Molly Wahl likes to explore.
It’s part of what brought her to Delta College as an early middle college student and what eventually led her from liberal arts classes to student leadership, a Raspberry Pi club and an unexpected interest in economics.
“I’m all about exploring,” Molly said. “I could just openly explore at Delta with no stress or anything holding me back.”
Molly initially chose early middle college because she wanted to get ahead academically. The decision meant balancing high school with college courses and giving up some of the traditional high school experience, but it also introduced her to classmates who shared her drive.
That experience paid off when she graduated from high school and Delta at nearly the same time, earning an associate in arts degree. Now, she’ll transfer to the University of Michigan with about two years of college already completed.
But Molly didn’t spend her time at Delta focused only on finishing early.
She joined the Student Leadership Academy, where she discovered leadership didn’t have to look one particular way. Being more reserved didn’t prevent her from leading; it gave her a chance to find her own way to do it. She later became president of her high school’s student leadership council and helped prepare the next student taking over the role.
She kept exploring academically, too. An economics class at Delta introduced Molly to a subject she is now considering studying at Michigan.
What started as a way to get ahead in education ultimately gave her something harder to measure than credits.
“I’m leaving Delta College with a community,” Molly said. “I’m really grateful to be carrying them with me onto the next chapter of my life.”
By Mikaila Bluew, writer & editor
