What Online School Looks Like: A Student Day in the Life Q&A With Hope

By: Hope S., 11th grade student and SAC intern

SAC Blog Series: Each year, the K12 Marketing Department hires a cohort of high school interns known as the Student Advisory Council or SAC. This year, the talented group of students is creating social media content across platforms to help build brand awareness and engage our audiences around the online learning experience.

Let’s get to know these amazing SAC students. We asked them what makes online school so great, and here’s what Hope had to say.

What do you like about online school? Why does online learning work for you?

My favorite thing about being in an online school is honestly the flexibility; I’ve yet to miss anything due to being in school online. Besides the few times I’ve had to clear my schedule for exams, and other club things, I’m rarely limited in my options to get everything done.

Why did you switch to online school?

My parents asked me whether or not I’d like to try an online option due to the closest schools being rather far away. It seemed like a good solution. Not only that, it felt like a unique opportunity at the time (COVID-19 hadn’t hit yet). When the pandemic did happen, I felt like I was already prepared and ready to learn in a virtual setting. Ever since then, I’ve stuck with it and have enjoyed my time at my online school.

Can you describe a typical day and week for your virtual school experience?

Monday through Thursday I usually have a couple classes before I do my assignments. If I’m feeling up to it, I’ll go ahead and do some future assignments before class. Fridays are usually my most eventful day as I have club meetings; I’m the vice president of our school’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club. We prepare for future events like workshops and competition practice and connect with other club members to share opportunities like scholarships or internships.

What classes are you taking right now?

Since I’m in 11th grade, I take the same classes as any other person in my grade, but I’m also taking some elective courses. Those include computer science II and graphic illustration and design. I’m also almost done with my dual credit class for psychology.

Can you tell us more about your teachers?

My current teachers are very kind and flexible with me. For transparency, sometimes I have a hard time meeting an assignment deadline due to family commitments, but my teachers still take my work with no late penalties.

My previous teacher is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had! She’s always been encouraging and pushing me to do better and reach out to people if I’m struggling. I don’t think I’ve ever had a teacher quite like her before. She always goes far and beyond for me and all her students. I miss being in her class a lot.

What are your hobbies?

I’ve never had this much freedom before. I can take so many classes and fit so many things into my schedule that now I might’ve booked myself a little too much. One of the many things I like to do in my free time (when I have it) is to call my friends I meet through school. I also like to draw on my computer or go bug my family that’s home with me.

Can you tell us about your workspace?

I use a simple desk with two monitors connected to a personal laptop with some boxes strung about. It’s what I use 24/7, even outside of school. It’s special in my heart because it’s where I’ve accomplished so many things, despite being online, like meeting new friends, preparing stuff for the members of my club, or simply doing an assignment.

Do you feel that online school is helping you prepare for the future?

Absolutely! Online school is helping me get certified through my classes (through the exam preparation), get ready for college admissions, and access opportunities through clubs! I’ve earned certifications in digital literacy, Adobe InDesign, JavaScript, and A Unity through Career and College Prep. My resume has never looked better; every opportunity given to me just adds more color to an already colorful resume. Honestly, I’ve had to remake my resume several times just to fit all the new stuff I’ve done.

Thank you, Hope! To learn more about the K12 Student Advisory Council, visit their webpage, or see how your high school student can thrive in online school with K12-powered programs.

Hope is a 2025 student at a K12-powered school in TX, and their statement reflects their experience at their school.