When Alexander Miller was just 14 years old, he began taking college classes at River Valley Community College. Now 18, the Rindge, New Hampshire, native is continuing his education at Franklin Pierce University—already with years of college experience and a résumé that includes earning the rank of Eagle Scout, responding to emergencies through the Civil Air Patrol, traveling with an international service organization, and more.
As a homeschooled student, Alexander took advantage of the Community College System of New Hampshire’s Early College On Campus program at River Valley Community College. The program allowed him to earn college credits while completing his high school requirements, giving him the opportunity to experience college-level coursework years before many students begin their first college class.
“Taking college classes while I was in high school gave me a chance to get ahead and experience what college was really like,” Alexander said.
His academic journey began in RVCC’s Computer Networking program. As he continued exploring his interests and career options, Alexander changed his major to Information Technology and Network Administration.
The flexibility to explore different areas of study proved valuable as he developed a clearer picture of his future goals.
Outside the classroom, Alexander’s high school years were anything but typical.
During his time as both a high school and college student, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout, one of the highest achievements in Scouting. He also remained active in the Civil Air Patrol, participating in both ground support and air support efforts during state and federal emergencies.
Alexander’s commitment to service has also taken him far beyond New Hampshire. He has had the opportunity to travel to Ukraine with Ukrainian American Youth Association, or CYM, a voluntary, non-profit youth organization with 28 chapters in 12 states.
Closer to home, Alexander works as a lifeguard at the Keene Family YMCA, another role that reflects his interest in public safety, emergency response, and serving his community.
Today, Alexander is taking the next step in his educational journey at Franklin Pierce University. He is majoring in Emergency Medical Services with minors in Political Science and Intelligence and Security Studies.
As he looks toward the future, Alexander hopes to continue building on his experiences in service, emergency response, technology, and leadership. His long-term goals include serving in the military and potentially pursuing a career as a civilian working in government. His studies in emergency medical services, political science, and Intelligence and Security Studies reflect the broad range of opportunities he hopes to explore.
Although Alexander has moved on to the next stage of his college education, his experience at River Valley Community College played an important role in helping him get there.
By beginning college at age 14 through the Early College On Campus program, Alexander was able to earn transferable college credits, explore different academic interests, and gain the confidence that comes with succeeding in a college classroom.
His story demonstrates how Early College opportunities can help motivated high school students take meaningful steps toward their futures while they are still completing high school.
For Alexander, those steps have already led from a homeschooled classroom in Rindge to River Valley Community College and now to Franklin Pierce University. Along the way, he has combined academic achievement with a commitment to service, emergency response, technology, and his community.
At just 18 years old, Alexander’s journey is already a powerful example of how starting early can open doors—and how a willingness to explore new opportunities can help students discover where they want to go next.