Khoa

Khoa Tran signed up for Howard Community College’s (HCC) dual enrollment program to earn college credits before entering high school.

At the time, Tran said he had no idea how “freeing” the experience would be.

“I just wanted to have the credits to get a head start, considering that I wanted to do two really intensive majors,” the former Oakland Mills High School student said. “But with dual enrollment, you have the freedom to explore what classes you’d like to do your senior year… Plus, it saves a ton of money.”

Within the Dual Enrollment Program, students can take courses at their Howard County (HCPSS) high school or on the HCC campus, with the option to attend HCC full time during their senior year. Tuition is available at a discounted rate during the fall, winter and spring terms for all HCPSS and in county students..

Tran began taking HCC classes inside his high school during his sophomore year. During his senior year, he took six classes on HCC’s campus, including theater, speech and economics. His favorite: an English class focused on fiction, poetry and drama taught by Associate Professor Brooke Tyson.

“She really had a grasp on what she was teaching, but she also knew what we would be interested in, so she would modify the schedule for that,” he said. “I also don’t really get a chance to read too often, so being exposed to different, intriguing pieces of text was nice.”

By the time he graduated from high school, Tran had earned 38 college credits. He is now a freshman at UMBC, where he is double majoring in theater and vocal performance.

“It is a relief that I have most of my general education requirements out of the way,” he said.

Tran’s goal is to have a career in acting, and his dream is to make it to Broadway.

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