Running Start Pays for Blossoming Students

By: Raelyn Clark

Staff Writer

Published October 17, 2018

Green River College offers a wide variety of programs, the most popular being Running Start.

One of the many perks of participating in this program is that it encourages students to earn college credit before they graduate high school. This program gives high school students the opportunity to pursue their associate’s degree before graduation. Running Start additionally pays for the tuition of high school students, making college more feasible for every student in need.

Morgan Collings, an Auburn High School junior participating in her first year of Running Start, expressed her opinion on the change in learning environments: “I enjoy college so far. It will take some getting used to, but I like how much more professional and mature of an environment this is compared to high school.” Morgan is also enrolled in an online English course, which she described as “convenient” due to the constant accessibility of English resources and the ability to finish coursework on her own time. Morgan also enjoys the variety of options for classes available in a college setting. She says it is exciting to take classes, like sociology, that cover more than basic topics such as English and math.

However, online classes are not for everyone. Jared Cloud, a senior at Auburn High School, says he is “better at a classroom environment when it comes to learning.” Jared is beginning his second year of Running Start and believes that the college learning environment is more suitable for him than the traditional high school classroom. He has tried different styles of courses, such as the choices between in-person, hybrid, and online. “Hybrid classes are really cool,” he said when asked how he feels about the new learning style. Jared also appreciates the maturity in a college setting, “We’re treated more like adults compared to high school, there are a lot fewer disruptions and distractions as well.”

Running Start students, despite participating in the same program, sometimes have different goals for the outcome of college. For example, some students, like Morgan, who plans on earning a Ph.D., join to earn their associate’s degree to complete their schooling earlier. Other students, however, join to become serious about school and adjust to a professional environment.