Up for a challenge
Teenagers’ first steps away from home can be challenging and even downright scary, if they are moving to a completely new area. Most teens are fresh out of high school and heading to college or the workforce when this transition occurs. But what about if they’re still in high school and uproot themselves to pursue education somewhere else? How challenging is that?
Two Franklin County natives have the answer. Rachel Riley from Belgreen and Emma Cady Studdard from Russellville both attend the Alabama School of Math and Science in Mobile. This is Riley’s first year at ASMS and Studdard’s second year; they are both juniors.
“It was a slight shell shock at first, but I think I made a graceful transition,” Riley said.
At ASMS the school year is divided up into three semesters of 11 weeks each, and the students have to take a minimum of five courses each semester. According to Riley, it already feels like a college setting.
“The coursework is harder mainly because there’s more of it than in a normal high school setting, but there’s such a wide variety to choose from,” Studdard explained.
Riley said her favorite class so far has been biology because she loves learning how life works and why, but she also likes American Literature and all of the writing she has gotten to do.
“I haven’t decided on a concentration yet because you really focus on that more your senior year, but it will probably be either history or English,” Riley said.
Studdard focuses more on the computing classes offered at ASMS. “I want to work in cybersecurity one day,” she said.
ASMS offers math, science, computer and fine arts courses as well as having extracurricular activities for the students to engage in.
Riley has a full plate with the pep squad, swing dance club, multicultural club and Off the Leash, a club that works with animals.
“Next year I want to expand my horizons and try more things,” Riley said.
Studdard is involved in the German Club, Girls Who Code and several sports, such as volleyball, basketball and soccer. She is also an ambassador for the school.
“That’s how I met Rachel. When you’re an ambassador, you get to be a big brother or big sister for an incoming student from your county,” Studdard explained.
They both learned about ASMS from a brochure the school sent out about their summer camp, AIMS. When each arrived at their respective camps, both girls said they immediately fell in love with the campus.
“The atmosphere is incredible. It’s a diverse population, but we all get along well,” Studdard said.
Riley echoed those sentiments and described the campus as welcoming.
“You’re surrounded by people going through the exact same thing you are, and they’re always willing to help you,” Riley said.
It was a challenge for Riley and Studdard, but both girls said they love it.
“It’s like a little sense of freedom, but it develops you into a more mature young adult because you learn how to balance school and a social life, and it really prepares you for college,” Studdard said.
Studdard said she hopes to attend Mississippi State University or the University of Alabama Huntsville, but she said she is also looking at other options, like the University of South Alabama and Georgia Tech. Riley said she would like to attend the University of Chicago for the school’s writing program.
