FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Some Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) grads are walking across the stage on July 31 instead of next June, almost a full year ahead of schedule.
These students took advantage of FCPS summer offerings to graduate early and get a jump start on their future goals.
Shuhei Tajima, an 18-year-old Langley High School student from Japan and aspiring marine biologist, is one of those students.
“I had to complete my high school experience in three years instead of four like everyone else if I wanted to apply to begin college in Japan next year,” Tajima said, noting that most Japanese undergraduate programs begin in April instead of August or September like in the U.S.
He says he wanted to be in a position to be a college freshman in Japan in April 2025, which required finishing high school in the U.S. ahead of schedule.
“Since I wanted to meet my requirements for graduation in three years, I had no time to spare so that is why I did the summer programs,” he said. He spent his summers taking English-language-learner courses, a required physical-education course, U.S. History and English 12.
“It means I had to complete one course for the year in one month, so it was actually kind of hard,” Tajima added.
Shuhei’s father, Hide Tajima, says FCPS school counselors were very helpful to the family as they weighed his options to graduate early.
“They showed us a mock schedule towards early graduation and let us know which courses could be relatively easy to take over the summer,” Hide Tajima said.
For instance, considering his desire to be a scientist, they suggested taking science classes in person over the course of an entire school year.
“He took other subjects over the summer and studied extensively during a certain period of time, which we think helped to earn higher grades,” Tajima says.
Shuhei also took part in several research programs around the Chesapeake Bay, surveying horseshoe crabs and oysters in the area during his time in the U.S. He is applying to the National University of Japan for college.
“I want to learn how to solve environmental issues in the Arctic, because that will be beneficial to both Japan and the U.S.,” he said.
His father acknowledges the demanding work required to graduate ahead of schedule, but says it has all paid off.
“Shuhei’s summer vacations might be much shorter than his friends’, but he still did enjoy spending time on Florida beaches and in the Appalachian Mountains,” Hide Tajima said.
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Learn more about FCPS summer learning online campus at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning/online-programs.
