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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
February 12, 2015     Shelton Mason County Journal
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February 12, 2015
 
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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¸¸¸ Kids are gone. .... Or almost gone. So now is the time to take care of yourself. 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