Reflections of Graduates

The following are reflections provided by graduates of the Honors Forum in the years following their graduation from Blythewood High School.

I can say without a doubt that being a part of the Honors Forum enhanced my educational experience while at Blythewood High School. The rigor and course load that the program demanded pushed me to take tougher classes that I may not have taken otherwise - which I am very thankful for and which has been beneficial since coming to college. The seminar aspect of the program gave me the opportunity to discuss and think through challenging and thought-provoking topics that were unique and unlike any other class I took and the skills I acquired during the process of writing the National History Day paper have been invaluable so far during my college experience. 

-Kelvin Mack, Class of 2016

BHS Honors Forum was one of the most influential parts of BHS in preparing me for college. Mr. Auspelmyer provides a nurturing environment that challenges students to think critically and deeply about historical events and present their thoughts in an articulate manner. In particular, the National History Day project teaches students strategies to compose a large paper over an entire semester which is CRITICAL for success at the college level. If you have the opportunity to take Honors Forum, do not pass it up! It may seem challenging, but it is definitely worth it. 

-Luke DuCharme, Class of 2016

The Honors Forum was amazing and helpful for a couple of a reasons. I thoroughly enjoyed the Honors Forum class in which the basis was discussion and coming prepared for class was key. I am finding that in my graduate coursework now, I cannot simply show up to class to hear a lecture, but I must be prepared to participate in class and begin to learn the material before arriving to it. This was a skill I began learning in the Honors Forum and has been beneficial to my undergraduate and graduate courses. I also am grateful for the chance to learn about a more specific topic (compared to other classes on such broad time periods) and from multiple medias. The dinner and graduation ceremony from the Honors Forum at the end was the icing on the cake of a wonderful time of connecting with my classmates.   

-Bethany Mitchell, Class of 2014

My first semester of college has felt as easy as my freshman year of high school; in fact I've felt more prepared than I did then.  My teachers at BHS taught me how to write an analytical paper, a process some professors are still guiding college seniors through.  I also learned how to prepare for tests at BHS.  I familiarized myself with tactics that I need to succeed.                                                                                              

-Rachel Burns, Class of 2012

The Honors Forum kept me in line.  I had my graduation goal, and in order to achieve it I had to follow the guidelines set forth in the program.  This caused me to push myself to do better academically than I believe I would have otherwise.  In addition, the Honors Forum Senior Project was a great opportunity to teach myself more about the industry that I was planning on entering into in the future.  

- Chris Reynolds, Class of 2012

The teachers at BHS were definitely a key to my success, not only because they were stupendous instructors, but also because they made me feel like I could be successful in what I did.  They were also very helpful for what we were doing in class or in school in general, working with us if we came to them...Students applying to the BHS Honors Forum should be prepared to work.  This isn't something that they can just glide by in, which will help them get the right mindset for college.  They will learn that if they are prepared to put forth the effort, it can definitely pay off in the future.                                   

-Brittany Ergle, Class of 2011

I really liked that there were different paths that we could follow [to complete the program requirements].  I really like that the teachers did not force all AP classes on students, but encouraged a balance between some AP classes and extracurricular activities.  I also enjoyed the different levels of completion of the program and the seminar class requirement (the books we read in that class are still some of my favorites).  The senior project made a difference in my life by making me realize how much I love to volunteer and be around children.  I chose to volunteer in a kindergarten class once a week for an entire year and I LOVED it!  I currently volunteer as a mentor in Clemson to a nearby elementary school.  This carries over into my goals as I am pursuing coursework to become a pediatrician. 

- Colleen Harris, Class of 2011

Academics at Blythewood were challenging, required critical thinking, and absolutely prepared me for college.  I will always credit many of my BHS teachers for all of my success in high school, which led to the great scholarships I was awarded, allowing me to choose what college I wanted to attend without having to worry about the financial aspect.  During the first semester of college, I watched other students adjust to lecture-style courses, drop out of required entry level language classes, and throw away medical school aspirations because they couldn't survive the introductory science courses.  Meanwhile, I cruised through these courses and placed out of many others because of my scores on my AP exams.  I saved myself a lot of time when I got to college because of the really strong academics and dedicated faculty teaching courses on a college (and often higher) level at BHS.                                                         

- JJ Brooks, Class of 2010