It’s graduation season — a time filled with commencements and celebrations. For Madelyn, there were two ceremonies this spring, just two days apart: one to receive her high school diploma and one for earning an associate degree in Business Administration from Great Bay Community College.

“I graduated a year late from high school but a year early from college. So, it’s awesome,” she said.

The college jump start didn’t happen by accident. She wasn’t thriving at school, so she took control of her educational path by enrolling in Early College through the Community College System of New Hampshire. A motivated self-starter, she craved a more independent educational experience. Plus, you can’t beat the price.

“I basically got a free associate degree, no strings attached. It was just a great program and I’m so thankful I found out about it.”

New Hampshire’s Early College program allows high school students to take college courses for dual high school and college credit at low or no cost to students and their families. And for Madelyn, it was the right choice.

Now with her degree in hand, she’s exploring careers. Working at a local luxury hotel and restaurant has opened her eyes to the world of hospitality, however she’s still keeping her options open and considering everything from real estate to sales to public relations. She also loves the idea of owning her own business someday, a small boutique that might or might not fail, she jokes. The world truly is her oyster.

It’s that grounded optimism that shapes her view of Early College. For students who don’t feel like they fit the traditional model, her advice is rooted and simple:

“If you feel like you’re not thriving, plant yourself in different soil and you’ll grow better in an area where you feel confident. You can’t grow when there are a million other seeds around you fighting to be the biggest and the best. If you plant yourself in your own pot, you’ll flourish — especially if it’s in an area you feel passionate about.”