For Lexie Alligood, the path forward is coming into focus earlier than most. In her final year at Beaufort County Early College High School, Alligood is on track to graduate with a high school diploma and two associate degrees from Beaufort County Community College, an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Science. While many students are just beginning to explore their options, Alligood already knows where she is headed and why.
“I love being able to kind of be on your own,” she said. “It teaches you responsibility and discipline as you take classes.”
Accelerating Through Early College
Through the Early College High School Program, Alligood has been able to complete college-level coursework while still in high school, accelerating her academic progress and clarifying her long-term goals. This fall, she plans to transfer to Belmont Abbey College, where she intends to major in elementary education and minor in theology.
Her goal is to become a teacher, ideally in a Catholic school.
“I’ve always loved school,” Alligood said. “I remember every one of my teachers, especially in elementary school. They were some of my favorite teachers.”
Discovering Growth at Beaufort CCC
That love of learning has only deepened through her time at Beaufort CCC. Courses such as psychology, sociology, and foundations of education exposed her to subjects she would not have encountered in a traditional high school setting. Just as importantly, the college environment helped her grow personally.
By the time she transfers, Alligood expects to enter Belmont Abbey as a junior, saving both time and tuition.
“That’s such a blessing, and it’s so amazing,” she said. “I’m super grateful for the Early College Program.”
Faith and Community
Alongside her academic journey, Alligood has experienced a profound personal transformation through her faith. Within the past year, she was confirmed and baptized into the Catholic Church, a journey she shared with her father and aunt. What began as curiosity became conviction.
“I feel like I have that community and the Catholic Church is universal,” she said. “So I feel like it’s a universal community. It’s not just in Greenville.”
That sense of belonging has shaped both her future plans and her present activities. Alligood serves as a student leader for Christ on Campus at the Early College High School, helping facilitate weekly discussions and creating a welcoming space for students to talk openly about faith and life.
“It’s a really great like place to talk. We’re super open and vulnerable with each other,” she said. “It’s helped me connect with people I never would have met otherwise.”
Creativity and Leadership
Alligood also expresses her passion creatively. Drawing on a long-standing interest in video editing, she creates short educational videos about theology and saints for social media, combining storytelling with production skills she has honed since childhood.
“I love editing, making videos, doing the background music and the sound effects,” she said.
Her chosen patron saint, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, reflects the philosophy guiding her life.
“She believed that every single day you take action trying to become a better person,” Alligood said. “It’s about how you treat people, the little actions that matter every day.”
Preparing for the Future
That mindset extends into the classroom, where Alligood is often the friend classmates turn to for help. While she has not formally tutored, she regularly assists peers with assignments, proofreading essays and breaking down complex concepts.
“People tell me I’m a good teacher,” she said.
For Alligood, Beaufort CCC has been more than a place to earn credits. It has been a space to discover who she is and who she wants to become.
“One of the reasons I came was for a new start to kind of learn who I was again and to be my true self,” she said.
As she prepares for graduation and the next chapter ahead, Alligood’s story reflects the promise of early college education, not just in accelerating degrees, but in helping students find direction, purpose, and community before they ever leave home.