From one school to another, a look into the mental and physical lengths that two CHS students take to their other school each day.
Morgan Chen:
Every day, I leave school at 1:08 p.m. for the journey to my seventh-hour class: orchestra at Huron. The time had shifted back a few minutes since the beginning of the year, when I left at 1:05 p.m., so I could reduce time spent outside in the cold December weather. Once on the bus, I wait a total of 13 minutes before getting off to walk to Huron High School. The tradition that had once been fresh and new for me had dulled into routine.
I remember the first time I took the bus to Huron. It wasn’t necessarily scary, but I lacked the knowledge needed to get to my second school. I didn’t know where my bus took off, how to get a bus pass, or even what bus I needed to take. To my luck, my friends were there to help me learn the ropes of getting there. Throughout my freshman year, there was always a family-like bond between the seven people who took the bus every day. I never felt alone taking the bus, and I always had people to sit by and talk to.
The beginning of sophomore year was different. The bus ride felt lonely and quiet, and in case something went astray, I had no backup plan. The “split-community” that I once had was non-existent; everyone had stopped split-enrolling or found a different time to do it. Even though it was harder to find the motivation to take the bus, I still kept my routine of going to Huron.
Countless times, I’ve been asked why I still split enroll. The answer is a mixture of things: I began playing the violin when I was only four years old, and any challenge is worth taking on to continue playing. In addition to this, I love to see my Huron friends every day, even if it’s just for 30 seconds while they leave their classes.
I will always love going to a different school. Splitting to Huron opens up so many more opportunities for me to take on, such as clubs and events. In February, I participated in “Into the Woods” in the pit orchestra, an experience that would never have come my way if I had not gone to Huron. I also get a glimpse of multiple high school “feels,” with a traditional and alternative aspect.
Split enrollment comes with challenges. My schedule is often hard to navigate, and taking specific classes, such as Chinese, becomes difficult to fit in. I ended up taking my first online course this year to make room for orchestra, and getting back to CHS for programs such as Community Ensemble Theater (CET) or Mock Trial is always much more ambitious.
Even with all the cons, I still push forward to participate in the orchestra program at Huron and plan on continuing in the next few years. I don’t know what the future holds, and I still find myself ironing out the holes in my transportation plan, but I hope to continue split-enrolling until I graduate.
Eva Rutyna:
Wind and snow blew into my coat hood as I got off bus 26 in the Pioneer parking lot. I walked even faster than usual, longing for the warm and windless hallways before I went into the choir room, but the walk from the bus stop into school felt even longer in the winter weather. After the hour-long rehearsal, I rushed back through the blizzard to the bus stop to go back to Community.
My freshman year was utterly awful. Since I refused to take any other classes at Pioneer, I took the city bus to and from Pioneer in the middle of every day. I missed class time, and I didn’t have a lunch period at either school. Sophomore year was similar but easier, as a friend drove other split students and me to and from Pioneer most of the time.
This year is finally different. I have all of my classes and lunch at Community now, and choir falls at the end of the day. My schedule will be the same next year, too, and I’m grateful for that. I have the chance to truly plan out a schedule that I want, instead of having to plan my schedule around split enrollment.
But why go to such lengths just for one class?
The answer is simple; Because I love it. I’ve been singing ever since I can remember at my church, and when I had to choose between band and choir going into high school, the choice was easy. When I didn’t initially get into Community, I was disappointed but optimistic. I wouldn’t have to split between two schools to take choir.
When I was let into Community during the summer, I had a choice to make. I could accept the offer to attend CHS, but I was torn between longing to go to Community and wanting to continue choir.
While it’s true that staying at one school would’ve made my life easier, I couldn’t decide between the school that would be a better fit for me and my love for music. The second day of school meant the first day of split-enrolling, and it was nerve-wracking to test out my split schedule. Explaining to Community teachers that I would be consistently missing class time was terrifying as a new student at CHS, but I earned trust by staying on top of my work. There were plenty of things I gave up to split enroll, but so much more that I gained.
I’ve become more independent and confident because I split my time between two schools. I’ve learned how to navigate the Ann Arbor city bus system and how to communicate well with teachers. I’ve learned how to find a rhythm in odd routines, plan to be punctual and be flexible to accommodate activities at both schools.
Taking choir has been a challenge, but one that’s helped me grow in unique ways. I’ve had the chance to learn in a college-like environment because I have to plan transportation between different classes. It’s opened doors to singing in my church choir, taking private voice lessons and doing solo and ensemble singing, which have all pushed me out of my comfort zone and proved time and again that singing is something I won’t give up.
It might seem like a chore, and I complain on occasion, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The reasons that we split-enroll vary in separate ways. However, one thing stays the same: we love it. While this might not be the same experience for everyone, we challenge you to try out a different school, even for just a semester.
