Malak Alrashed

For Malak Alrashed of Schiller Park, balancing life as a senior at East Leyden High School and a second-year student at Triton College is a challenge she embraces with pride. As a participant of Triton College’s Early College Program and dual degree student, Alrashed is on track to graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate degree.

“This program is new to East Leyden,” said Alrashed. “I wanted to take advantage of this great opportunity.”

Triton College’s innovative Early College Program offers in-district high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to earn college credit while completing high school. For Alrashed, the experience has been transformative, helping her get ahead academically and personally.

To support her peers, Alrashed started Scholars Society, a club on Triton’s campus for other Dual Degree Program students. The club, made up of 15 students, meets once a month to share experiences and discuss how to navigate life as a high school and college student.

“We like to talk about possible scholarships, college, and balancing high school and college life,” she said. “As Dual Degree Program students, we must be a little more mature and adapt to our settings more quickly than a regular high school student.”

At East Leyden, Alrashed is involved in the National Honors Society (NHS), Rho Kappa National Society Studies Honor Society, Interact Club and Key Club.

Outside of her heavy workload and activities, she tutors young children and volunteers at her mosque.

“I wouldn’t have reached this success without Triton’s many great resources,” she said. Alrashed’s biggest advice is for other students to take advantage of the many resources that Triton College has to offer, such as the Tutoring and Counseling Center.

Looking to the future, Alrashed hopes to transfer to a four-year university. Her dream is to become a pediatrician.

“I love to give back to my community and I love to make a difference in the world,” she said.

Triton College’s Dual Degree Program provides select in-district high school juniors the opportunity to earn their high school diploma and associate degree simultaneously. Over two years, students take classes that fulfill both high school and college requirements, setting them up to seamlessly transfer to a four-year institution and complete their bachelor's degree.

For more information, visit http://n.shandongzhongyu.com/academics/early-college/.