Student Interview: Amanda O.
Interview conducted via email via Director of Mountain Heights on October 22, 2013
1. Why did you choose to go to an online high school?
My parents wanted the best education instead of having the peer pressures of trying to fit in.
2. What led you to choose Mountain Heights in particular?
My parents actually heard an advertisement on the radio. And so my parents wanted to give it a shot.
3. What was your favorite aspect of online learning?
My favorite aspect of online learning would be actually staying home. I get to stay home and still do school. Also, if I'm traveling I can just take school with me.
4. What was your favorite aspect of Mountain Heights in particular?
My favorite aspect of High School in particular would be the teachers. They are always there for me. They treat me like a friend. They basically are my friends. Whenever I have a question and I'm too afraid to ask, they make me feel less uncomfortable. They actually make me feel smart no matter how dumb the question is. They personally want me to have successes. So they will help me to achieve those goals.
5. What was your least-favorite aspect of online learning?
My least-favorite aspect of online learning would be how much time I spend on there. Just because it's online, that doesn't mean it's easy. It's just like regular school. It hard, time consuming, and sometimes overwhelming.
6. What was your least-favorite aspect of your High School in particular?
My least-favorite aspect of my High School in particular would be the hands on associate. You don't get to "see" your friends everyday. You can chat and video chat them, but that's about it. Then again there are many activities you can go to and still see your friends.
7. Was it difficult for you to get enough social interaction?
It was difficult for me to get social interaction at first. But then when I put myself out there, there was a lot of people I made friends with.
8. How would you compare the quality of your educational experience with that you would have had if you had gone to a traditional school?
It would be very different for good and bad. In a regular school, you get a hand on education. For example, Spanish class. Sometimes it's easier to understand it when you have your teacher right there instead of having them online. (if that makes sense) However, if I went to regular school I wouldn't be able to have the flexibility that online learning gives me. I could do anything I want to and still do school. Flexibility is SUPER helpful.
9. Would you recommend online learning to anyone your age? If not, what type of student might you interview online learning to, if any?
I recommend Mountain Heights Academy to anyone I see. However, other online schools aren't really helpful. I tried a few classes on K-12 and I hated it. There were no teachers that were always available I was basically on my own. But in Mountain Heights Academy, they were there for me. Even if they weren't online, they would answer your email almost immediately. They would also contact me and see if they could do anything for me. In K-12, they never contacted me.
10. Would you recommend your particular school? Explain.
Again, I recommend Mountain Heights Academy to anyone I see. The teachers are beyond amazing! THEY want ME to succeed. So they try everything they can so I can accomplish that. They even contact me to see if there is anything they can do for me. Another amazing thing about Mountain Heights would be the flexibility. I can do school whenever I've available. And that helps a ton!
11. What skills do you think online learners need to have that traditional learners do not?
Online learners need to know how to work on a computer because you are on the computer everyday for school. In regular schools you don't need computers to learn (at least not most of the time)
12. What skills do you think you developed because of your online experience that you probably would not have developed at a traditional high school?
I learned how to use photoshop and online graphic design. It was the most amazing experience! I use it all the time now. I wouldn't have learned these skills in a regular school (at least not the school I was going to)
13. What are your short-term goals?
I want to graduate early.
14. What are your long-term goals?
I actually want to become a photographer.
15. How did going to this school help you get closer to your goals?
This school helps me with my goals because 1. They let me get more classes so I can graduate early. 2. They have photography class and photography club. They are really helpful to me.
16. If you had it to do all over again, would you choose online learning, and if so, the same online school? Explain.
If I did this all over again, I would still pick Mountain Heights Academy. Seriously, this school is the best. The teachers are amazing and the flexibility is beyond helpful.
17. Did you make friends virtually? Explain.
At first, I didn't make friends. I was a little too shy. But as I put myself out there, I made a lot of friends.
18. What would you say makes a good online instructor? What characteristics are necessary/helpful for the instructor to be effective in an online environment?
Communication is the most important quality that makes a good online instructor. If they communicate with you, that means they are trying to help you. It is super helpful!
19. What is your favorite memory of high school?
This may sound really dumb, but the best memory I had was getting a 4.0 GPA. I was so happy, words can't even explain it. Right now, I have a 3.9 something and I'm still happy. Having good grades is really important to me.
20. Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I seriously would recommend Mountain Heights Academy. It truly is the best and helpful school! ;)
1. Why did you choose to go to an online high school?
My parents wanted the best education instead of having the peer pressures of trying to fit in.
2. What led you to choose Mountain Heights in particular?
My parents actually heard an advertisement on the radio. And so my parents wanted to give it a shot.
3. What was your favorite aspect of online learning?
My favorite aspect of online learning would be actually staying home. I get to stay home and still do school. Also, if I'm traveling I can just take school with me.
4. What was your favorite aspect of Mountain Heights in particular?
My favorite aspect of High School in particular would be the teachers. They are always there for me. They treat me like a friend. They basically are my friends. Whenever I have a question and I'm too afraid to ask, they make me feel less uncomfortable. They actually make me feel smart no matter how dumb the question is. They personally want me to have successes. So they will help me to achieve those goals.
5. What was your least-favorite aspect of online learning?
My least-favorite aspect of online learning would be how much time I spend on there. Just because it's online, that doesn't mean it's easy. It's just like regular school. It hard, time consuming, and sometimes overwhelming.
6. What was your least-favorite aspect of your High School in particular?
My least-favorite aspect of my High School in particular would be the hands on associate. You don't get to "see" your friends everyday. You can chat and video chat them, but that's about it. Then again there are many activities you can go to and still see your friends.
7. Was it difficult for you to get enough social interaction?
It was difficult for me to get social interaction at first. But then when I put myself out there, there was a lot of people I made friends with.
8. How would you compare the quality of your educational experience with that you would have had if you had gone to a traditional school?
It would be very different for good and bad. In a regular school, you get a hand on education. For example, Spanish class. Sometimes it's easier to understand it when you have your teacher right there instead of having them online. (if that makes sense) However, if I went to regular school I wouldn't be able to have the flexibility that online learning gives me. I could do anything I want to and still do school. Flexibility is SUPER helpful.
9. Would you recommend online learning to anyone your age? If not, what type of student might you interview online learning to, if any?
I recommend Mountain Heights Academy to anyone I see. However, other online schools aren't really helpful. I tried a few classes on K-12 and I hated it. There were no teachers that were always available I was basically on my own. But in Mountain Heights Academy, they were there for me. Even if they weren't online, they would answer your email almost immediately. They would also contact me and see if they could do anything for me. In K-12, they never contacted me.
10. Would you recommend your particular school? Explain.
Again, I recommend Mountain Heights Academy to anyone I see. The teachers are beyond amazing! THEY want ME to succeed. So they try everything they can so I can accomplish that. They even contact me to see if there is anything they can do for me. Another amazing thing about Mountain Heights would be the flexibility. I can do school whenever I've available. And that helps a ton!
11. What skills do you think online learners need to have that traditional learners do not?
Online learners need to know how to work on a computer because you are on the computer everyday for school. In regular schools you don't need computers to learn (at least not most of the time)
12. What skills do you think you developed because of your online experience that you probably would not have developed at a traditional high school?
I learned how to use photoshop and online graphic design. It was the most amazing experience! I use it all the time now. I wouldn't have learned these skills in a regular school (at least not the school I was going to)
13. What are your short-term goals?
I want to graduate early.
14. What are your long-term goals?
I actually want to become a photographer.
15. How did going to this school help you get closer to your goals?
This school helps me with my goals because 1. They let me get more classes so I can graduate early. 2. They have photography class and photography club. They are really helpful to me.
16. If you had it to do all over again, would you choose online learning, and if so, the same online school? Explain.
If I did this all over again, I would still pick Mountain Heights Academy. Seriously, this school is the best. The teachers are amazing and the flexibility is beyond helpful.
17. Did you make friends virtually? Explain.
At first, I didn't make friends. I was a little too shy. But as I put myself out there, I made a lot of friends.
18. What would you say makes a good online instructor? What characteristics are necessary/helpful for the instructor to be effective in an online environment?
Communication is the most important quality that makes a good online instructor. If they communicate with you, that means they are trying to help you. It is super helpful!
19. What is your favorite memory of high school?
This may sound really dumb, but the best memory I had was getting a 4.0 GPA. I was so happy, words can't even explain it. Right now, I have a 3.9 something and I'm still happy. Having good grades is really important to me.
20. Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I seriously would recommend Mountain Heights Academy. It truly is the best and helpful school! ;)