By the end of next summer, Taylor Campbell will have received her high school diploma and completed her freshman year of college.

The 17-year-old Spring-Ford Area High School senior is a dual enrollment student at Montgomery County Community College, who took advantage of MCCC’s Early College Special Opportunity. The program allows Montgomery County partner high school students to enroll in select three or four-credit online courses at a reduced rate. Campbell had enough credits to graduate early from Spring-Ford and began using her extra time to take three, three-credit courses at the College. She’ll do the same again in the spring, followed by three more courses this summer. Her goal is to get a head start at a four-year college next fall.

“By the end of the summer, I’ll have 27 credits,” she said, “So I’ll go into freshman year done.”

At the same time though, state law mandates that high school students still complete English and Physical Education classes all four years, so Campbell is completing work for those two classes on her own through the online learning resource Edgenuity.

Meanwhile, the MCCC coursework has been manageable Campbell said, and she appreciates having a flexible schedule that allows her to take time away from her computer screen. She takes classes Monday, Wednesday and Friday. One class is completely online. The other two are held through Zoom Monday and Wednesday and are finished by 12:15 p.m.

“I’ve loved it,” she said. “The teachers are amazing, it’s hands-on, they contact you and have office hours. I don’t feel like I’m missing out. I still have a classroom environment and I appreciate that. It’s a different type of work, but nothing I can’t handle.”

Campbell’s mom Shanna Campbell, said dual enrollment experience has been good for her daughter.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “I think she’s built confidence to enroll into a larger school where she will be able to complete her next three years.” At first her daughter wasn’t as excited about attending a larger school due to concerns of financial obligation, COVID-19 and campus living, among other things.

“She’s always been a bright kid, very focused and determined,” said Taylor’s dad, Ernest Campbell, who added dual enrollment would allow his daughter to complete her college education and ultimately law school at an accelerated pace. “She’s definitely on the move.”

Campbell is used to facing new challenges head on. Last year her family moved from their home in Houston to Collegeville, after a new opportunity with Wells Fargo transferred the family to the area. It was the second time the family uprooted in five years, having moved to Texas from Kansas City, Mo., when Campbell was in middle school.

“I’ve been to two different high schools and two different middle schools,” she said.

Dramatic changes like moving across the country twice at a young age has been a valuable lesson, she said.

“It teaches you to adapt,” she said, “to talk to people, meet people, be friendly and nice and appreciate all walks of life. I do appreciate that aspect of it. And the transition here was smooth. The counselor at Spring-Ford, Katie Baker, who introduced me to Montco was very helpful and welcoming.”

Campbell said the drive she’s developed can be attributed to the work ethic of her parents. She’s proud of her dad for working his way up through the company, and for her mom who’s owned multiple businesses herself. Together they have demonstrated the value of hard work and dedication.

“That made me smile,” said Shanna Campbell. “I was taken aback by it. It’s not a part of our everyday conversations. I see her smiles and gaze but you never know how impactful you are until they speak to someone about it. It was a proud moment for both of us.”

“I teared up,” said Ernest Campbell on hearing his daughter’s compliment. “It’s tough when you get sudden career opportunities, then have to go home to talk to your family about moving.”

He remembered bringing copies of his offer letter for his wife and children to read, to understand why moving to the East coast from Texas was the right move for their futures. “We wanted them to understand.”

Campbell says one day she hopes to become an attorney. Right now, she’s taking courses in introduction to criminal justice, speech communications and American government, and she plans to major in political science. Last summer, she attended an internship at the Philadelphia law firm Morgan Lewis, where she was able to meet partners, understand day-to-day activities and get a better understanding of what would be expected of her. The jump-start on her education at MCCC will help her accomplish her goals sooner and minimize any student loan debt she may need to take on.

“I want to practice criminal law,” she said. “That’s why I’m studying government policies, to prepare and understand the criminal justice system.”

Campbell has a record of supporting her peers already. There was a time only a few years ago, back in Houston, when she thought about becoming a doctor. In fact, she organized a club at her school during her sophomore year called “Melanin M.D.” which catered to minority students who hoped to pursue a career in medicine. 

Outside of the classroom and “pre-COVID,” Campbell said she was co-captain of the cheerleading team, played basketball and ran track. She’s also a member of the National Honor Society and was vice president of student council.

Last year her passion for fashion helped her land an ambassadorship with Nordstrom Fashion. The opportunity allowed her to meet with people her own age, who had similar interests, once a month, to talk about fashion and merchandising, attend company events and tour the company stockroom, among other perks.

With her future as bright as it’s ever been, Campbell said she sees her 14-year-old brother is watching and taking notes. She’s proud to say he’ll likely follow in her footsteps and hopes other will follow suit.

“He definitely wants to do dual enrollment,” she said. “He sees the flexibility I have earning college and high school credit at the same time.”