How Running Start Students have Balanced High School and GRC During COVID

By Aidan Wuth

While most students have had challenging schooling during the pandemic, Running Start students have a unique experience balancing the college life with high school.
Running Start is a program that allows for high school students to take college classes at local community colleges while still taking high school classes. This is a program funded by the state, paying the students tuition should they be accepted into the program.
During the pandemic, Running Start students have had to balance the college courses that they are taking on top of high school courses and any other work they may be doing for high school.
Online school has caused mixed emotions in students. On one hand, students are not able to attend class, interact with their teachers and peers, and get the full Running Start experience. But on the other hand, they are able to control their schedules more than they were when they were balancing in-person classes which frees up a lot of time.

“It’s been a challenge in some areas like being able to interact with your instructors, but at the same time I like having a schedule of my own,” said Justin Kwan, a full-time Running Start student at Green River, as well as a senior in high school.
However, it has not been all bad. Depending on how they make their schedules, students can have a lot more free time to get their work done without having to attend physical classes.

“Running Start during Covid has been pretty chill. It is easy for me to finish my homework in time since I can do it on my own time and don’t have to drive to class.” Said Ethan Abbe, a Running Start student and a senior at Kentridge High School. “Time management between Kentridge and Running Start is easy because I only take band and jazz band at the high school, so I rarely have homework for Kentridge. On top of that, I do not have any scheduled meetings for Running Start that conflict with my high school classes”.