“Kids mostly worry about how hard [high school] will be and whether or not they’ll like the school they go to.  It’s important to make the right choice when it comes to high school because that’s where you really start having to make the right choices in life,” said Alina Girard, an eighth grader at Scarlett Middle School.

Many eighth graders worry about whether or not they are going to fit in in high school, how hard will it be, and whether they will like the school they will attend. Many feel that the choice of where to go to high school will greatly influences the rest of their lives. Girard, like many others, wanted to make sure she made the right choice for her.

Girard heard about CHS from some of her fellow students’ older siblings who currently attend CHS.

“When I heard that there was a school that was really strong in [the art] field, I [knew I] would [have to] be crazy not to at least check it out … I’m really interested in [the arts] so that grabbed my attention immediately,” said Girard.

She also liked the fact that CHS’ atmosphere is similar to a college campus.

“It had a free atmosphere, which I love, but also taught you how to be responsible for yourself and gave you the chance to grow up a little. That would probably help me a lot,” Girard said.

However, Girard felt handling the independence at CHS would be risky, but believes that type of relationship with the adults there is what makes them close.

“It’s like you’re both on the same level,” Girard said. “The adults and the students have almost the same amount of freedom so it helps them think of each other as equals.”

All things considered, Girard felt that CHS was the high school for her and she immediately applied.

“I knew it would give me a better view on what college would be like and [what it would be like] to be on your own,” she added.

When it finally came time for Girard to see if she was accepted into CHS, she immediately ran to the computer to check online, hoping for the best. Unfortunately, she found out the hard way it was too good to be true.

“I found out I didn’t get in when my friend Robin pointed it out to me and we saw that I was practically near the bottom of the list,” said Girard. “I took it a little hard because I felt that that was the school where I would fit in most, but I obviously wouldn’t be able to go to it. I was just really disappointed that I wouldn’t get the chance to at least experience a high school life style like that.”

Girard’s parents were mostly upset because Girard  was let down after finding out she was not accepted. But they encouraged her to accept it and not dwell on the negative.

“I was so worried about getting into the right high school because watching my brother try to fit in at the high schools he had to go to was hard,” said Girard. “He had a difficult time making the right choices in high school so I wanted to just make the right high school choice in general so I wouldn’t have to go through that.”

Even though her heart was set on CHS, she accepts the fact that she now has to go to Huron.

But Girard is not giving up. “It’s hard now because I’m so far down the list. But if I was given the chance to get accepted,  then I would jump on the opportunity,” said Girard.

Jenni Leigh

Jenni Leigh, an eighth grader at Forsythe Middle School, had better luck than Girard. Leigh heard about CHS from an eighth grade friend during her second year of middle school. Her friend applied but was not accepted. Leigh was concerned because her friend took the news really hard, recalling that she was even crying at school, but when she heard about CHS, she could relate.

“I thought that since she was so sad it must be an amazing school. Not a lot of kids cry over high school,” said Leigh.

The decision to decide what high school she wanted to go to came up before she knew it.

“I  kind of decided to apply [to CHS] when everyone started talking about what high school they were going to next year. I wasn’t serious about applying but then I went to the meeting and got really excited about it,” said Leigh.

Leigh was mostly attracted to the idea of having a one-on-one relationship with her teachers.

“I feel like that kind of relationship is important because I feel when you have a better relationship and understanding with a teacher, you’re given a better place to learn,” said Leigh. She also liked the fact that CHS has an open campus and it is a smaller school so that gives you the chance to get to know your schoolmates better.

Leigh was ecstatic when she found out that she was accepted into CHS. “I feel that I work better when in a smaller setting and have a better relationship with my teacher and I feel CHS offers me the best setting for that,” Leigh explained.

Leigh is looking forward to the chance to work closely with others on her hard areas in academics and the chance to focus on things that really interest her. “[I like that] I will have more help from teachers with things I don’t understand. Also the [Community Resources] will help me understand more of what I want to learn or do in the future … I think the college-based theme of the school will really come in handy,” Leigh said.

Leigh is also looking forward to some of her good friends who will be going to CHS with her. “I’ll miss some of my other friends that won’t be able to go too, but hopefully I’ll make new friends when I go,” Leigh said.

Leigh was prepared to not be accepted. Her back up plan was to drive to the new International Baccalaureate school in Ypsilanti.

However, Leigh expressed that she would prefer to go to CHS, feeling that CHS offers her more opportunities that she will take advantage of. “CHS is just more for me. I realized that after I really started looking into it and I’m glad that I get the chance to try it out to see if I made the right decision.”