Why You Should Start College Right After High School: Star's Story

Learn why AC Online alumna Star Reid calls online studies "an amazing decision!"

Thinking of diving right into college after graduating high school? That's exactly what Algonquin College alumna Star Reid did, and she exclaims, "it was such an amazing decision!"

"I was fresh out of school and I didn't want to lose any of the knowledge I had graduated with so I immediately decided to enroll." The following fall, Star began her journey in Early Childhood Education with AC Online.

The two-year program prepares students to become educators of children in a variety of early learning settings, and to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work with families and other professionals to support children's learning and development. With a friendly demeanour and a knack for handling children, Star knew she made the right choice.

"Learning about children's nutrition will definitely help me in future jobs and even further down the road when I become a parent myself. I also really loved exploring and learning about different teaching styles. This skill has allowed me to go into classrooms with confidence and develop my own groove for how it should be laid out. Because of the program, I'm able to overcome and adapt to challenges on the fly, too."

Enrolling online to keep the learning moving

The decision to enroll online was another easy one. "I wanted to be able to work close to my friends and family, but I also wanted to avoid the hour-long commute to and from campus."

AC Online empowers students like Star to create a course load tailored to their schedules from the comfort of their own homes. This flexibility and freedom provided much relief for Star. "Thanks to AC Online, I was able to work at home and follow along at my own pace, which I feel really allowed me to excel within my program," she says.

Star describes her experience with AC Online as smooth, inclusive, and fun. "This program, especially online, has allowed me to discover myself, my needs, my learning styles, desired classes, and so much more. The AC Online teachers were very helpful and so inclusive with their content. Though it was stressful at times, I felt really supported and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it."

Field placements to strengthen course material

Students in the ECE program complete three field placements during their studies. These placements focus on having the learners experience different programs and age groups. "My first two placements were completed online due to COVID-19 and they went well," Star says. "My third and final placement was in-person, [and] I really feel like AC Online prepared me for that moment, and I wasn't as stressed out as I could've been. I definitely feel like AC online was the right option for me, and I would certainly choose it again when the time comes.

"The AC Online campus made such a huge difference for me because I was still able to have real-life experiences while I was home," she adds.

Taking the next big step

Diploma in hand, Star is ready to take the world by storm. "I'm ready to find success in my field, but I also want to continue my photography business, travel the world, and live a fun life," Star says.

Speaking from experience, the recent grad shares her biggest tips for crushing it online: "Be diligent and time-oriented, be confident, ask questions, pick a general education elective that you're actually interested in, get a head start on your workload, and have fun." Wise words indeed!

If you're ready to shoot for the stars, your journey starts with attending the upcoming Virtual AC Online Info Session on Wednesday, November 16th at 6pm ET. Attend from the comfort of your home or office, and ask any and all questions about AC Online. As Star would say, it'll be "an amazing decision!"