By Kathryn Purcell
Managing Editor

For four solid weeks this summer, junior Karian Smith left her grandmother's house in Atlanta, boarded MARTA and took the train to the DeKalb County campus of DeVry University.

For four weeks of her summer vacation, Smith sat in a college classroom, "Human Anatomy and Physiology" to be exact, for four hours a day. When her class was over, she took the train back to her grandmother's house, studied and, the next day, she did it all over again.

Why? Smith wanted to get a headstart on her college credits.

Her journey began last school year, when she was perusing the Internet.

"I started by looking on the Web site under 'School Opportunities,'" Smith said. "I saw an ad for DeVry, and it looked like a good opportunity."

So, she acted on it. Smith took "Human Anatomy and Physiology" at the university's Avondale campus.

"I studied the body systems, how they work and how they maintain balance within the body," Smith said.

But she learned more than how the body operates; she learned how to prepare for higher learning.

"I think it was a lot more difficult [than a high school course]," Smith said. "I had to read the book. It was a lot of independent study.

That's what made it harder than a high school course."

And, while she already knew she wanted to attend college after her graduation from Morgan County High School, she has decided to begin looking for a four-year school in state.

Smith was asked to be a part of a ceremony held by DeVry recently, where she received a certificate for passing the class as well as a copy of her transcript.

"I took a college course and I earned credit for taking a college course," Smith said.

And she may just go back for more, depending on class offerings.

"If they have something I'm interested in, I'll definitely take it again next summer," Smith said.