Going from freshman to senior year can be a great experience for students: participating in school activities, enjoying tight-knit friendships and working toward a brighter future. But for Megha Patel, junior and senior year have become one in the same and her high school experience will end a year early. After a lot of time spent planning with counselors and participating in year-long online courses, Patel will finish all of the necessary credits for graduation by 2015 rather than 2016.

“I really just need to get away from [my] family,” Patel said. “In the end, [my parent’s] opinion really doesn’t matter to me.”

With a father in jail and a mother who does not care when Patel graduates, as long as she pays for her own college, Patel’s only problem is money. She has been working as a waitress to raise as much money as possible, and the rest she hopes to receive through student loans and scholarships. But as far as graduating early goes, Patel has all of her classes figured out.

“I only need [to finish] English 4 and one extra science credit to graduate early,” Patel said. “It definitely isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.”

However, early graduation is not for everyone. Students usually take eight courses each semester, but Patel is taking a total of 10 courses during the first semester and will take 11 during the second. She says it takes a lot of dedication and time to learn all of the separate lessons and maintain good grades.

“I think anyone can graduate early if they really want to work for it,” Patel said. “But I would not recommend it, because it’s extremely stressful and time consuming. It’s the reason I’m getting gray hair already!”

Patel plans on starting college right after graduation at El Centro Community College, and applying to Stephen F. Austin University a year later. She hopes to become an obstetrician and gynecologist doctor by the end of her college career.

“I’m excited and ready to go,” Patel said. “I want to start doing the things that will actually help me in my career. I’m done preparing [and] I want my future to get started already.”