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

By: Kylah T., 10th 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 Kylah had to say.

My K12 Why

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

There are many things my family and I value about my K12-powered school. First, I love my teachers and value their expertise. Moreover, I enjoy the freedom and flexibility I have in my schedule, which allows me to go to the gym in the early morning, help care for our ranch, and ride horses later in the day.

I also like how the daily lessons are tailored and structured in the courses. Online learning works for me because I am responsible and motivated to achieve high standards in my academics. I also work well in organized environments that have few distractions. At my school, I can control my work environment. Furthermore, I work well independently, so the lesson structure logically makes sense to me.

Why did you switch to online school?

I wanted a school where I could reach my full academic potential with good teachers who would challenge me and grow with me. I also wanted a school community where I could be accepted as I was and not have to be the outlier or be forced to change to fit in.

What’s something you can do in online school that you couldn’t do in your old school?

It is hard to list all the things. For starters, my online school allows me to have flexibility in my class and assignment schedule. Furthermore, I can work wherever I am comfortable and focused. In addition, I have access to many different course levels that might not be available otherwise. I can enroll in AP®, honors, pre-AP®, dual credit, workforce dual credit, and college and career preparation classes.

My Online School Day

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

Typically, every day starts at 5:15 AM when my family and I get up to go to the gym. After the gym, it is time to do the morning feeding for our horses, sheep, dogs, cats, and chickens. I sit down at my desk around 8 AM to start my day at school, while my mother cooks breakfast.

My days tend to vary after our morning routine because the rest of the day depends on my scheduled live classes. So, if it’s a Tuesday or Thursday, I have an 8:15 AM World History class. After that, I start on the daily lesson for chemistry. Then, around 10 AM, I get a snack and begin my geometry lesson. After geometry, I start my English III lesson. After English III, I start my world history reading. Then I eat lunch and finish the world history lesson. Around 12:30 PM, I start my reading and notes for my dual credit psychology. I finish around 3 PM, depending on whether I complete any additional discussions. At 2 PM, I attend my Graphic Illustration class and am done for the day.

If it is a Monday, I start working through my world history work around 8 AM and have Geometry class at 9 AM. After that, I start my chemistry lesson. From there, I start on English III, and then I attend my 11 AM Chemistry class. Then I’ll do my geometry lesson, get lunch, and start on psychology around 12:30 PM. I finish up at about 3 PM.

On Fridays, my school has time to catch up on any work I may have missed. Sometimes I may have a world history or geometry lesson due that day. At 12:30 PM, I attend my student advisory council meeting, and then at 1:30 PM, I finish working through my psychology assignments, notes, and readings from that week.

I typically finish working around 3–4 PM every day. After school, the first thing I like to do is complete the ranch chores, such as helping clean out the horses’ stalls and letting out the sheep and chickens. After chores are done, I like to read outside in the hammock. Then I like to help my mother cook dinner. My family and I eat together; then we do the nightly feeding of the animals. Then we all sit down to watch TV together. Finally, around 9 PM, I get ready to go to bed and start all over the next day.

What career pathway are you in? What classes are you taking right now?

I am in the digital media pathway and currently taking the Graphic Illustration I class. I take classes that work toward obtaining different types of Adobe certifications. My 9th grade year, I earned my Adobe InDesign certification. This year, I attained an Adobe Illustrator certification. Next year, I will work toward another certification in the Animations I class.

I’m also taking English III, Geometry, Chemistry, World History, PE, and Psychology this semester. Psychology is a dual credit course where I’m earning high school and college credit at the same time.

Can you talk about your dual enrollment experience?

My dual enrollment experience has been excellent. My counselor has been extremely helpful and supportive in the enrollment process, and she continues to play an active role. In addition, my dual enrollment experience has given me the opportunity to complete college credits so that I can be ahead in college credit hours. It has also given me the ability to sample a college workload.

My Teachers & Classmates

How do your teachers support you in online school?

My teachers are where my success starts at my K12-powered school. My teachers are all tremendously helpful, kind, knowledgeable, and understanding. 

My teachers are always ready to help and support me in my learning. They’re available through email, one-to-one help sessions, group help sessions, and, of course, at our weekly live class. 

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies include horseback riding (English and Western style riding), volleyball, photography, and fitness. I also like to read and spend time with my family in my free time.

I love to read, and my online school inspired me to start reading again, because it gave me the flexibility to schedule reading my choice of novels and books into my week.

Can you tell us about your workspace?

My workplace is organized and distraction-free. I have a simple white desk with drawers and a monitor that runs from my computer. I typically have a to-do list with a pen, a highlighter, and whiteout ready for use. I have a comfortable chair with a colorful crocheted blanket draped over the back. Next to my desk, I have a black multi-drawer organizer that holds my textbooks, notebooks, papers, and folders for school.

In addition, on my wall, I have a monthly calendar full of school things and upcoming tests, assignments, and projects. I also have a half bulletin board and half dry-erase board with sticky notes of reminders, due dates, and inspirational and motivational sayings. What makes my workspace special are those sayings and the bright colors. Whenever I feel tired or discouraged, I look around and my inspirational sayings give me a boost of go-get-’em.

My Future

What do you want to do after high school?

I would like to become an environmental engineer.

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

Online school is definitely helping me prepare for the future. I want my next step to be college. My school prepares me for that by helping me be more responsible and independent. I gain independence by creating my schedule and taking responsibility for my work and class attendance. This is similar to college because I will be responsible for my college work, schedule, and attendance there. In addition, since my school allows me to participate in dual credit, I can get a glimpse of what a college workload may be like. Through career and college prep, my school offers certificate preparation and other opportunities throughout the year through colleges. For instance, I was informed about the opportunity to participate in a scholarship program to attend a certification camp for a couple of days in the summer at one of the state universities.

Thank you, Kylah! 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.

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