English Valleys student featured in Kirkwood newsletter

Kaylynne Hoylman, a junior at English Valleys High School, is featured in the Kirkwood Iowa County winter newsletter.

Hoylman said she started taking college courses during the second semester of her freshman year. “I spent the first semester getting acclimated to high school and its challenges to ensure I didn’t push myself too far,” she says in the newsletter.

“In general, I really love mathematics, specifically algebra and finances due to the problem solving aspect.” She’s looking forward to all the accounting classes she can begin to take next semester, she said.

Hoylman doesn’t usually like science classes, she said, but she enjoyed learning about memory and the anatomy of the brain during intro to psychology, she said. “There were also many documentaries that I found interesting that discussed medical, as well as psychological anomalies that led to amazing scientific feats.”

One of the Kirkwood instructors who has made a lasting impact on Hoylman is U.S. history teacher David McMahon, Hoylman said. “David not only was very engaged and passionate about the topic, but he provided ways for students to be as well,” she said.

McMahon offered different media, such as articles, videos, documentaries, movies and textbooks, cover everyone’s learning style, Hoylman said.

“Taking college credit in high school is a great way to prepare for your future,” Hoylman said in the Kirkwood newsletter. “It helps with things such as time management, independence, responsibility, and much more.

“Taking college credit in high school is also a great way to obtain a head start on your career path. By taking college credit, you can start completing a two year degree or just work toward building credit. All in all, it is a cost effective learning experience that can kick-start your college career as well as teach you important skills early on.”