Most Americans assume that young people graduate from high school at 18, then go to college for four years. Once they have those years of education behind them, perhaps they will get a job (or perhaps go to grad school for a few more years). Many Americans are in their mid-20s before entering the labor market.

It wasn’t always that way, and need not be now. In today’s Martin Center article, Ashlynn Warta speaks with a North Carolina State University graduate who succeeded in compressing his education to a remarkable extent. She writes:

Richard Basile . . . graduated with his bachelor’s degree last December at only 19 years of age. By utilizing the state’s Career and College Promise program, Basile graduated from Panther Creek High School with 70 college credits already under his belt, then went on to complete his undergraduate degree in one year. His story should remind us of the money-saving strategies that are available to students all over the state, provided they are willing, as Basile was, to work hard.

By taking maximum advantage of the state’s program for high school students who want to get a jump on college, Basile was able to save a great deal of time and money.

Warta continues, “Basile’s advice to younger students is to not be held back by low expectations or standards that are often set for teens. ‘One of the last things I’ll leave with is: Try to take advantage of your early years as much as you can. When you’re in high school, there’s just so much to think about, you don’t know where you’re going to end up. There’s a lot of uncertainties, [but] if you can narrow down the uncertainties, that will make you a lot better in life.’”

Basile intends to go to law school.