As we approach the end of the semester, final exams are becoming alarmingly close and the inevitable lack of motivation to finish the semester out strong is apparent in many students. After a long semester of studying and working hard to earn good grades, students often no longer want to continue their efforts seeing that the end is in sight. However, for some, they have worked hard enough throughout their time in high school and have earned the opportunity to graduate at semester instead of at the end of the school year like most of their classmates.

While graduating early has many benefits and rewards, the process is no easy task and often takes planning with counselors and parents prior to making the decision. If students are interested in graduating early, they should know that the process starts around one’s sophomore year of high school to ensure that they are taking all the required classes to earn their diploma early.

While this process is often tedious and time-consuming, it can be rewarding for students in many ways. For example, athletes planning to play their sport in college can focus solely on it without stressing about school. Senior Kaylyn Bostrom-Christy speaks about her plans to play volleyball at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and how graduating early has benefited her.

“I plan on playing club volleyball this spring with Team Indiana,” Bostrom-Christy said. “But with a free schedule where I do not need to worry about school.”

On top of being able to focus on one’s sport without the stress of school and homework, students can even utilize their time to get a job to earn money for post-secondary education. Additionally, there are financial benefits to graduating early.

   “For those graduating a full year early there is a Governor’s Scholarship that you earn $1000 for postsecondary education upon graduating a full year early,” Counselor Greg Davidson said.

   Along with these benefits, seniors or juniors graduating early may even avoid the inevitable effects of contracting ‘senioritis.’ Senioritis, as its name implies, is what seniors often experience towards the end of their time as an active high schooler. They know what their plans are and where they may be completing their post-secondary education and the fact that the end is in sight creates this sudden lack of motivation. By graduating early, students may even avoid losing motivation towards the end of their high school career.

While there are many benefits of graduating early, it can often be a lonely journey as one may be graduating without one’s friends.

   “The hardest part of graduating early is leaving my friends and teachers,” Bostrom-Christy said. “I will still be in Indiana, but it will not be the same because of the relationships I will miss.”