From high school to GMC grads in a day

Graduating from high school is a big accomplishment, but for two Houston County High School students, not only did they earn their high school diplomas last Friday, but they also were recognized that same day for completing their associate’s degrees.

Cate Romich and Bobbie Melden, both age 18 and natives of Warner Robins who have been friends since pre-kindergarten and also live next door to each other, received their associate’s degrees from Georgia Military College’s Warner Robins Campus. They attended the main campus in Milledgeville for a ceremony held last Friday morning at 10 a.m. and then traveled back to Warner Robins to graduate from HoCo at 8 p.m. Both students majored in general studies, with Romich receiving an Associate of Arts degree and Melden receiving an Associate of Science degree.

The decision to go through the Move on When Ready program their junior year in order to pursue their associate’s degrees began when Melden says she got a bad case of senioritis. She thought about it and decided to get some classes done, especially with her wanting to be a pharmacist.

Romich agreed that the college classes helped her. With her wanting to pursue acting, it enabled her to experience the college life and to not have the high school schedule.

Melden said she started out at Central Georgia Technical College, but she didn’t particularly like it, so she decided to go to GMC because she liked the quarter system.

“Some people say it’s too rushed doing it in eight weeks, but I think it’s the perfect amount of time,” she said. “It goes by really fast.”

Romich said the quarter system is great for students who are getting their associate’s degree.

“Obviously, if you’re working on your doctorate, you don’t want to take a class in eight weeks, but for just core classes, the basics, it’s fine,” she said.

Melden said she liked that the teachers work with students. She did mostly hybrid classes, where she had lectures in class and then online work.

“It was really easy,” she said.

Romich, who prefers being in class, said some classes were harder than others.

“It was all about paying attention and learning,” she said.

For those students interested in taking college courses while in high school, Romich advises: “It’s good if it works for you. Everything has its pros and cons. Now we’re ahead of the game, but for people who don’t know what they’re doing, it’s not worth it to rush yourself two years because now you have to jump into a major and you’re 18 and don’t know what you’re doing yet. You just need to evaluate it for yourself and if it’s best for you, go for it. Make sure you work hard and you get it done. It’s totally worth it.”

Melden added, “The classes seem a lot easier and faster, but the grading system is different. They don’t calculate that your GPA (grade point average) from your college goes into your high school, which it counts for both. If you do it, great, but you have to keep your grades up.”

Now that they are high school graduates with an associate’s degree under their belt also, Romich and Melden are two steps closer to accomplishing their goals.

Romich said she plans to take a year or two off to pursue acting by taking classes in Atlanta.

“This is just the path I want to take right now, and I’m going to do it” she said.

“I want to be able to create things that last and people talk about in 100 years that will have a lasting impact and make them go after their dreams,” Romich said.

She says she’s always wanted to be an actress.

“I kind of got off the road a bit, but I’ve always come back to it,” she said.

In high school, Romich was vice president of the Thespian Troupe and participated in most all of the shows.

Melden said she has about five more science classes she has to take until she gets her bachelor’s degree, where she plans to attend the College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick. Then, she plans to transfer to the University of Mississippi, Mercer University or the University of Georgia and apply for pharmaceutical school. She noted she’s already been accepted into Ole Miss.

Her hope after she finishes school is to return home to Houston County, which she says is a good place to settle down and have a family, and start out at CVS or some place similar.

“But I’m really going to try to get into a private practice such as OrthoGeorgia or J&M Drugs,” Melden said. “Eventually, I’m going to try to open my own private pharmacy.”

She and Romich said they’re both satisfied and proud of their accomplishments. With some high school graduates maybe not knowing yet what they want to pursue, Melden and Romich have their minds made up on where they want to go in life.

“It’s very relaxing knowing that I have my mind set on that,” Melden said.

Of course they have to put in the hard work, but it makes it easier knowing that they already have a plan on what path they want to take.

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