SLOHS early grads can still participate in the graduation ceremony like the 2025 epic on the old grass Holt Field. Photo courtesy of slohs.slcusd.org.
As seniors prepare for their next steps, some choose not to wait for June to graduate. For those with work or travel lined up, (or simply feel a strong urge to to get out of here), graduating early can be an enticing option.
Expressions interviewed 2026 Senior and early graduates Georgia Keeling and Cameron Kienow about the vibe.
Expressions: What made you decide to graduate early?
Senior and early graduate Cameron Kienow: I was feeling really bored last year during third trimester. I was playing Minecraft all day in Mr. Rubio’s class in AP Bio, and I just felt like it was kind of pointless. I decided to take Gov, Econ, and a couple other classes online so I’d get ahead of it and so I wouldn’t have to do it again, senior year.
Senior and early graduate Georgia Keeling: First of all, I was just kind of done with school, but then also, none of my seminar classes lined up so I wouldn’t have been able to take all my classes. I would have only been able to take half of my seminars, but then I still would have to be at school all day and I was like, man that would suck.
Expressions: What have you done with all your extra time?
Kienow: I went to Japan for a week, I’ve been working a lot, I’ve been able to go surfing and go to Mexico for a week. I’ve been hoping to plan a trip to Puerto Rico or Indonesia if time allows.
Keeling: I’ve been working and riding bikes.
Expressions: What have been some upsides of graduating early?
Kienow: It’s super awesome. You get all the time in the world to do whatever you want. I’ve been going to the gym, surfing, mountain biking a little bit and working a bunch and getting a bunch of money. Being able to do what I want has been super awesome.
Keeling: I have a lot more time. I’m actually making a lot of money, and I get to do a bunch of fun things during the day.
Expressions: What are some potential risks of graduating early?
Kienow: I wouldn’t say there’s a risk of graduating early, honestly. Some of the things I’ve noticed that haven’t been huge deals was [missing] some of the deadlines for the senior agreement that they hand out that you need to graduate. … Other than that (missing deadlines), it’s been pretty awesome.
Keeling: You could forget to study for every single AP test and still take them.
Expressions: Is that what you did?
Keeling: Uh, maybe.
Expressions: Do you feel like you’re missing out on anything by graduating early?
Kienow: No, not really.
Keeling: No, I have a lot going on outside of school, so I keep occupied.
Expressions: What are your plans for next year?
Kienow: Next year, I’m going to Cal Poly for forestry and fire science. I’m going to take classes during the summer to get ahead and take my EMT so I can get into a fire academy. Then, I’m going to become a firefighter and hopefully get my paramedics at Ventura College.
Keeling: I’m going to UCLA and I’m studying civil engineering.
In the case of these two early graduates, it seems like the idea was a sound decision with no future negative effects.
