Running Start

I go to a very nice community college that has quite a few wonderful programs and some that are only so-so. Running Start is one of those programs that lurk in the middle, only showing off one side at a time. On one hand, Running Start is great for high school students who maybe can't afford college, and who want to be done with high school and their first two years of college at the same time. It's a great tool, really. On the other hand, the Running Start students get first pick of the classes, which makes it very hard for actual college students to sign up for the classes that they need to finish college. I guess someone on the top of the decision-making committee figured that real college students can continue to pay out the nose (ewww. Never mind. Keep that in your nose) for a longer period of time, just so high school students who decide they don't want to be in high school anymore can pick their classes first and graduate on time (hmmm, with that whole paying out the nose thing, picking classes just got a whole lot more interesting). Himself and I are in agreement on this one. Not all high school students are ready for college, and yet they passed a test, so they get to join the big kids at the big school.

A friend of mine from high school went through Running Start, and she loved it. It meant that she could go to a university right out of high school, and she wouldn't have to deal with high school anymore. We were signed up for the same year, but since she wasn't paying anything for her classes, she didn't have to drop out like I did. College got too expensive for me, and I was forced to drop out (unfortunately). She got to continue her higher education, and graduated with her AA right away. Now she's in an university and she's having a hard time coping with it. This is her second year there, and I'm starting to think that it may be her last year. She says that she's on the same level as all the other people in her class, but it's obvious that she's not. Miss Priss has the mental and emotional age of about 13. Not quite old enough to be away from Mommy, but old enough to be trying to rebel against everyone and be a real bitch. I love her and everything, but it's really hard to spend a lot of time with her because I always feel about 10 years older than her rather then the three or so years. She is incredibly intelligent when it comes to school. She is one of those people who get really good grades for doing nothing. On the flip side, I study my brains out (maybe that's my problem. The brains are supposed to stay in the head), but I usually slip by with a barely passing grade. Ironically, I married one of those people who do great in school (he's very proud of B.S-ing an entire paper once). The one bit of intelligence that Miss Priss is lacking is common sense. She doesn't always realize that she's offended someone until the damage is done and there is no turning back.

I know, really happy post, this one. Oh well. Stress will do that to you.

M