Honestly, I did not take the time to read this article in depth, but I wanted to offer my perspective as a 16 year-old graduate of one of the Champaign public high schools since my case is fairly unique. Freshman year, I was officially the youngest student both in my class and my school. I transitioned from a 7th/8th grade class (I was in 7th) of approximately 8 students (20 total in 5th-8th) to a 9th grade class of 300+ (1500+ total in 9th-12th), from a private all-girls school that sends the majority of its graduates to Uni. Without considering the input of my parents, I made the decision to skip. Considering my options at the time and my current state, I have had no regrets about my decision.
After 7th grade, I could have:
1. Stayed at my middle school and repeated the same curriculum (one pitfall of being in a combined class)
2. Gone to Uni. After visiting the school, I decided it was not a proper fit for me. I appreciate the many merits of Uni High, but I found it foolish to attend a school for four years if I didn't mesh with the environment. I promise I won't turn my argument into a diatribe against Uni nor a recommendation for public high schools.
3. Attended a public middle school solely for 8th grade. Anybody who has attended a Champaign public middle school (particularly Jefferson) can understand why I didn't choose that option.
4. Skipped
On the first day freshman year, I was intimidated by the school's significantly older student body and its layout, which was analogous to a labyrinth. However, after a week, I started to enjoy myself. I made new friends while maintaining old friendships, I excelled in my classes, and never I looked back. I challenged myself without compromising anything. During my high school years, few people knew I was younger. I never gave my age any thought after making my decision, except when I wanted to make excuses for myself, excuses that I quickly rebutted.
Certainly, I would not advise just anybody to skip. It is imperative that students who skip are mature if they wish to flourish. Fundamentally, students who skip must be socially mature. Secondly, they must be the ones to make the decision. Lastly, they must be able to handle the workload and maintain their competitive status in a class of significantly older students.
After graduating last year, I'm currently taking transitional (or "gap") year. I spent the summer relaxing and the fall traveling abroad while simultaneously completing volunteer hours and an internship. In the winter, I applied to colleges. I plan on spending the spring raising money for college and writing a book. I also hope to continue to grow as a person and become secure in my future plans. Most of these opportunities would have been impossible had I not skipped.
Concerning what I read of this article, I think the article's main fault is its generalities. The choice to skip or not should be made according to the development of the person. There are 18 -year-old graduates with the maturity of a five-year-old and there are 16-year-old graduates with the maturity of someone twice their age. Eighteen is, by no means, the cutoff age for childhood nor is it the guaranteed age for intellectual or social maturity. Adolescents develop at all different ages.
Certainly not all parents of children who skipped are overly protective, pushy, or restrictive. My parents were supportive of my decision without treating me any different than if I hadn't skipped. The majority of parents just want what is best for their child. Sometimes a non-conventional education is best. I really have no clue how this age gap effects Uni students, but I assume they have an easier time than I did being that they are the minority instead of the exception. Based on my experiences, the only non-successful students I know who have skipped are those that did not give skipping enough consideration. Conversely, the majority of students I know who have skipped are more mature and stable than their older counterparts. This is probably due to the fact that they had to work slightly harder not to fall behind.
As a future Journalism major, I want to randomly mention my amazement at the quality of the Gargoyle as a whole, its articles, and the mature debates that take place within its comments section.
Different Perspective
Honestly, I did not take the time to read this article in depth, but I wanted to offer my perspective as a 16 year-old graduate of one of the Champaign public high schools since my case is fairly unique. Freshman year, I was officially the youngest student both in my class and my school. I transitioned from a 7th/8th grade class (I was in 7th) of approximately 8 students (20 total in 5th-8th) to a 9th grade class of 300+ (1500+ total in 9th-12th), from a private all-girls school that sends the majority of its graduates to Uni. Without considering the input of my parents, I made the decision to skip. Considering my options at the time and my current state, I have had no regrets about my decision.
After 7th grade, I could have:
1. Stayed at my middle school and repeated the same curriculum (one pitfall of being in a combined class)
2. Gone to Uni. After visiting the school, I decided it was not a proper fit for me. I appreciate the many merits of Uni High, but I found it foolish to attend a school for four years if I didn't mesh with the environment. I promise I won't turn my argument into a diatribe against Uni nor a recommendation for public high schools.
3. Attended a public middle school solely for 8th grade. Anybody who has attended a Champaign public middle school (particularly Jefferson) can understand why I didn't choose that option.
4. Skipped
On the first day freshman year, I was intimidated by the school's significantly older student body and its layout, which was analogous to a labyrinth. However, after a week, I started to enjoy myself. I made new friends while maintaining old friendships, I excelled in my classes, and never I looked back. I challenged myself without compromising anything. During my high school years, few people knew I was younger. I never gave my age any thought after making my decision, except when I wanted to make excuses for myself, excuses that I quickly rebutted.
Certainly, I would not advise just anybody to skip. It is imperative that students who skip are mature if they wish to flourish. Fundamentally, students who skip must be socially mature. Secondly, they must be the ones to make the decision. Lastly, they must be able to handle the workload and maintain their competitive status in a class of significantly older students.
After graduating last year, I'm currently taking transitional (or "gap") year. I spent the summer relaxing and the fall traveling abroad while simultaneously completing volunteer hours and an internship. In the winter, I applied to colleges. I plan on spending the spring raising money for college and writing a book. I also hope to continue to grow as a person and become secure in my future plans. Most of these opportunities would have been impossible had I not skipped.
Concerning what I read of this article, I think the article's main fault is its generalities. The choice to skip or not should be made according to the development of the person. There are 18 -year-old graduates with the maturity of a five-year-old and there are 16-year-old graduates with the maturity of someone twice their age. Eighteen is, by no means, the cutoff age for childhood nor is it the guaranteed age for intellectual or social maturity. Adolescents develop at all different ages.
Certainly not all parents of children who skipped are overly protective, pushy, or restrictive. My parents were supportive of my decision without treating me any different than if I hadn't skipped. The majority of parents just want what is best for their child. Sometimes a non-conventional education is best. I really have no clue how this age gap effects Uni students, but I assume they have an easier time than I did being that they are the minority instead of the exception. Based on my experiences, the only non-successful students I know who have skipped are those that did not give skipping enough consideration. Conversely, the majority of students I know who have skipped are more mature and stable than their older counterparts. This is probably due to the fact that they had to work slightly harder not to fall behind.
As a future Journalism major, I want to randomly mention my amazement at the quality of the Gargoyle as a whole, its articles, and the mature debates that take place within its comments section.