On the surface, opting to take outside or online classes while in high school  seems like an obvious decision. However, with the heavy load of most Diamond Bar High School  students, it is not justifiable to pile on unnecessary work for a benefit that’s not guaranteed.

Encouraging  students to get a leg up on their peers has played a significant role in the decision of taking extra college classes in high school. Because of this fixation on the immediate goal of getting into college, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture: personal interests, well being and general happiness.

College and online courses that students take while still working simultaneously toward their high school diploma offers many benefits to those who have a clear picture of their end goal and future career. However, many high schoolers are stressing to get through this time of growth and coming of age by taking on as many classes as they possibly can rather than discovering their own niche. Their time at this vulnerable age should be spent exploring different areas of interest before a student begins to narrow down their specific college endeavors.

Students are seen trudging through their classes, sacrificing hobbies or social life pushed by the phrases, “knocking out classes” and “getting ahead” instead of enjoying the process of being a high schooler.

When teenagers pile on extra college courses to their schedule, they risk falling into the mindset of doing activities to get into college, rather than doing for the sake of learning or self improvement. Students should take advantage of the over 100 extracurriculars offered at DBHS for their own enjoyment. Instead, the constant search for the next best thing result in missed opportunities available right where we are at.

It is important to understand the economic motives behind attending these classes, but choosing this route to reap the benefit of a free or lower-priced course may not be worth it. According to the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, various universities accept academic credits or degrees only from institutions that are only regionally accredited and can pick and choose which courses they accept.

 Contrary to popular belief, there is no guaranteed transfer. Therefore, the rush to start banking up on college credit is a concept that can create unnecessary stress, whereas focusing on AP courses during high school is  the more viable alternative.

Instead of sacrificing time and effort  for these extra courses, student participation in this dual enrollment for a quicker earned degree should be an afterthought rather than a first priority.