For 60 years, Frederick Community College has been providing educational opportunities for students of all ages. Whether fifteen years of age or 50, students are encouraged to join the vibrant and inclusive community at FCC. The institution invites all to learn in our immediate community by equipping students with a plethora of courses to choose from.

From Chemistry 101 and English 101 to “African-American Literature” and “Religions of the World,” Middletown High school students are turning to FCC in order to supplement their education at MHS.

MHS senior Faith Reichard is currently taking Chemistry 101, Physics 101, and Calculus III in order to take classes that she “would have to take in college anyways,” so it became more logical to “get them out of the way.”

Lily Mueller, MHS senior, concurred, taking Physics 101 and Calculus III as well in hopes of gaining college credits and to build a repertoire that will help her “go further in a different college.” For Mueller, this different institution is, she hopes, the Georgia Institute of Technology. Through FCC classes, she aims to “cut off a year of undergrad education.” MHS senior Sydney Frigm shared the same sentiment, realizing that getting a headstart at FCC meant graduating after three years of college.

Similarly, MHS senior Jay Harsch hopes to “get a feel for the campus” by experiencing what it’s like to take a college-level class at a physical college rather than taking AP classes at MHS.

While Harsch hopes to pursue a visual arts major in film editing, MHS students who are also taking classes at FCC hope to delve into a variety of majors.

Camden Farrow, MHS senior, Reichard, and Mueller anticipate majoring in an engineering discipline. Mueller hopes to study mechanical engineering before attending graduate school for biomedical engineering.

“I want to set a foundation for biomedical engineering,” says Mueller, “in order to further cement my place, no pun intended.”

Like Mueller, MHS senior McCauley Brown is also rock-solid in her plans for the future and knows that classes at FCC will aid her in springboarding to the future.

Gaining a “taste for what college will be like,” Brown is taking Calculus III for a greater probability of getting college credit. Calculus III at MHS is currently an unweighted class and Brown is aware that she would have needed to retake the course in college due to her future plans had she taken the course at the high school.

Studying either biochemistry or biology, Brown plans to gain a PhD in medical school.

Evidently, it’s no rocket science that FCC has provided a common stepping stone for students of diverse interests; however, though the financial burden is smaller, MHS students still must pay a substantial price.

“For a college class,” says Frigm, “you are expected to work for two times longer than you are in class.” Quickly, this time seems to add up.

From commuting and scheduling to studying and tutoring, MHS students are gaining an insider’s perspective to the true world of collegiate education and a more independent lifestyle.

Under the pressure of independence, MHS students are learning and adapting, two skills essential for life after high school.

“It’s important to be self-motivated,” Brown remarked, “it can be difficult at times to stay motivated when you only have class twice per week.”

Frigm agreed, stating that “while [taking classes at FCC] is beneficial, you have to be ready to work and motivate yourself to complete all of the work.”

For prospective FCC students from MHS, Farrow advises, “do your best and take rigorous classes.”

Farrow believes in the importance of enjoying educational experiences and environments at any and every stage in order to maximize the time given. “Study hard and play harder,” Farrow says, “then you’ll truly be a college student.”