Rather than sleep late or find a part-time job this summer, Natchez High School senior TaSheitha Butler chose to get a head start on her college career.

Butler, who turns 17 tomorrow, recently completed the University of Mississippi’s Summer College for High School Students Pre-Engineering Program.

During the five-week program, Butler took courses in computer science and logical critical thinking, she said.

For her efforts, Butler received six college credit hours to add to the other credits she is racking up with a dual-credit English course at Natchez high and calculus courses at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. &uot;I decided it’d be better to go to school and start on my college early,&uot; Butler said.

Her course work at Ole Miss served to automatically accept her to the university, but Butler said she also plans to apply at other state schools before making a final decision.

Butler is also undecided on what career path to take, considering both chemical engineering and pharmacy to complement her interest and talent in math and science.

&uot;Math just comes naturally to me,&uot; Butler, who is a straight-A student, said.

The common misconception that males are superior to females in math and science is becoming more of a myth, Butler said.

&uot;We looked at the statistics, and more and more women are getting into engineering,&uot; she said.

Besides academics, Butler also serves as Student Council president and plays first-chair alto saxophone in the school’s band. &uot;There’s always time to do stuff,&uot; she said. &uot;You just have to make the time.&uot;

&uot;Making time&uot; for extracurriular activities is important, Butler said, because school should be fun as well as educational. Besides, &uot;It helps the school and school spirit,&uot; she said.

Butler is the daughter of Gloria Wesley and Frederick and Lisa Mazique.