Taking the leap

By Adyson Rackley, Contributing Writer

​As Centralia High School (CHS) seniors approach their final stretch of their academic career, some are choosing to approach it faster than others.

 Whether the early graduates are driven by the desire to enter the workforce or take a short break before their college career begins, this trend is reshaping the traditional high school experience.

Seniors Owen Bruns, JP Grieshaber and Adyson Rackley are the early graduates for the class of 2025. Although they have the opportunity to graduate this December, they still had to meet the requirements of the seniors completing the second semester. To graduate early, you have to pick up the early graduation request sheet from the CHS office. The student’s parent or guardian must sign off on the sheet, stating that they approve their senior to graduate early. A counselor must also sign off, as well as the CHS principal. Once you turn your request form in, you will meet with your designated counselor at the end of your junior year. 

Mrs. Tonya Dimmitt is the counselor for the juniors and seniors of CHS. The student and Mrs. Dimmitt will check if the senior requesting has all of their necessary credits by reviewing the student’s transcript to graduate by the end of first semester. 

To be able to meet all the requirements, some of the early graduates took an online course. Grieshaber and Rackley took English Language Arts 12 A and B on the virtual education program Edgenuity over the summer to get their last core class credit. Past seniors who graduated also used Edgenuity to get that last Language credit, but others doubled up their junior year and selected to take two language courses. When asked his main reason for graduating early, Grieshaber replied “To save money for rent. If I am at school then I am not able to work as much as I want to”. 

All of the 2025 early graduates have met with Mrs. Dimmitt to ensure they are on track and discuss their future plans. They all also plan on attending State Technical College of Missouri. Grieshaber will be attending in the fall of 2025 for heavy equipment operations. Rackley will be attending State Tech for their dental assisting program in the summer of 2025. Bruns will be enrolled in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) program in the fall of 2025.