Running Start

Profiles

Felicia Cain
Running Start, Associate of Arts, Clinical Lab

“I want to be an interpreter.”

Along with her Associate of Arts, Felicia Cain is picking up a clinical lab assistant certificate. She’ll need to work part-time and summers while finishing her bachelor’s degree since her sister, now a Running Start student, also starts college at Edmonds CC in fall. So, Cain is planning ahead, banking on earning better pay and benefits as she works her way through school as a clinical lab assistant. Cain charts her future with forethought and a solid five-year plan. Attending Edmonds Community College in Running Start and for her first two-years has been an important part. “You get a lot of support here from the instructors, advisers and tutoring center. Edmonds Community College prepared me for a smooth transition to the university,” she said. “Equally valuable to me are the skills I learned as a student programmer (Outreach and Running Start Office). I can take the business media, communication and organizational skills I’ve built here with me anywhere.”

Kacie McCarty
Running Start, Associate of Science-Biology

"I've enjoyed the opportunity to work one-on-one with teachers."

Why Edmonds CC? It is in a beautiful location with a warm, welcoming environment. This school has an edge over other nearby colleges because it offers free parking and bus pass.

Why now? The best time to go to college is when it is paid for by Running Start.

Before Edmonds CC I spent a year exploring Europe: Germany, Czech Republic, France.

Best college experience I've really enjoyed the opportunity to work one-to-one with teachers during office hours. The teachers at this college are very helpful and willing to spend extra time helping students with difficult concepts.

Favorite class the LEAF school. I loved getting school credit for going outside and learning about plants and wildlife.

Instructor Jenny McFarland is a wonderful teacher who is always cheery, offers extra help and advice, and even provides snacks during Zoology exams.

Advice for new students for students taking science courses: look at the textbook before the quarter begins. This will help you keep from feeling overwhelmed on the first day of class.

What to eat on campus Pizza - I enjoy searching for the largest slice.

Book Mists of Avalon

Authors JK Rowling, Terry Goodkind

What’s next? the University of Washington for my bachelor of science

Daniel Peck
Running Start, Associate of Arts

“I’ve thought about working in intelligence or as a firefighter or going on to med school.”

Daniel Peck’s older brothers are now a railroad engineer and a pilot at age 24 and 21 respectively. They both attended Running Start at Edmonds CC, so Peck, 17, knew it was a good way to go. Next, he’ll transfer to a four-year university. He’s not yet sure what direction his studies will take, but he feels prepared to pursue whatever he decides on. “Running Start requires more personal responsibility, but it can save you some time and it gives you a feel for handling situations on your own,” he said.

Will and Ben Mish
Running Start, transfer degrees

"I was ready to go out in the real world. Running Start gave me the opportunity to finish high school and start college."

Will, the band's guitarist, took transfer classes at the college before going on to Western Washington University to study anthropology. Ben, the lead singer, began at the college in Running Start while attending Seattle Prep and then went on to earn an economics degree from the Univeristy of Washington.

Katie Beers
Running Start

“I’ll attend Seattle Pacific University. I’m interested in bioengineering.”

After graduating high school this spring, she plans to attend Seattle Pacific University where she’s interesting in studying bioengineering, a field she learned more about after job shadowing an engineer at a biotechnology firm. Beers said she’s prepared to go for her math and science studies after attending Edmonds Community College. But actually, one of her favorite classes at Edmonds CC was history. “I took Advanced Placement history in high school but I really did not like it and found it overwhelming. At Edmonds CC, I took a history class as a requirement and I was really surprised how much I liked it,” she said. “It was still hard, but the instructor did an awesome job of tying lectures together with what the book was teaching and made it interesting and more applicable to the present day.” Beers recommends Running Start but cautions that it is not right for everyone, “If you are looking for more of a challenge, go for it, but you do miss out on some of the social happenings at high school.”

To view many more profiles, visit the profiles page.