credits after this year [which is half a freshman year],” Gentner said.
Weigand, however, cautions students interested in post-secondary.
“Students need to go into it with their eyes wide open…. Students do not get points for [class] rank…. A student can alter his or her schedule here at Revere, [but] if they alter a college schedule, there could be financial responsibility for it…. You have to be a responsible, mature student to balance college life with high school expectations,” Weigand said. \
Weigand also noted the difficulties of combining Revere trimesters with college semesters. She said a difficult part of the process is “trying to blend the high school trimester schedule with a college semester.” Weigand also lauded the option of post-secondary for its individuality.
“What is nice about post-secondary [is that] it is not a one-size fit for everybody, you do not have to take the same courses [as everybody else],” Weigand said.
One student aiming to take advantage of the customizability of post-secondary is Revere junior Peter Feher. He just started studying flute as a Young Artist at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) under flute teacher Mary Kay Fink.
“[I am taking] music analysis, music theory, eurhythmics, lessons with Mary Kay Fink and a studio class,” Feher said.
Feher also noted that his schedule is rather haphazard.
“[My] schedule is not consistent at all, especially in the performance classes, because [my teachers] have crazy performance schedules. Some days I will not be at CIM until 4 in the afternoon; other days, as early as 12:30…. Sometimes available lesson times are 7:30 – 9:00 at night, other times 11:30 – 1:00 in the middle of the day,” Feher said.
Ohio’s post-secondary program offers many Revere students an opportunity to experience new classes and earn college credit. Ultimately, the option allows students to customize their classes and explore new possibilities not offered at Revere.
