In May of 2023, Sarah Potter walked across a stage at Cecil College to accept her associate degree. A month later, she graduated from Oxford Area High School.

Potter, who grew up in Nottingham, can still hear her mother’s voice, bragging about this odd sequence of events: “My daughter graduated from college before she finished high school.”

Two years later, now 19, Potter will graduate from Neumann University with a bachelor's degree in social work. No one younger has ever earned a Neumann degree.

“I was approached when I was in eighth grade by Early College Academy,” she explained. “They integrate college courses into your high school curriculum.” 

During her years at Oxford, she was taking college courses, which counted toward her high school diploma and her associate degree in conjunction with the Maryland community college. When she took English 101 at Cecil College, for instance, it counted for her junior English class at Oxford.

Potter admitted that the path was difficult. The Early College Academy cohort, she said, started with more than 25 students but dwindled to 10 or 12 by her senior year at Oxford.

“It really challenged me in ways that I didn’t know I could be challenged,” Potter said. “It was a scary decision, but I’ve always been motivated to do my best in school and show my talent.”

Adding to her motivation was the knowledge that, after her mother passed away a year ago, she would be paying for college on her own. Neumann accepted all her Cecil College credits and provided some significant financial assistance.

Even with that support, Potter maintains a non-stop schedule. She works Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Aston Wawa, has an internship on Monday and Wednesday in the adoption unit of Delaware County Children Youth Services, and takes classes on Tuesday and Thursday.

Potter has no complaints, though. “It’s a bit of a full schedule, but I’ve been working since I was 14,” she said. “After graduation, I plan to take the summer to rejuvenate and be 19 years old.”

In September, she has a job waiting for her at DCCYS. Her longterm plans include earning a master’s degree and getting her social work licensure.