Graduating Student Recommends the Gateway Program
By Eliana Mello | Observer Contributor
Rachel Williams is in the Gateway program and advises future Gateway students to stay focused, study hard, and ask for help when needed.
For those in the program, it’s important to attend the Gateway orientation. At the orientation, Williams met with advisors and other students in the program. She said this made her feel less nervous about attending college.
Williams said one benefit of becoming a Gateway student is that the program gave her more time to work while attending class. She is able to choose what time her classes are rather than needing to be in class for seven hours a day like in high school.
“I like that it gives you more free range on your school work,” Williams said.
It was difficult for Williams to work and attend school last semester because she was taking five classes. She said it’s important to focus and stay on top of your school work, especially if you are also working.
Williams’ advice to those in the program is to visit the tutors and ask teachers for help. Williams said at least one person in the program attended the class she was in. This allowed her to ask her peers for help when she didn’t understand something.
She recommends the Gateway program to future students because she felt it better prepared her for college. Williams learned more effective ways to study and became more responsible. She said it isn’t like high school where teachers remind you every day of the work you have to get done.
“It allows students to get an idea of what college is like before paying for it,” Williams said.
She also recommended this program because it allows student to get ahead of their college career. Students are able to earn their high school diploma while obtaining college credits so when they transfer they don’t need to take as many classes.
Williams said she had difficulties when some teachers in the Gateway program still treated it as a high school class rather than a college course. She said this made it difficult at times to get the full college experience.
Williams attended ninth and tenth grade at Mahar High School in Orange before transferring to the college. She said it was somewhat of a big change but her friend went through the program with her, making her feel more comfortable.
Williams has earned free college credit towards an Associate’s degree and will receive her high school diploma when she graduates in May. These college credits will be transferred to Westfield State in the fall where she will major in Early Childhood Education.
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