A Way for Better Opportunities

By Yessica Ceja

As a Junior at Yerba Buena, I have started to feel the weight and stress of almost being out of highschool and needing to start deciding what I want to do after graduation. A program that can help others when the time comes to make these decisions and more is CCA.

“College Connection Academy (CCA) is a cohort-based program that begins in 7th grade and continues through 12th grade. The goal of the program is to help ease the transitions from middle school to high school, and high school to college.” says CCA counselor Ms. Gunn.

According to Ms. Gunn, the way this program works, it starts in 7th grade and helps students transition from middle school into highschool. Some students even start taking high school classes in middle school, like higher maths and english classe.

As the students go into their junior year they are assigned an advisor that they consult with twice a week in order to stay on track.

Students also start attending Evergreen Community College in their junior year and gain college credits. By the time these students start college they are already ahead and would have saved a lot of time and money.

In the case of CCA/ Yerba Buena, senior Joseline Castro, has been in the CCA program since 7th grade. She says “The program can be challenging sometimes but you get used to it and the outcome is worth it,”.

This year, Joseline is taking classes at Evergreen Community College and is earning college credits for it. “By the time you’re a junior you have enough credits to graduate plus some college credits from EVC,” she says.

Ms. Gunn says that CCA students travel in cohorts, they have the same classmates for 4+ years straight which creates a sort of family or comfortable environment where you can hold each other accountable.

Some students however don’t see it that way they often want to meet new people. Joseline says “I've gotten used to seeing the same faces every year but you get tired and want to meet new people,”.

Some students are often discouraged from the program because of the workload that comes with it. As soon as you start high school the majority of your classes will be advanced placement and some students can struggle a lot when it comes to this. CCA teachers and advisors have their doors open during advisory to offer any help that the students need.

Along with this CCA offers after school tutoring and tutoring at EVC in order to help and support students that may be struggling.

Although it is too late for me to join I wouldn't want others to miss their chance at this great opportunity.

If this program interests you even a little bit you should contact Ms. Gunn at gunnm@esuhsd.org or visit her office located inside of the Students Union.