While some students wait four years to get acceptance letters from colleges, there are some who get accepted a year early.

Junior Rebecca Medina is one of the few students in Carlmont High School committed to graduating high school a year early.

“I want to get out in the world more and experience what the world has to give to me,” said Medina.

Many different reasons contributed to why Medina decided to leave high school early and get into college.

Medina said, “I am planning on going to law school which is another three years added to my school years, and the earlier I leave high school the earlier I can get into law school.”

Medina feels that high school is like a barrier in her life because she feels that high school does not let her express what she can with college.

Medina is not the only junior that is planning to leave Carlmont early.

Medina’s classmate Kelly Liu also wants to get into college a year early.

“I heard about a junior program in the University of Southern California and wanted to see if I could get in so I summited an application,” said Liu.

Jarrod Harrison, an AP U.S. History teacher of both students, Medina and Liu, expressed his opinion on juniors graduating a year early.

Harrison said, “I think early graduation is a good option for students who are mature, and academically motivated enough to succeed in a more challenging environment. Both Kelly and Rebecca are very mature, motivated and focused so I think they will do well next year.”

When Harrison was in high school there were some students who graduated early.

“I knew students who took extra classes and graduated early when I was in high school.  Not everyone matures or learns at the same pace so high school can be restrictive for some people,” said Harrison.