Graduating high school early can be a rare opportunity for some students, but is not brought up enough while going through the school system, as it poses unique benefits as opposed to the regular high school path. 

There are lots of things to consider when graduating early, such as a plan with the possible time off or maturity to enter the next stage of one’s life.

“I felt like I was ready to move on to the next step of my life, and was ready to just move on and start my college education,” said Jordan Ruggiero, a senior at Hollis Brookline who is graduating a year early.

Feeling prepared to enter the next phase of one’s life is crucial, as it is easy to feel lost, or without direction when graduating early. Entering with a plan helps make the work and time spent more effective. Marianne Green, a career counselor, says “it’s a way of choosing an activity and using that experience in a way that is helpful for the future.”

Everyone’s plan for graduating early and how they spend their time might not look the same as the next, but working towards a goal set in mind helps create a smooth transition between time off and college.

“At first the whole idea of graduating early seemed daunting, but I developed a plan that works for me and will help me get to college faster,” said Ruggiero.

When graduating early, graduates are given the opportunity to immediately start making money, or pursue higher education, and are given a unique opportunity to apply what they have learned throughout high school outside of the typical classroom setting. Things such as entering the workforce, volunteering, or tending to other special circumstances in one’s life, offer a different perspective when applying for education. Graduating early also offers students the potential to save money on college tuition.

With AP classes becoming more accessible to all students, and the use of dual enrollment classes with local community colleges, collecting college credit in high school has never been easier. Students are able to chip away at their required classes and speed up the education process, saving money in the long run.

Natasha Robinson of The News and Observer reported on a high school student named Kylee Patterson, who went into college with $15,000 less debt due to collecting college credits before actually attending a four-year university.

Graduating high school early can be a difficult decision to make. It requires a game plan, a goal in mind, and motivation. With options such as joining the workforce and saving money for school, pursuing education, or receiving real-world experience, graduating early can have a lot of benefits for students, and should be spoken about more frequently as an option for students.