Mrachek Middle School Students Learn About College Life
Posted on 01/28/2025
Mrachek eighth grader Annalise Carter works through a case study during a sample psychology class.

There’s nothing to it but to do it! That’s the shared spirit of Aurora Public Schools (APS) and the Community College of Aurora (CCA). Eighth-grade students from Mrachek Middle School learned about college life during a visit to CCA’s campus.

This real-world learning experience provided students immeasurable insight into guiding their plans for after high school. In addition to a broad overview of college life, the middle schoolers learned about CCA’s specific offerings, which include concurrent enrollment. That’s where APS students can earn college credit while still attending high school. For Mrachek student Annalise Carter, that kind of head start will be key to making her dream a reality.

Marketing materials for the Community College of Aurora“I want to be an anesthesiologist and go to an Ivy League school,” Annalise said. “So, I really want to get these credits in.”

Another eye-opening experience was her time in a CCA classroom. Not only did Annalise get a taste of Psychology 1001, but she broke a common misconception about college learning.

“I didn’t know that you could have smaller classes,” she said. “I thought it was a really big group because of all the movies.”

Mrachek’s visit also included a question-and-answer session with CCA staff and current students. With that kind of guidance and motivation, Annalise feels poised to take on the future.

“It makes me feel more confident in myself,” she said. “I want to be smart enough and successful enough to make a big impact for my community.”