"Effort is the best indicator of interest."| A Duke Student's Experience in High School Courses

We had the privilege of interviewing Catherine McMillan, a student at Duke University a former student at the North Carolina Governor's School her documentaries were featured in a screening at the National Museum of African American History and Culture We asked her insight on: High School Courses She tells us: "...I was genuinely interested in most of the classes I took" "...it’s hard to ascertain what a class will be like unless you enroll in it." Q: If you scored in the top 5% how did you manage to balance all the coursework and load? A: I was/am passionate about my education. In high school, I was genuinely interested in most of the classes I took. I was willing to put in the time and effort because it was important to me. Q: How did you find time to complete all your schoolwork? On the bus, during school, etc.? A: Late at night, sometimes on the bus, during lunch. I’d find the odds-and-ends of the day to squeak out all of my assignments. Q: Is considering the teacher that teaches a course important when making selections? A: Yes and no. People have different experiences with teachers. There is a kernel of truth in people’s lamentations or praise of a teacher, but it’s hard to ascertain what a class will be like unless you enroll in it. Q: What AP classes helped your 4 years in high school the most? A: AP English Language and Composition, AP US History, AP Comparative Government, AP English Literature, and AP Psychology. Q: Do you think that you benefited more from your AP classes or from your extracurricular activities? A: I can’t choose. They both took on different purposes for me. See Catherine's LinkedIn account here !