Julia is an 18-year-old who recently graduated from high school. She looks forward to entering a new life phase and everything that comes with it, but her story could have gone in a different direction.
COVID: An Unexpected Set Back
She was in middle school when the pandemic hit, but it had long-lasting effects that stretched well into high school. Her school went online when it happened. Like many students and teachers, she experienced challenges adjusting to online instruction. Her parents wanted to help but found the content challenging to understand. She also became deeply concerned with getting ill. As a result, she needed help with focusing on school and learning. Essentially, she missed the whole end of her eighth-grade year and fell behind that year.
Challenges of High School Post-COVID
In the fall of 2020, due to the COVID response, her school was solely online for a month or so. Then, they went to a hybrid environment that was partially in-person and online. She took classes that interested her more but not the core classes she needed to graduate. She began dropping courses because she was struggling. Meanwhile, her parents became concerned about her mental state. “I was like, you know, the world is enough right now. You don’t need to be crying about school,” said her mother. At that point, they discovered a large online school and got her enrolled.
Despite being in a large school, Julia struggled. They didn’t seem to care if she was passing her classes or if she was getting the material. Julia’s parents felt like she was a number rather than a student struggling with school. Julia’s grades were pretty dismal at the end of her first year. She had other friends who took online classes through the school but were expensive.
Eventually, she did go back to in-person school. At the time, they were still required to wear masks throughout the school day. It wasn't easy to go to school every day. She was supposed to ride a school bus but was uncomfortable. At that time, social distancing of six feet was still the recommendation. On the school bus, however, no one distanced. It seemed like “they [were] going to cram her in [the bus] like a sardine.”
They did a month online before going to a hybrid arrangement. She took English and Math online in her sophomore and junior years since she had fewer band credits. Despite her steady efforts to complete all the required classes on time, Julia still found herself a few credits short of graduating. She needed credit recovery.
A Unique and Flexible Credit Recovery Solution
After learning about the credit recovery option through Smart Schools, she enrolled quickly. It took from May 2023 until April 2024, but she could complete her credit recovery at her pace. Meanwhile, she participated in the Marching Band, which took considerable time. She was able to get a lot done on her free days. The program’s flexibility allowed her to work when she had time. She needed to complete five Math and English credits, but the online learning management system made it easy.
Keeping the Motivation to Finish
What kept her motivated was one important thing. “I wanted to graduate on time with all my friends,” she says. “I wouldn’t recommend having to make up all the credits, but it was worth it.” She fully admits to being more of a hands-on learner than learning from lectures, so it was easier for her to complete the online program through Smart Schools.
Julia admits to the fact that her parents were instrumental in reaching high school graduation. She recognizes that they were a primary driver for her finishing. Due to her hard work in recovering her credits, she graduated with her friends this year. “I don’t know if I would have graduated on time if it wasn’t for credit recovery at Smart Schools,” she says.
“This [program] could be great for students who do well in school but need to make up credits because they fell behind,” said Julia. Achieving her high school diploma is one step in reaching her larger dreams. One day she hopes to be a vet or neurologist, for example. She also loves playing contemporary and jazz music.
We wish you the best future possible Julia!