4 Things I Learned About Myself When I Switched to Online School

Hey everybody!  I thought I would share the four most important things I learned about myself when I went from being a public school student to an online student. Like most teens would be, I was totally excited to sleep in late, stay in my pajamas all day, and eat whenever I felt like it. However, once I started online school, I learned more about myself than I ever would have in a public school setting. If you are just starting out with online school, chances are you will probably learn a few things about yourself as well.

1. The first thing I learned was that I am a HUGE procrastinator. I was absolutely terrible at time management. I had never learned to manage my time in public school because I always had deadlines I had to meet, tests that were already scheduled, and teachers telling me what to do and when to do it. Whitmore School taught me how to be a self-motivator, and how to be smart with my time, which are skills that I think everyone should have.
2. Next, I learned that I am a total clean freak. I pictured myself lounged out on the couch amongst bags of chips while I worked my way through all of my school work. Turns out, a girl can only go without a file cabinet, a pencil jar, and a drawer full of sticky notes for so long. By the end of my first year dong online, I had already turned half of my room into an office. Being in charge of my education taught me how important organization is. And sticky notes. Sticky notes are very important.
3. A routine is a must. Having a routine was something I never thought I would like, after having such a strict one in school for much of my life. The great thing about online, is you can have your own personalized routine that works best for your schedule and learning style. If you like having lunch at 11:17 on Tuesday and need a nap before a practice on Thursday, you can make a routine that perfectly fits that schedule. My life is hectic 24/7, but having a routine that works for me makes my life a lot easier.
4. Lastly, I learned that stress is not a recipe for success. Part of the reason I switched to online school was because being a full time gymnast and a full time student was becoming too much. I was starting to resent school and was in a constant state of anxiety. Many people think that online students are lazy or aren’t really learning because they have flexible schedules, but it’s actually the opposite. Having a flexible schedule gives me time to take a breath every now and then so I can actually focus on what I’m learning and more importantly, enjoy it.

To learn more about taking charge of your own education, click here Whitmore School.

Written by:
Maddie M.
Current Student

October 24, 2017 in How to Choose the Right Online School, How to Stay Motivated in Online School, Academic Success in Online School, Virtual School vs. Homeschool

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