A STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE
Written by: Sophia Elahi
Switching to CMASAS after having been in the same school curriculum for five years was easily one of best highlights of my high school career. I was not quite sure what to expect when starting with a completely new school, but I was not disappointed.
When I switched curriculums, my main concern was that I would no longer be granted the freedom in schedule that I had grown accustomed to. Thankfully, this was not an issue. I found that CMASAS grants students many freedoms in concern to their schedules and the courses they would like to take. There was never any pressure to meet deadlines or follow rigid timetables. Everything was up to me (which is just the way I like it).
The variety in courses offered to students at CMASAS was astounding to me. There were many courses that I had never heard of before, much less knew it was an option in school. For example, science has never been my strongest subject, and I was not looking forward to having to complete my required science credits. However, instead of taking conventional Physics or Biology (which I have no interest or strength in), I took Earth Science and Forensic Science. While science still is not my favorite subject, I did not suffer very much while completing my required credits, and that is all that matters to me. I was also able to take courses that play to my interests, such as Creative Writing, Gothic Literature, and Chinese.
The teachers at CMASAS have also been amazing and a great support to me during my time here. Between the feedback that I receive on my assignments and the weekly meetings with my PEC, Ms. Daisy Cheatham, I have never once felt completely alone or unsupported. There was never any anxiety when it came to submitting my coursework, since I know that my teachers will always give good feedback or allow me to redo any assignments that did not meet the passing grade the first time around.
As an international student doing an American course, where most teachers and students live in the United States, it is easy to feel disconnected from the rest of the school. However, CMASAS also offers weekly homerooms and extracurricular clubs for any students who may be interested. I am a member of the Book Club, and I have really enjoyed reading and discussing books with other students. Even if the meetings are at five in the morning for me.
My time as a high school student at CMASAS is, sadly, coming to an end as I am part of the Class of 2024. Despite my short time at this school, I have really enjoyed myself and the connections I made with my teachers and other students. I will truly miss my weekly PEC meetings with Ms. Daisy and all the fun conversations we had together. CMASAS helped me reach my goal of graduating two years early, and allowed me to explore subjects that I would have never gotten a chance to learn about during my high school years.
My overall experience with CMASAS has been amazing, and I will be forever grateful for all the support I received while learning here.