South High students are all working towards one goal, to graduate. Some want to stay in high school as long as possible, but for others, graduation can’t come soon enough.

There are lots of factors going into why students at South may want to graduate early.

Senior Korianna Jones said she’s always wanted to get out of high school.

“Ever since freshman year I’ve wanted to graduate early so bad. It was the point that high school was like the last thing, so I might as well just get through. Then I started taking summer classes and I was already ahead so I just thought I might as well graduate early,” Jones said. 

Some courses offered during the summer are business, PE, and even core classes like English. 

Benefits for students graduating early are also a motivator for students like senior Ryan DeCosta. 

“Graduating early is going to help me get a head start on what I want to do career-wise and just give me more time to learn the field,” he said. 

Senior Ryan Litteken said he is graduating early because he’s sick of school, and wants to concentrate more on making music with his band, “Wisemary.”

Some parents may not want their student to graduate early and some may.

“My mother has been very supportive and she always is a constant voice in my ear and she’s just always there to help me,” DeCosta said. 

Some misconceptions about graduating early is that these select students get their diplomas at semester, however with the program “Make It Count” the most popular at South High, these students will technically still be enrolled and graduate with the rest of the students but they will not be actively taking high school classes. Students can take this opportunity to work, start college classes, or take the steps to start on what they want to do next in their lives.

DeCosta explains how graduating early isn’t a reflection on how he feels about school but “it was more that I wanted to just do more of what I want to do and being in school I don’t get to properly achieve what I want to achieve.” 

High school is such a large part of your life, even if you are the type to not love school, there is most likely always going to be an aspect that you miss.

“It will definitely be an adjustment and I will miss it because I’ve had so many great teachers that I’ll miss and also college is so different from high school, and I’ve gotten so used to high school,” Jones said.

After this semester, Jones and DeCosta will start taking classes at St. Louis Community College. Jones is pursuing a degree in psychology, while DeCosta is interested in cybersecurity.

No matter when you graduate you should always celebrate an achievement so large whether that’s a small or large celebration. Decosta wants to keep it intimate, “honestly just with a couple of friends, nothing too extravagant.” whereas Jones explains that she wants to throw a large party with all her friends and family to help her celebrate.