I am always up for a challenge, but it wasn’t until I was in high school where I had one of the biggest challenges of my academic career. I have countless stories about how I was in school just breezing through the day. My father came home from his corporate job, leaning on the kitchen chair, profusely explaining to my mother that they need to talk to the schools about a more challenging education plan for me. I had been in advanced math at Glendale Elementary, but even then, it was too easy.

Hopewell Elementary had welcomed me into a fun yet lackluster education. When I moved halfway through my seventh grade year, COVID-19 had challenged me, between quarantining and working in the dark lonesome dining room, but that was less education and more adjusting to a national pandemic. It wasn’t until my junior year that I was able to realize how much I would have to step up in order to receive the results that I was looking for.

It started with my College Credit Plus (CCP) Class, Journalism 1. This class was not only a step up from any other class I took, it led me find a passion for a career after high school. I might never pursue a career in journalism, but if I had not taken that class, I would have never set a higher bar for myself.

The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) states that their intent behind College Credit Plus is offering “…college and high school credits at the same time by taking college courses from community colleges or universities,” and to also “promote rigorous academic pursuits and to provide a wide variety of options to college- ready students.” I’m not saying that college is for everyone, because obviously, it is not, nor will it ever be, but for me, a challenge that can not only give me college and high school credit but better prepare me for life? Sign me up.

CCP is not limited. Students can find CCP offerings in all four cores fields of study: math, science, social studies, english language arts, and more. CCP is not only a choice, it is a tool for better learning and understanding of what intelligence truly is.

Trying is always hard to do, especially when high achievers are afraid to fail. The Programme for International Student Assessment informs that, “over half of all students in education systems surveyed expressed fear-of-failure.” The program goes on to say it is because of a lack of a perceived achievement, poorer concentration, and also lower levels of life satisfaction, “especially among girls.”

This seems like it is due to a school’s lack of empathy towards students, or a lack of student effort, but if young people look for a situation where a students standards for learning can be raised, that sense of achievement can be increased. A lot of the time students do not want school to slow them down, they want to start learning.

The right plan would be to provide a stronger and more rigorous curriculum where students can not only proceed with their interests, but challenge their intelligence and bring about exponential growth. Starting with a step above average learning, in CP courses, schools can help build students morale, and boost test scores. According to the ODE in 2017-18, 93% of students in CCP classes passed with an average grade point average of 3.24. So, it is possible.

With East’s new endeavors for the 2024- 25 school year and the amount of CCP classes added to the curriculum, students are able to receive in-depth, challenging opportunities, but the question is, will they take those opportunities or settle with classes that they are comfortable with?