“What grade are you in?”

Sophia Baker, Uma Miller, and Chloe Hood all laughed, searching for the right word.

“I’m a ‘jenior,’” Baker said. “That’s my preferred grade descriptor.”

All three MHS “jeniors” will graduate this year, after only three years in high school. However, while there are some overlaps on each of their paths to a cap and gown, they have all had unique experiences.

Miller said she began thinking about this at the beginning of her sophomore year with counselor Stephanie Manalo-LeClair, planning out a way to meet the minimum breadth requirements.

The breadth requirement is a mandatory two years of either a language, a language and an art, or different art classes. By completing this requirement, students are eligible for graduation, but not necessarily a four year college, Manalo-LeClair said.

“Doing four years of high school was never in the cards for me,” Miller said. “I just feel like I’m ready to move on.”

Baker and Hood said they decided to graduate early as well, after learning it was an option.

“[Being] at school for six hours a day every day just isn’t my idea of happiness or how I want to spend my time,” Baker said.

Manalo-LeClair said that while graduating in three years is a rare occurrence, it is possible as long as students have 225 credits and have taken all the required courses.

“It really depends on the student,” Manalo-LeClair said. “If they’re on track each year from freshman year to meet those graduation requirements [then they could be eligible to graduate early].”

Taking two social studies classes and two English classes this year enables them to meet the graduation requirements, Baker said.

“I was very pleasantly surprised, because the workload is not as much as I expected,” Baker said. “It’s actually very manageable.”

Hood said that flexible requirements made graduating early an easier task. She had many options to fill each requirement and could choose the one that worked best for her. For example, one option to fill her missing PE credit was 75 hours of exercise outside of school.

“The only tough [requirement to meet] is PE,” Hood said. “It doesn’t seem like a lot of hours, but it is.”

Next year, Miller said she will be attending community college before transfering to a four year college after two years, carving her own path through high school and college.

“I think if everyone had the option to finish high school on their own terms, they would,” Miller said.

Baker and Hood said they have tentative plans for after high school, choosing between going straight into the community college path or a taking a gap year. Hood said she is also considering online college, which would be preferable for her. However, they all said that they plan on working next year.

“I just want to get a start on [life],” Hood said.

Baker said that many people do not consider graduating early as an option because it may seem scary or impossible. However, she said that students should consider it if it feels right to them.

“The traditional route really works for some people, but I’m not sure if that is even the majority,” Baker said. “That path is really motivating for some students, but [not for] other students.”

Hood said she would recommend graduating early for those considering it because the traditional plan does not work for everyone.

“Feel it out and take as much time as you need, whether that’s more or less time than the standard four years,” Baker said.

Manalo-LeClair said that this route does not work for everybody, and most students who want to graduate early can be supported through the process if they really want it. However, past years have only seen one student at most graduating early.

“This is the first year we’ve had more than one [student graduating early],” Manalo-LeClair said.

For Baker, the hardest part of the high school experience is the lack of agency over her time and surroundings.

“That just messes with my brain and makes it a lot less enjoyable to be here,” Baker said. “[However], I love learning, and I love the idea of school as a place where you go with the sole intention of learning new things.”

Miller said that for people who enjoy school spirit and social activities affiliated with their high school, graduating early may not be the right choice, but Miller does not feel like she personally would miss those moments.

“I would [graduate early] if you’re open to it, but it is going to be more work,” Hood said. “If you can take it on then totally [do it].”

Miller also said that while taking four years to graduate high school is more relaxed, if students feel like they are suffering through it, it is not worth it.

“There’s not a set rule book for how to do high school or how to do life, so everyone’s plan is individual,” Hood said. “Just do whatever works for you.”