Trinity Suh

Having already published three books, senior Trinity Suh keeps a packed schedule from school to extracurriculars. Her enrollment in Foothill College’s Dual Enrollment program has allowed her the flexibility to explore her love for writing without sacrificing her school work.  

Trinity grew frustrated with the tedium and atmosphere of traditional high school.

“I didn’t want to feel the stress of SAT and college apps,” Trinity said. “On top of that, I was having a lot of friend stress, just drama and tension.”

The Dual Enrollment program allows students to experience academic independence by enrolling in both their high school and Foothill College. Similar to an undergraduate curriculum, Dual Enrollment allows students to customize their schedules.

For Trinity, the idea of the Dual Enrollment program was first brought up by Principal Wynne Satterwhite, who encouraged her to pursue the process. Previously, Trinity had considered boarding schools on the east coast, but decided that the Dual Enrollment program would be better suited to her academic and extracurricular interests.

“I can work, and I can pursue music and writing as well as go to school,” Trinity said. “Additionally, because I only take two to three classes a quarter, it is actually easier to keep my grades up while doing all those other things, rather than having to deal with seven or eight classes.”

In addition, as a student at Foothill, Trinity can opt out of taking various standardized tests for colleges. Having finished her required credits early, she will graduate in the fall. After high school she plans on staying another year at Foothill to finish her Associate’s Degree and then will transfer to a four year university.

For Trinity and Alan, the traditional high school experience stifled their abilities to learn due to its rigid scheduling, adding extra stress and prevented them from enjoying their lives.

“I think figuring out what’s best for you is really healthy, and sometimes high school isn’t really the right environment for some people”, said Trinity. “So if someone is feeling stressed, or depressed, or there’s a lot of tension with friends and stuff, they should definitely talk to their counselors about different options.”