Gracelynn Turnbow, a senior at Hartford Union High School, has always been interested in investigating and documenting important information. Her curiosity about the legal field was sparked one day while scrolling through TikTok, where she came across a paralegal influencer sharing daily insights about their job. This moment ignited a new passion for paralegal and legal studies, setting Gracelynn on a path toward her future career.
With the guidance of her high school counselor, Turnbow explored dual enrollment opportunities at Moraine Park, allowing her to earn college credits while still in high school. She applied for Start College Now and Concurrent Admissions, programs designed to give students a head start on their college education. So far, she has completed 15 credits—equivalent to one full-time semester—and is on track to earn even more by the end of December. These accomplishments not only save her time but also significantly reduce the cost of her future degree
As a Start College Now student, Gracelynn’s classes are held on Moraine Park’s campus rather than her high school, offering her a unique schedule. “Because I am mostly doing college courses, I don’t have a typical high school class schedule,” she said. This flexibility has allowed her to establish a productive daily routine that includes a morning workout, time for breakfast, study time and room for self-care.
The Learning Experience
“My favorite class so far has been Civil Litigation,” Turnbow said. “During this course, we had one specific case we based our lessons on and at the end of the course we built a trial notebook, collecting all the previous assignments and putting them together. This was my favorite assignment because it was very fulfilling to see an entire class’s worth of assignments come together to complete one huge project, and it made me happy to see how far I came in such little time.”
Turnbow shared her excitement for the knowledge she has gained at Moraine Park, adding that she is constantly learning new information, preparing her for her future.
Looking Ahead
Set to graduate from high school this spring, Turnbow plans to continue her education by pursuing a Legal Studies/Paralegal Associate Degree at Moraine Park. She also hopes to secure an internship to gain hands-on experience in the legal field. With support from Moraine Park’s Career and Employment Services, which offers internship placements and networking events, she is well-positioned to achieve her goals.