NORWICH – Times have certainly changed in terms of education, and preparing today's seniors for higher learning and the evolution from high school student to college life poses many challenges, regardless of where graduates choose to embark on the beginning of the rest of their lives.

To aid in the transition, DCMO BOCES Norwich campus – which serves all school districts within Chenango County – offers a specialized program for twelfth graders looking to get a head start on pursuing a career path that not only prepares them academically, but also nods to individualism and responsibility and gives students the opportunity to earn up to six college credits while still being enrolled in high school living at home – which can make the first semester of college coursework less of a burden.

The New Visions Program is one year in length and is available to academically strong high school seniors. The independent study format affords seniors the opportunity to explore a variety of career options in three basic areas of concentration – Health Sciences, Law and Government and Education.

Unadilla Valley senior Corrine Izard was looking for a more challenging curriculum for her last year in school. Her older sister, Cierra, had participated and praised the program a few years prior, so Izard was fortunate enough to have some knowledge of New Visions program and how valuable it was.