What do students have to say about nontraditional education?

Successes and challenges in taking the road less traveled

“I hated the sitting, and I was bored”

There’s nothing quite like hearing directly from students about their experiences with learning and school. We asked Nicolas (16) and Jason (18) to describe how they felt about school and how making a non-traditional education choice has changed their lives.

Nicolas (Nic) attended traditional public school through 10th grade. The summer before 11th grade, he decided to dual-enroll at a local community college for the fall and take his courses online. He will graduate with both his high school diploma and an Associates degree in Business.

Jason attended traditional public school during his elementary school years. He was homeschooled for middle school. He then tried transitioning back to traditional school by attending a technical high school. Ultimately, he decided to attend an online, accredited high school where he could set his own schedule and work at his own pace. His favorite subject is history.

PC: How did you feel about school early on? What was your experience like?

Nic: School was never a place that I enjoyed going to. I hated the sitting, and I was bored. I did not enjoy any moment of it.

Jason: Early on, before third grade, I really liked school. However, once the third grade started, it became harder. We were taught a new lesson every week. You either understood it, or you had to try your best to learn as much as you could before they moved on to the next lesson quickly. Then you would struggle with your homework if you didn’t learn the lesson at school. It was very stressful. I remember some nights my parents getting mad and me crying because it was too much.

PC: How do you like to learn? What helps you to learn and feel successful?

Nic: I learn best when I can use my hands and be active. I cannot sit still. My most favorite class was my construction class in high school. I loved the projects and the movement. I like to solve puzzles and fix things.

Jason: For me, quiet! I like working without any distractions or disruptions. I can concentrate better and understand more what I’m learning. In traditional school, there were so many distractions in class. It didn’t make for an easy learning environment.

The flexibility of non-traditional education works for many students once they make the decision to try an alternative path.

“I’ve learned time management, accountability, and life skills”

PC: Why did you and your family decide to pursue a non-traditional option like online high school (Jason) and dual-enrollment (Nic)?

Nic: I told my mom that I was not going back to school last summer. I had reached out to my guidance counselor, who is also my hockey coach. He told me about dual-enrollment. My mom called the school and joined an online meeting. She really liked what she heard, and we went to visit the community college. I knew when I went on the visit that I did not want to do it in person, but I’d rather take classes online.

Jason: When the pandemic happened, I was struggling to complete assignments. We weren’t provided with the proper tools or technology in order to complete the assignments. I was enrolled in a technical high school at the time, and my pathway was IT. We were expected to use our Chromebooks (that we used for our everyday subjects) to complete our IT assignments, which was very difficult. It became overwhelming and too stressful. Also, we weren’t sure when the pandemic was going to end, and things might not return to normal. We talked as a family and made the decision for me to enroll in an online, accredited high school. There would be no pressure or stress. I could work at my own pace.

PC: What has worked well for you? What has been challenging?

Nic: I can do the work when I want. I also find the professors want me to do well and help me. They answer emails and support me when I need it. I like the self-paced classes and learning on my own. I do nothing with my high school except play hockey now. At times I get lonely, and I do call my parents frequently when I have questions.

Jason: I think what has worked for me at home is the flexibility of setting my own schedule and taking the time I need to learn a subject at my own pace. My biggest challenge has been discipline. While I have the flexibility to set my own schedule, I have to be disciplined at the same time.

PC: Has nontraditional education helped you to learn skills or content that you might not have learned in traditional school?

Nic: I am taking a cool digital graphic class that has been amazing. My business class is giving me the knowledge to eventually start my own company. I also get to pick my classes and take things that interest me.

Jason: I’ve learned time management, accountability and life skills: cooking, laundry, building things, helping my family, etc.

PC: What is a typical day like for you?

Nic: I get up and workout. Around 10am, I will sit down and get to work for a few hours. At lunchtime, I take a break and then do another hour of work. If I have things I need my mom to help with, she will help me in the evening. I just got a dog, and it has been great to be with her during the day. I have time for workouts and training the dog.

Jason: A typical day for me is to wake up around 9:00AM, have breakfast, workout for about a half hour, spend about an hour watching a show or something history based. Then I sign on to my computer and spend a couple of hours doing school work.

“Look around and see the options”

PC: One particular concern parents often have about alternative education options is that their children won't have friends or social connections. How has that worked for you?

Nic: I have been playing hockey the entire time. I am in contact with my teammates, and I do a lot with my brother. I am so involved with hockey that my coach picked me to captain the JV team.

Jason: When my parents and I talked about homeschooling, a big concern was socialization. But I had attended traditional school until half way through my 6th grade year. I already had a great group of friends. We have remained friends since and talk almost everyday and get together when we can. Sometimes I do miss the everyday interaction a classroom has and interacting with different people.

PC: What advice would you give to students who are struggling in a traditional school and might be afraid to do something different like online courses or dual enrollment?

Nic: Look around and see the options. Make sure if you do leave, that you have a good support system and are not afraid to ask for help when needed.

Jason: My advice would be talk to your parent about your concerns/struggles, and if it is an option, try something different that you think would work better for you. You can always go back.

PC: What advice would you give to parents who know their kids are unhappy in a traditional school and are worried about making a non-traditional choice like online courses or dual-enrollment?

Nic: Listen to them! If they keep telling you they are unhappy, they are! Sitting all day is not good for so many kids, and they need choices. I also found that the professors are more helpful and supportive than any of my high school teachers. They want me to do well. The high school didn't care how I did. When you are happy, you can learn better.

Jason: Listen to what their child is telling them. A change might be the best thing. They will probably be happier and see their grades improve and overall feel less stress or pressure on them.