Junior Journalists

Every new place and every new face creates a first impression.

When Early College began it was a great time for first impressions. Early College 7th graders were exposed to a new, intimidating environment of college students and professors. As an Early College student, first impressions are about everything that is new.

Whether you are an Early College 7th grader or a GCSU freshman, you will have these first impressions and jitters. The stakes are higher and the learning experience is more intense. The Early College and GCSU freshman have more in common then may first appear.

Although some 7th graders might feel intimidated by the college setting, Early College freshman Tinesha McDowell is not one of them. When asked if she felt overwhelmed by the GCSU campus she confidently responded, “No, because I’m brave and I like challenges.”

For Early College freshmen it is all about accepting challenges in order to make the transition to the college setting easier. McDowell recognizes the Early College teachers in making her transition easier. “Mr. Barsby, Ms. Parade, and Mr. Smith help us understand the work more and make it fun to learn.”

Overall McDowell’s first impression of Early College is a good one. “My perspective of what Early College is that it’s the same as regular school except I have more teachers that teach one on one” she said.

While Early College freshmen experience the GCSU campus environment first-hand, the GCSU freshmen do not experience the Early College environment. GCSU freshman Ericka Moss had a unique first impression of Early College.

“I didn’t believe it when I first heard about the program; I was shocked,” Moss said. “I really wish they had something like that when I was in 7th grade. Maybe I would have already been done with school!”

The idea of Early College has been promising to those who have heard about it.

“The benefit I think college will have is I’ll get a pretty decent pay and I’ll get to meet different people,” replied Ericka. “Most of all, my perspective and the way I look at the world will be different.”

Early College also has new teachers with their own first impression of Early College. 7th grade art teacher Alison Bishop is also a graduate student getting her Masters in Teaching. Even though Bishop is new she already feels like she is making a difference.

“This is my first teaching experience so I found it challenging, but I also find joy in it from the times my students get the idea that I am trying to convey.”

Bishop’s teaching experience has enabled her to endure the challenges that Early College brings.

“Every student is unique and you have to bend your teaching to fit that students needs,” Bishop said.

Whether you are a freshman or a 7th grader or a new student teacher, you face challenges that you have to overcome.

Even though the challenges of Early College freshman and GCSU freshman may be different, they both have a lot more in common than their first impressions might say.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 11 2009. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry