From a young age students are told they will “be something” in life, whether it be the President of the United States or a neurosurgeon.
Aspirations are remarkable and hope remains prominent.
As more is expected from them, slowly some students begin to lose hope, start settling and stop caring.
Their grades are now satisfactory, sedentary behaviors become prevalent and motivation drops.
“I am going to be valedictorian” becomes “I am going to graduate high school.”
Despite this motivation epidemic, a handful of students maintain their drive. Some, in fact, have begun taking advantage of the College Early Start Program that Delta offers.
The requirements are limited to completing a few forms and applications, taking a placement test and eventually gaining counselor and parental permission.
However, a student may only complete a maximum of 11 units per semester in which they are still enrolled in high school to ease their workload.
Once this is completed, students select their desired classes, register, then pay $46 per unit as long as students are categorized as California residents. And in some cases, students can qualify for a fee waiver that will cover a percentage of each units’ price.
Senior Vincente Arburua is one of the few high schoolstudents who also attend community college.

“I am serious about my education, I always have been.”
While he has always thought about college, being a senior brings forth the sense of reality that comes with adulthood. Arburua is completing his college general education now and plans to transfer those credits to a four-year university.
Last semester he took Child Development and this semester he is taking Music Appreciation.
On top of taking rigorous courses at Stagg, he also participates in other extracurricular activities, such as tennis and cross country, which he has to balance with his college classes.
“I have to choose the class on days I have practice, and on days I have games I go to the game.” Despite his time management challenges, Arburua enjoys the time he spends at Delta.
While on the college campus he notices that the students there are more serious about their education and while they are older than him, he feels comfortable.
Some students had considered the option but later decided against it.
Senior Clarissa Navas, for example, had thought of the possibility. However, she eventually decided she wouldn’t have time for it being that she is so invested in her high school activities such as track and field and various clubs.
If she had chosen to attend Delta within the College Early Start Program she would have taken English. Navas had planned to take these classes during the school year, not over the summer as her peers suggested.
Some students need that extra push but ultimately achieve their goals. Victor Flores, also a senior, is currently taking classes at Delta and plans to remain a student there for two years after high school, then transfer his credits to the University of the Pacific.
Currently, he is taking English and Public Communications. Flores admits he was not the one who initially considered the idea.
His school counselor, Samantha Wirzberger, suggested he start now rather than after he graduates. Though he needed that extra push, he does not lack the enthusiasm others may have.

Flores finds it difficult to cope with attending two schools and dealing with two different sets of teachers.
“It’s hard but I have to do it if I want to be something in life.”