Hamilton High School junior Lydia Nelson is already taking bold steps toward her future, thanks to Hamilton’s new Early College partnership with Hope College. As one of the first six students in the program, Lydia is spending part of her school week on Hope’s campus—earning college credits, exploring the field of education, and getting a head start on her dream career.
For Lydia, the opportunity still feels almost unreal. “I’m at Hope because I am doing a program for teachers who get to go to Hope College for free for a couple years,” she explained. “I think it’s really cool. I mean, two years of college for free is insane, especially at a college like this.”
Financial relief was just one of the reasons Lydia jumped at the chance. “I knew I could save a lot of money. I can get an early head start and be able to start teaching earlier than everyone else,” she said. “I was just really excited.”
Lydia shared that teaching has always been in the back of her mind. “Elementary school, I knew I wanted to be a teacher and I had kind of leaned away from it… but this program came around and I decided I think this is my dream and it’s something I really want to do.”
While she’s loving her time on campus, the transition to college-level coursework hasn’t been without its challenges. “Definitely the homework,” she admitted with a smile. “There’s a lot. There’s daily homework, but I think I’ve managed to figure out when’s the best time to get it done.”
Despite the heavier workload, Lydia is thriving. She says the structure, support, and experience she’s gaining have already made a meaningful difference. “I’m really thankful. I think it’s really cool and I’m glad to get a head start and just be able to go and get a feel for it,” she said. “I think they do a really good job preparing us and getting us ready and helping us figure out what our career path is going to look like.”
With each class session and assignment, Lydia is taking real steps toward becoming the teacher she’s always envisioned. Hamilton Community Schools is proud of her dedication, grateful for our growing partnership with Hope College, and excited to see how students like Lydia continue to build bright futures through this innovative Early College program.
