Scrolling through my social media feed, I feel a tug at my heart. Pictures of my high school friends hanging out at basketball games, celebrating college acceptances and enjoying their senior year flash before my eyes. Even while I swallow the lump in my throat, I can’t say that I regret my decision to graduate from high school as a sophomore. Nearly 12,000 California students participated in the High School Equivalency Test, or the Hi-SET, from 2024 to 2025, according to its annual statistics report. The Hi-SET allows students to complete separate tests in subjects such as language arts, math, science and social studies, and if they pass, they can graduate early. My dad told me about the Hi-SET in eighth grade. He has always been one of my biggest cheerleaders, pushing me to reach higher, and he brought up the graduate-early idea the summer before freshman year because he knew, way before I did, that I was ready for college. I was skeptical — I had been enrolled in an independent study program throughout elementary and middle school, and all I wanted was to finally have a normal education. I argued with him about how high school would give me the chance to make friends, pursue sports and have a steady schedule, things I didn’t have with my current schooling. Despite my objections, I kept my dad’s proposal in mind. I liked the idea of taking the road less traveled and setting myself apart, even if the thought scared…
