As Perry Meridian Middle School students finish eighth grade, they prepare schedules for their first year of high school. Many freshman classes are required, leaving little room for electives.

But a new required course is already reaping benefits with Perry’s newest students.

The class of 2023 will be the first required to take Preparations for College and Careers, or PCC.

“This class prepares students for different career paths, such as two-year colleges, apprenticeships, the military, etc,” P.C.C teacher Jacob Banwart says. 

 While the course teaches students to understand what college is like, it also explores personal growth and social skills.  

“I like this class because it gives me more confidence to explain my feelings in different ways,” freshman Eve Vanmeter says.

By the end of the course, students understand some of the conflicts they will experience in the real world.

“Personally I don’t hate the idea of having to take P.C.C,” freshman Callia Shaw says. “I am already having to think about college and my career, and this class will help me.”

Even some seniors admit the information could have helped them now that they have to think about what they are going to do after high school.

“I feel like this class should be required, but not as a freshman, because during this time they are not thinking about college,” senior Lal Len says.

Because this year is the first that P.C.C is offered, teachers are still doing some tweaking to the class in order to improve it in the future.