Many high school students are hesitant and almost frightened to become adults, but Hillsborough Community College student Mackenzie Tate isn’t afraid to face her future. Tate is 16-year-old Tampa, Fla. resident and has experienced almost every level of the Hillsborough County public school system including college. She is in her first semester of dual enrollment at HCC and she is glad to be getting a head start on her education.

  Dual enrollment is a program for high school students. It allows students to take classes at a local college for free while still being enrolled in high school. The college credits earned by the students will also count as high school credits.

  Steinbrenner High School of Lutz, Fla. is where Tate attended her freshman and sophomore years of school but instead of continuing on to her junior year, she switched from the public school system to a private home-school institution that specializes in dual enrollment. She is taking all of her required high school classes at HCC and at St. Petersburg College. When it is time for her to graduate with a high school diploma, she will simultaneously be graduating with an associate degree.

  The public school system strives to have students take advanced placement (AP) classes to get a “jump start” on college because the schools receive a stipend for every student taking an AP class. When a high school student registers for an AP class, she is not guaranteed college credit. College credit is only granted if the student passes a rigorous cumulative test at the end of the year; even then some schools will not accept AP credits. With dual enrollment, if the student passes the class, she receives college credit for the course. However, if the student does not pass, she is not permitted to repeat the course. Tate stated, “My AP teachers have told me that the AP curriculum is a lot harder than the equivalent college class, so I chose the easier class.”

  Because she only attends school two days a week, Tate is able to work and volunteer. She nannies for a family of six, and she volunteers at her church regularly. By being able to work, she is earning money to go on a mission trip through the church to Ireland. Not only is she earning college credits, but she is also building a resume for her future. Overall she is satisfied with her decision to dual enroll at HCC. “I miss seeing my friends every day in class, it’s the only downside of opting out of Steinbrenner,” she said.