OC HIGH : Independent Means : Education: Supervised study is effective for those who are disciplined and responsible. Emily Cannon made the program work for her--and graduated early.

So what’s it like going to school just one day a week? It may seem like a breeze, but there’s much more work than meets the eye.

I began my independent studies program at San Joaquin High School in Irvine in the second semester of my junior year. I had just moved here from Los Angeles and had spent one semester at a conventional high school in Irvine.

But I was having problems with conventional high school. I didn’t like the structure. If I was in a class I did like, the bell would ring and interrupt the discussion. Then I’d have to stop and go to a class that I didn’t like.

I was a good student in Los Angeles; I got mostly A’s and Bs. I didn’t like school, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. In Los Angeles, you couldn’t just leave campus. All the parking lots were locked after school started, and you could only exit from one door, which was guarded. When I came to school in Irvine, I couldn’t believe it. You could leave campus whenever you wanted.

After moving here, I started to have attendance problems. I’d miss classes and started ditching school. I was sort of depressed. I’d just go sit somewhere rather than go to class. And I was having problems with some teachers, the kind who would insist that you can only do something their way or not at all. So I said, OK, fine, I won’t do it at all.

After a while, my counselor called me in and told me of my options. I was amazed and relieved to hear about the independent studies program at San Joaquin High School.

I learned that I would meet one-on-one with a teacher to complete my credits using an individualized study program. I also learned I could expand into other things, such as taking community college classes, working or volunteering through what is called the City-as-School program.

I learned I would meet once a week at the high school with a teacher to receive that week’s work, discuss any problems I might be having with my assignments and be tested on the work from the previous week. The requirements and curriculum are the same as in a traditional high school--subjects such as English literature, health and economics.

To remain enrolled, a student must regularly attend these teacher-student sessions and be either working or volunteering.

I choose to volunteer, and that’s where the City-as-School program came in. The director of the program spoke to me about my interests and then arranged a suitable community service program. I began volunteering four afternoons a week for Head Start, because I’ve always enjoyed working with children.

My typical week is usually fairly busy, and I don’t end up bored, as many people might think. I can’t think of many times when I’m sitting around with nothing to do.

I start my week on Monday in the Head Start classroom at a school in Irvine. I assist the teacher and aide with the preschoolers. I play with them, read them books and help them with small group projects. The Head Start class begins at 12:30 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m. There are usually 12 to 17 children on any given day, and, for the most part, they are cooperative and very active.

After work, it’s dinner and time to tackle some homework before I go to sleep. I might also go out with friends before the night is over.

On Tuesday it’s back to Head Start at 12:30 p.m. for another action-packed day with the kids. With so many 4-year-olds, there is never a dull moment. On Tuesday evenings from 6 to 9, I attend a 20th-Century history class offered through Irvine’s adult education program.

Wednesday is my day to finish my week’s worth of homework. I go to Head Start, and, if my homework is done, I usually go out for coffee and sometimes a movie. For some reason, Wednesday has become my night out. It’s a tradition.

Thursday mornings I go to San Joaquin to meet with my teacher. We discuss what I have studied in the past week, and I turn in my homework. If I’m having any problems with the material, I can get extra help. After we go over all of the important points, I’m tested--sometimes orally, but usually it’s a written test. I’m given more assignments for the next week, and then it’s back to Head Start.

It would be a good idea to start my new assignments on Thursday evening, but I don’t usually get to them until Friday. It is roughly 20 hours of work, though, so it can’t be put off too long.

Friday begins my weekend. Head Start doesn’t meet that day, so I use that time to get some homework out of the way. I usually go out that evening, then on Sunday I settle back down, do some more schoolwork and prepare myself to begin another week.

San Joaquin has proved to be a most positive thing in my life. I probably would have dropped out and only gotten a California High School Proficiency Exam certificate had the independent-study option not been presented to me.

The program freed me from the regimented schedule that didn’t work for me, and it allowed me to expand myself and branch out into the world. The program, however, does require a great deal of responsibility. Priorities have to be straight. As long as you know the difference between what needs to be done and what doesn’t, everything should work out fine.

Another bonus is that school can be finished at your own pace. Because of independent studies, I am graduating a semester early.

The only major drawback is the lack of socialization that a regular high school provides. Working one-on-one with the teacher, the only other students you meet are those also there for independent study.

This doesn’t always stop us, though. I have made a couple of friends since starting independent study. When you choose this type of study, there really isn’t time to be alone and bored--not like there is on a vacation. This is definitely not a vacation.

Regular high school was not made for everyone. For one reason or another, people like myself choose schools such as San Joaquin, and we usually end up doing better than before. My grades rose significantly, and, most important, I enjoyed learning. It was interesting again.

That is what school should be about.