Pros and Cons of Non-Traditional High School

I love online school. It works great for my lifestyle and schedule, but it’s not easy, and it’s not for everyone.

I’ve done both the traditional and non-traditional path to education. I went to middle and part of high school at Providence Academy in Plymouth, MN. When I was 15, I enrolled at the University of Nebraska Online High School. There are a lot of things you give up when you take the non-traditional path to education. I made the decision to switch because it allowed me to pursue my passion - volunteering!

I’ve been a volunteer with Starkey Hearing Foundation ever since I was little. I’m addicted to the work! There’s nothing more gratifying than being a part of changing someone’s life. As I grew older, I knew I wanted to do more philanthropy work with them. (I actually plan to major in Philanthropy when I attend college.) But volunteering with the Foundation often means weeks away from home, in a different country and time zone, multiple times a year. This work is so important to me, but so is my education. I did some research and approached my parents with the idea of doing online school. After a few conversations, they agreed it was the best way for me to pursue my passion while still getting a great education.

With online classes, I get to make my own schedule. Sometimes it means I only have to do school work for two to six hours a day instead of the traditional seven or eight (not to mention the time it takes to do homework after school is out.) But that doesn’t mean it’s easier. Online classes can be challenging. You don’t have a teacher there to help you. You’re teaching yourself the material and if you teach yourself incorrectly, you have to go back and do it all again. I’ve found that learning a new language is hard without a teacher there to guide me.

You also have to be very self-motivated to be successful in online school. I needed to set strict deadlines and goals for myself. When I prepare for a Starkey Hearing Foundation mission, I plan about two to three weeks out. I pick a spot in the curriculum and tell myself, “I need to get this much work done before I leave.”

Another thing I really love about online schooling is that I get to set my own pace. If I’m understanding the material, I can move on to the next section. In a classroom setting, the teacher has to make sure every student understands the material before moving ahead. On the flip side, I don’t get to learn with all my friends. I still get to see them, but it’s outside traditional school hours.

Looking back, online high school was the right path for me. I get a great education, yet also have the opportunity to learn so much more traveling the world with Starkey Hearing Foundation. I get to visit new countries, meet amazing people and experience different cultures firsthand. I get to make a difference in people’s lives by helping them hear the world around them! I’m so grateful to my parents for allowing me to take this non-traditional education path because I get the best of both worlds. I get a great high school education, and I gain valuable life-lessons from my travels.