Panola Early College High School is a great environment for getting ahead in education and for making friends. The support from the dedicated staff at PECHS was instrumental in assisting my coursework and charting my path for the future. Their flexibility allowed me to pursue my degree at a pace that suited me, culminating in an Associate's degree from Panola College alongside my high school diploma, a year ahead of schedule. This early foundation propelled me into transferring to a university, where I entered as a Junior at the age of 17, and subsequently completed a bachelor's program in Chemical Engineering in just three years. While our class of 2018 was small, we were a tight-knit group and I was able to make my best friends there. In addition, I made many friends with the other students at Panola College and we would regularly meet for study groups or campus events. The professors at Panola College treated us with the same level of respect and expectation as any other student. I even got a recommendation for a summer research opportunity at Texas A&M Commerce post-graduation from my professors. Reflecting on my experience, I am immensely grateful for the invaluable and enjoyable time spent at PECHS. It provided me with a solid foundation for academic success and gave me lifelong friendships.