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Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015 - Mason County Journal - Page A-7
ave me
High school student's path
led to early graduation
By GORDON WEEKS
gordon@masoncounty com
Haley Free struggled and felt dis-
tracted after advancing from tiny
Southside School to the larger classes
at Oakland Bay Junior High School in
Shelton.
"I couldn't balance my social life and
my academics," Free said. Chronic mi-
graine headaches kept her home some
days.
"My grades were slipping and I
couldn't figure out why," said Free,
whose struggles continued at Shelton
High School.
Three weeks into her junior year,
"I begged my morn, 'Please, get me
out of Shelton High School and let's
talk to them at CHOICE (Alternative
School),' " she said.
Last week, Free was among 11
CHOICE students who received diplo-
mas at the school's mid-year graduation
ceremony. Free was one of the-three
students to speak at the ceremony. She
finished her graduation requirements
early -- she turns 18 on Feb. 22.
Why did she feel distracted at one
school and focused at another?
"The fact that I could take control
over my education ... To me, that gave
me control to get myself to do it, the
responsibility," Free said. She added,
"That gave me the confidence to soar."
Free graduated early while work-
ing full-time as a nanny taking care
of 1-year-old twins and an 8-year-old
boy. She wrote essays while the twins
slept.
Free faced her greatest academic
challenge and signed up for consumer
math.
"It was the hardest thing I've ever
done, but I got the best grade I ever got
in math, a B plus," she said.
At CHOICE, "it's more of a college
feel," she said. "You have a little more
of an adult atmosphere."
Free said it was the teachers who
made themselves available to her that
made the difference.
Free said'her mentor is CHOICE
teacher Carri Fennel.
"I was just going to wing it through
high school and figure it out later,"
Free said. "(Fennel) said, 'That's not a
good idea.' "
Journal photo by Gordon Weeks
Haley Free was among 11 CHOICE students who received diplomas at the school's mid-year graduation ceremony.
After struggling at Oakland Bay Junior High and Shelton High schools, she finished her graduation requirements
early.
Fennel said she sees amazing poten-
tial in Free, who always helped others
in the classroom.
"She's the kind of kid who knows ex-
actly what she wants and how to get
it," Fennel said of Free. "She's very de-
termined."
As for CHOICE students graduat-
ing early, "I think that's not the typi-
cal student we've been getting, until
recently," Fennel said. "I think it's be-
cause they are in charge of their edu-
cation. They think, 'I-r6y, I can fmish
early. I can go to college early.'"
At first, Free "had no intention of go-
ing to college," Fennel said. "By giving
her options and job shadows, she real-
ized going to a four-year school was do-
able."
Fennel suggested a career in teach-
rag.
"She talked me through my fears ...
I've always been really good with kids,"
Free said.
Free wants to teach kids in pre-
school or kindergarten. "That's the age
"1 was just going to wing it through high
school and figure it out later. (Fennel) said
'That's not a good idea.'"
Ha/ey Free, CHOICE AItemative School graduate
where they really need the attention Evergreen State College to earn a de-
and basics," she said. gree in elementary teaching; she is also
She added, "My grandpa says I have considering minoring in special educa-
the patience of a saint." tion.
Free plans to continue to work as a "I have family with autism, so I see
nanny while she attends South Puget how they struggle," she said.
Sound Community College for two Free added, "I'm a giving person and
years, that's a way I can give back to my com-
Free then plans to transfer to The munity."
I
........ ;ii iiii iiiii /i !i¸¸¸
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