Southern Maryland

Published: Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Siblings get a jumpstart on college careers By BETHANNE MONACO
Staff writer

By the time most students hit age 16, they are setting their sights on graduating high school, but three Dunkirk siblings are already looking forward to graduating college, either having completed the requirements for an associate degree from the College of Southern Maryland or are preparing to graduate from the college this May.


Olivia Wolski was 16 at the time she graduated from CSM; Joseph Wolski, now 16, was 15 at the time of his graduation. Their youngest brother, Stephan Wolski, 15, will graduate in May.


“Each commencement, the youngest and oldest graduates within [the graduating class] are identified, and the Wolskis are among those who have been identified as the youngest who have received their associate degrees at the College of Southern Maryland,” said Karen Smith Hupp, CSM’s senior executive director for community and media relations.


According to Michele Wolski, the siblings’ mother, the three went to CSM at an earlier age because she had homeschooled them. Olivia had completed her high school studies by age 14, while Joseph and Stephan completed their high school studies at age 13.


She had homeschooled the siblings from the start to make sure her children received the education she wanted them to have, Wolski said.


“I had met a great family from down the street who homeschooled [their children] ... [their mother] chose to live in the moment with the kids,” Wolski said.


After the Wolski children reached the equivalent of a high school education, Wolski applied for her children to take classes at CSM through its gifted and talented program, she said.


According to Wolski, students can begin classes at CSM at 16 if they have a high school certificate or the equivalency, or they can begin earlier if the have been accepted through the gifted and talented program.


“I was very thrilled that there was a program [at CSM] where they could pick up where I had ended,” Michele Wolski said.


Being the youngest students in their classes was not easy at first, but eventually, the Wolski siblings adapted.


When Olivia Wolski first entered college, both she and her mom were nervous.


“I went to class with her,” Michele Wolski said.


“It was really intimidating, the first few semesters [at CSM],” Olivia said.


But eventually, she became more comfortable.


“It didn’t impact me socially,” Olivia said.


Originally, Olivia studied computer science at CSM. She is now studying art at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she resides.


“I am definitely ahead [in my studies at UMD],” due to her time at CSM, Olivia said.


Joseph was the next sibling to apply and be accepted to the gifted and talented program at CSM.


“Normally, everyone was about five years older [than me],” Joseph said of his experience at CSM.


Joseph, like his sister, was nervous when he first attended CSM but he, too, acclimated to his surroundings, he said.


“The courses weren’t too hard,” Joseph said.


Joseph now also attends UMD. However, due to his age, he still lives at home and commutes to school. He received an associate degree in mechanical engineering at CSM and is studying computer engineering at UMD, he said.


Stephan, the youngest of the three, is currently wrapping up his time at CSM.


“It especially feels great because I am beating my brother out by six months of age,” Stephan said, pointing out he will have earned his associate degree at the age of 15.


He agreed it was a difficult transition from being homeschooled by his mother to attending class with mostly 18-year-old students.


“It is a little awkward at times,” Stephan said.


The Wolskis all agreed the administrators and advisors at CSM were extremely helpful to the young students.


“The best thing is the people [at CSM],” Stephan said.


Stephan plans to follow in his siblings’ footsteps and continue his eduction at University of Maryland this fall where he plans to study computer science.


Michele Wolski said she is happy she has such hard-working children.


“While I am very proud of their academic achievements, I am most proud of their compassion and being such positive role models for the children who have been part of our family through foster care,” Wolski said.


bmonaco@somdnews.com






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