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The Legacy Begins:
Photo by Nick Young
Students Anticipate Wylie Campus Opening
By Heather Darrow
Katie Henry’s future is not an open book. This Wylie East High School student has already earmarked pages of what is yet to come. She has plans to graduate with an associate degree from Collin College — a year earlier than her peers — and serve as a trauma surgeon in the the Air Force.
“We are free in America, and people are giving up their lives for us,” Henry said. “I want to be one of those people who protects others. I have a sense of duty. I feel like I need to do this,” she said.
Henry has known since the second grade, when she moved to Wylie, that she wanted to serve in the military. She joined ROTC her freshman year of high school, and she has 32 college credit hours under her belt.
“I already have half of my associate degree,” Henry said. “I will be a college sophomore when I start taking classes at the Collin College Wylie Campus this fall. I decided to take dual credit classes because they count for high school and college. I saved money, and it takes many years to become a trauma surgeon.”
A future day in the life
Excited for the Fall 2020 semester, Henry can envision what she will do at the new Wylie Campus.
“Before the fall semester begins, I will visit the bookstore, meet with an advisor, and speak to people in the financial aid office,” she said. “I like small classes because you are able to ask more questions, and I want to learn about the Honors Institute and honors classes. I also want to find out more about service-learning classes because you can volunteer as part of the class, and I enjoy helping out in the community.”
Henry can buy the books she needs at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in the Campus Commons. This is the same building which houses the career center, where she will explore internships, and the fitness center, where she plans to start her day with planks, push-ups, and sit-ups while she listens to Tim McGraw. Though she has already received online assistance with her college papers, Henry is looking forward to meeting with writing and math tutors at the Anthony Peterson Center for Academic Assistance housed in the library.
“I will double-check my homework in the library before I head to class,” Henry said. “The study rooms will allow me to close the door and focus. I like to hold books in my hands, and I also like audiobooks. I used both at the same time in my American Literature class. I will also check out novels to read at home.”
Henry is contemplating taking biology, psychology, algebra, speech, and music, or art classes in her first semester at the Wylie Campus. The idea of painting on the second-story terrace is right up her alley.
College within walking distance
Wylie High School senior and fellow Collin College dual credit student, Hudson Harris, may take an art class at the Wylie Campus, but he plans to train to become a firefighter and a paramedic first.
“There is no better feeling than to be on the fire truck, with the lights and siren going, on the way to help somebody,” Harris said. “Ever since I was a little kid, I thought firefighting was the coolest thing ever. When we lived in Florida every one of my birthday parties was at the fire station, but I was 16 years old when I made the decision to become a firefighter. I was in the Wylie Fire Rescue Explorer program. We had the opportunity to do ride outs, and that’s when I made my decision.”
Once the campus is open, Harris plans to leave his car in the driveway, grab his backpack, and listen to music while he enjoys nature as he travels on foot via the walking trails to the new campus.
“It will only take 10 minutes to walk there,” he said. “That will help me save gas and keep miles off my car. I hope Mama Lucido’s café has chicken parmesan. That is my favorite food ever. I also want to lift weights at the fitness center on my days off. I will definitely get assistance at the math and writing labs if I need it. The art history classroom with multiple-image projections sounds cool. I also want to find out more about learning communities classes because you get to learn about two disciplines at the same time. The library study rooms will be great because it is not usually quiet at home. I have little brothers,” he said, laughing.
From dual credit classes to firefighter and paramedic training to an associate degree and classes that will transfer to a university, Collin College is helping Harris to achieve his dream to serve the community as a first responder.
“When I am on my deathbed I can look back and know I made a difference in this world, I helped others, and I can be satisfied."
Fall registration is underway. For more information about the Wylie Campus, visit www.collin.edu/campuses/wylie. •
Collin College Wylie Campus
