Built for the Future Blog - Jacob Linscomb

By Jacob Linscomb, Starks High School

Fore warning, this is going to be nothing but propaganda for the CPSB Virtual Instruction Program (V.I.P.). It is, in my opinion, one of the greatest things to happen to CPSB high schools in recent years. To put things into context, I come from a smaller school. There’s 18 people in my graduating class. Before V.I.P., if you wanted to take more challenging courses, you had two options: Take what few AP classes that were offered on campus or take the almost an hour drive to McNeese for dual enrollment. It didn’t make sense to get multiple teachers who qualified to teach dual enrollment at Starks only for one or two kids to take the classes. V.I.P. changed that.

Through virtual classes, kids across the parish are enabled to further their academic careers in ways that were impossible before. The program offers V.I.P. students the chance to get an associate's degree. But not only is it great for academics, it allows for more interparish connections. It’s a great way for students to social network and make friends with people who normally might have never even crossed paths. The V.I.P. program sets students up for their futures both academically and socially. I know it sounds counterintuitive saying online classes build social skills, but it really does. All the V.I.P. teachers are reasonable and easy to get along with. They encourage students to push their boundaries, which I love. It’s always fun to watch someone go from scared to show their face on camera to contributing heavily to class discussions (myself included). You’re going to be forced to get out of your comfort zone. You’ll find yourself presenting and collaborating on projects in front of up to 30 people. In a lot of classes, students will independently form group chats to help each other with homework and other class related activities. On top of that, I have found many of the students go beyond mere acquaintances. Many will form tight knit friendships. Some classes even plan after school hangouts and get-togethers. Many inside jokes will be made.

It’s amazing how students in CPSB spanning 55 miles (Starks to Bell City) are able to meet on a daily basis. I believe the V.I.P. classes are a great reflection of what college will look like. It can get a little overwhelming at times; especially if you’re not used to a lot of writing (looking at you Mr. Habetz) but in all seriousness it’s, an engaging challenge that I believe you will find worthwhile. It’s all part of the experience anyway. If you find yourself struggling, there are plenty of resources available including that class group chat and especially the teachers themselves.

V.I.P. truly is a great community to be a part of, and I recommend it to all eligible high school students.