Kelechi Brendan’s dream is to become a doctor. While many high school students want to go to medical school, Kelechi is already pursuing his goal as an online college prep school student at Laurel Springs, with the help of our Health Sciences curriculum pathway.
“I have taken advantage of being a Laurel Springs student in order to pursue my chosen career,” said Kelechi. As an aspiring pre-med student in 11th grade, he knows that science and math are especially important subjects. Kelechi’s academic plan has included core subject classes like Honors Chemistry and Honors Pre-Calculus, as well as courses that directly relate to his passion, such as Anatomy & Physiology and Health Sciences.
Laurel Springs School’s flexible schedule enables Kelechi to take college courses while still in high school. “I was able to go deeper into my career path by taking college classes starting at age 14,” Kelechi said. He has taken pre-med classes like organic chemistry at a local college while he was still an online high school student at Laurel Springs. “I am an honors student at the college and will be graduating from Laurel Springs with the ability to start at university as a junior.” Just recently, Kelechi was accepted into Boston University as a Junior and plans to major in Human Physiology.
The Health Sciences curriculum pathway is perfect for Kelechi, who hopes to become an orthopedic surgeon. Courses in topics such as exercise science, nutrition, medical terminology, and nursing are an excellent way for future doctors to enrich their high school transcripts with classes that demonstrate a sustained interest in medicine.
Taking challenging courses at both high school and college makes for a busy schedule, but Kelechi finds time to pursue his passion outside of school. In addition to tutoring his three younger siblings (also students at Laurel Springs) and teaching ESL students at a community center, Kelechi volunteers at the local hospital, plays music for patients in nursing homes, and helps his grandfather (who has Alzheimer’s disease) with daily activities. He even practices sewing in order to improve his fine motor skills!
The Laurel Springs Difference
When asked how the virtual high school approach helped him work toward his goals, Kelechi’s answer was unequivocal. “Online school really changed my thinking, especially about being independent. It helped me believe that I can do things on my own if I choose to do so, and it helped me be more organized because I set my own priorities. Finally, online high school gives me flexibility in all areas.”
What’s next for Kelechi? He has his sights set on Harvard, followed by med school. Regardless of where he goes to college after graduation, Kelechi feels well-prepared for the next step in his journey. He said, “my mindset now says nothing is impossible. I know being in traditional school wouldn’t have given me the opportunity to know myself this well.”
Whether students want to be surgeons, software developers, or sociologists, they can accelerate their progress by taking courses in one of Laurel Springs School’s curated curriculum pathways. Ready to learn more? Contact your Laurel Springs representative or our admissions team to dive deeper into our curated class offerings.
