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

By: Leyla L., 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 Leyla had to say.

My K12 Why

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

I love online school because it’s such a safe place for me. It’s a space where I can learn in a calm setting away from all the rush that comes with brick-and-mortar. You don’t have to deal with crowded, hot hallways, waking up super early, and staying up late with homework, people saying rude or odd things, or an overwhelming seven hours of work with little flexibility. 

Did you previously attend a brick-and-mortar school?

I spent all of my elementary years at a brick-and-mortar school. When the pandemic hit, I did 6th grade with my brick-and-mortar school and wanted to stay online after that, so my parents found K12. I loved it, and it was a great fit for me. When 9th grade came, I wanted to give brick-and-mortar a try again. I went for a few months and was so drained that I knew I wanted to go back to K12.

What has your experience been compared to your previous school?

When I went to brick-and-mortar school, I had almost eight-hour-long school days. I would come home so drained. I was so overwhelmed and absolutely exhausted that I would accidentally fall asleep. When I woke up, I realized this was not ideal. I could finish school in half the time and get good sleep if I switched back to online school.

I started a different online school that wasn’t with K12, because I figured, what’s the difference? But I was wrong. At this different online school, I was met with confusion and an overwhelming amount of assignments mixed with an underwhelming amount of support. I had to restart all the classes from the start of the school year, so I had three months of work to catch up on, and some days I’d be doing school until 10 PM just to catch up.

I finally realized I needed to switch back to my old K12-powered online school. The weight that was released from my shoulders was amazing. I was so relaxed compared to what I had been doing, and that helped me see that you can learn well without being constantly stressed.

My Online School Day

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

On Sunday night, I check my schedule for Monday and see what work I have and what is due. I then look at what I’m learning, and if I’m confused about a subject, I plan to attend a class session. Because I’m in the Flex program, the required classes become optional, so I’ll only go if I need to.

When I wake up, I get ready, make myself breakfast, let my dogs outside, and start school. Later, I take a break, do a workout, and then I finish school. After school, I’ll rest, play volleyball, or hang out with friends.  

What classes are you taking right now?

I’m taking English 3 honors, U.S. History, Chemistry, Geometry, Public Speaking, Graphic Illustration, and Finance.

What activities or hobbies do you like to do in your free time?

The flexibility I get from online school gives me the time to grow in my faith and work on my skills in volleyball—both things that bring me joy.

Can you tell us about your workspace?

My workspace is my room, and it’s great because it’s MY room, my space. It’s the place I feel the MOST comfortable out of anywhere. My room has such a calm and safe vibe that it makes school relaxing and chill.

My Future

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

Absolutely! My mom has always told me online school will help me prepare for college because both require self-discipline and self-efficacy skills to help me thrive. And she is 100% right, you learn to log in every day and get things done on your own.  

What advice do you have for other students and families considering the switch to a K12-powered online school?

My advice would be to just go for it. For me, it’s such an accommodating school. No matter your situation, it can work for you. Switching to online school may seem daunting, but it’s a very smooth process, and it’s easy to build a new routine. You’ll find learning to be a walk in the park once you get the hang of things. Switching to online learning with K12 has shaped me in many ways—I’ve learned to take initiative, be responsible, and get things done.  

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.

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