Three Ways I Excelled Thanks to Online School
By Allison Wilkens, a K12 Private Academy alumni
There’s no doubt that graduating from an online school in 2016 better equipped me for the pandemic, but in the long run it better equipped me for life too! I can think of three important ways my online experience helped shape my future.
1) Independent Pace
I noticed early in my education that I was progressing faster than I could in traditional school. When it came to learning, the independent pace I set for myself in online school was a game changer. The curriculum was rigorous, and my learning was not dependent upon what the teacher could explain to thirty other students. I had the opportunity to explore topics that interested me in as much depth as I wanted.
2) Future Preparedness
At just sixteen years old, I was a high school graduate. I took many classes that earned me the opportunity to graduate early, and by 18 I had already earned my Associate’s degree. This saved me so much money in college tuition! The freedom I had in high school to be self-paced truly impacted my higher education because I had experience keeping myself motivated, which really equipped me for college and made it a smooth transition.
I went on to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Texas A&M University, so I had two college degrees at the age of twenty. I’m still in school, working towards my Masters of Science in International Security at Georgia Tech. There is no one looking over your shoulder in college, so the self-discipline I developed in high school really helped prepare me.
3) Freedom to Explore
A big misconception of online school is the students do not have opportunities to socialize – not true! I had many opportunities for extracurricular involvement, field trips, girl scouts, and other interests. I loved being able to work ahead when needed and balance my responsibilities other than school. I met people from diverse backgrounds and had the chance to connect with people outside my regular groups. I believe the skills I developed thanks to the flexibility I had really enriched my academic experience because I could work with what worked best for me.
Whether it was setting my own schedule, learning time management skills, or interacting with people from different backgrounds, online school truly helped me excel in my education and be prepared my future. I hope students everywhere have the same access to the positive experience that I did.
Allison Wilkens is a K12 Private Academy alumni who lives in the Roseville area.
To learn more about K12 Private Academy, visit https://www.k12.com/private-academy.
