Kelly Watts
When I first received a bright yellow paper in the mail that read "School for Advanced Studies (SAS)," I was initially skeptical about switching to a new high school. I was attached to my friends, and I did not want to miss out on a traditional high school experience. After reading about the prestigious schools that SAS students were accepted to and the competitive scholarships that they received, I understood that SAS must be a high school of academic excellence. Despite my mother's futile attempts to dissuade me because I would "lose my high school experience," I finally decided that SAS is where I wanted to be. Coming to SAS has changed my life. I have become a more mature, responsible, and dedicated individual.
Unlike traditional high schools, students at SAS have the opportunity to choose from an array of college courses at Miami Dade College and organize their own class times. It is the student's responsibility to stay on top of all of their coursework in high school and college. And while there are some days in which it seems as if there is a never - ending pile of work, there are many resources to help students succeed. College and high school teachers are available during office hours and are glad to assist students, and because there is such a close - knit student body at SAS, students are always looking out for one another. At SAS I did not lose my high school experience, but rather I gained the experience of challenging myself to exceptional levels, being taught by dedicated teachers who care about my success, and leaving SAS with two years of college under my belt.
Kelly Watts
School for Advanced Studies, Class of 2013 Hamilton College, Class of 2017