My name is Brooke Bridges and I am a current freshman at the University of Georgia. I am currently studying Entertainment & Media Studies, but I have already graduated with an Associate Degree in Marketing Management!

I chose marketing for many reasons. I knew that I wanted to go into the film/entertainment industry as a career, and marketing goes hand-in-hand with video production. I could definitely go into video production for commercials, and I have learned how to set up my work in a way that will appeal to my target audience.

I achieved this degree for free (yes, 100% free!) by doing dual enrollment throughout high school. Beginning the summer after my sophomore year, I attended Athens Technical College on a full-time basis. These classes also counted towards my high school credit. I had to take a few additional classes that were not required for my degree so that they would satisfy my high school requirements. For this reason, I had to take 2-3 summer classes every summer and a full load during the school year.

This was SUPER stressful, but I am so, so, so happy that I did it! I graduated with an associate degree at 17, a month before I graduated high school. This also helps me at UGA, as many of my Athens Tech courses transferred. I can now work a high-paying job while in college, and I am considered to be a second-semester sophomore!