THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 13, 1994 TAG: 9406130046
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: 940613 LENGTH: CHARLOTTE COURT HOUSE
``It's been a busy senior year,'' she said.
{REST} Jyothsna, 16, graduated from Southside Virginia Community College last month with an associate arts and science degree in general studies. She graduated from high school Friday.
About 5,500 high school students take classes at Virginia's community colleges every year, but officials say Jyothsna's feat is rare. It takes two years to complete the community college courses.
``What you're looking at is a very dedicated student who is certainly committed and very goal-orientated,'' said Joe Barden, director of student services for the Virginia Community College System.
Jyothsna's extracurricular activities did not suffer, despite the heavy course load. She was captain of the girls' tennis team and went undefeated in her district this spring. She was editor of the high school newspaper. She placed third in the state forensics competition in her category and was captain of Randolph-Henry's academic and science teams. She also won the Miss Charlotte County pageant last winter.
``I do stuff like that because I don't want to be all focused on my books,'' she said. ``I don't really act like a nerd or anything. I hang out with my friends and party with them.
``I've just had to learn to manage my time.''
Her father, Pardha, teaches math and civics at SVCC. Jyothsna began taking classes there as a junior. Last summer, the college said she could earn her associate degree by taking a full course load this year.
Jyothsna said the difficult classes at SVCC should help her this fall at the University of Virginia, where she plans to major in chemistry before attending medical school.
She said she would encourage other high school students to try the community college dual enrollment program.
by CNB