Testimonials
One of the most surprising things about online learning is the fact that so many different kinds of students thrive as online learners. We have heard many inspirational stories about how a well-planned and thoughtful online learning program made all the difference indeed. You'll find a variety of stories here to give you just a flavor of the exciting solutions that online learning provides every day.
Skating to Success
by Victoria Lee Guttinger
Skateboarding, computer games and talking on the phone with friend: Typical middle school hobbies, right? Not for Emelie Thirawattanapan, an FLVS student born in Bangkok, Thailand. Her hobby is figure skating.
Emelie first stepped onto the ice in Thailand at age three but says she didn't start seriously skating until she was around seven. When asked if she wants to become a professional skater or skate in the Olympics, Emelie says she would love to. "Every girl's goal who skates is to do that, but in skating it is almost impossible to be that good. I skate now, and it is a very serious hobby, but once I get older, I am going to pursue a different career."
Emelie takes all her classes through Florida Virtual School. According to her, a typical day is hectic. She gets up 5:00 a.m. and goes to the rink at 6:45am; she trains until 4:00 in the afternoon. She has a one hour break in her day when she goes to the rink's school. At 4:00 p.m. her does homework. At 7, another hour of stretching and skating exercises. Then, it's dinner and another hour of school work.
Would Emelie recommend online learning? "I have one friend who attends Florida Virtual School who skates. She moved here from Texas, and my mom and I convinced her mom the school was great and now she attends FLVS too."
According to the National Center for Education Statistic's recent report on distance education*, reducing scheduling conflicts for students is cited by 23 percent of districts as a very important reason for distance education. So it is no surprise that Emelie and her family choseFlorida Virtual School. Emelie's mom learned about FLVS from the Florida Board of Education.
"I love FLVS and definitely enjoy taking their classes," says Emelie. I have benefited from them because I can do them whenever I want at whatever pace I want, which is very necessary, since my skating schedule is so busy."
So, what career does Emelie want to pursue after all these years of training to become a figure skater? Surprisingly, "In the future I would like to be a famous chef." With the determination and hard work that she applies to her skating and schoolwork, I have no doubt that we'll be watching Emelie on the Food Network, possibly carving sculptures instead of figure eights on ice!
Victoria Guttinger is a social studies instructor. She is active in community affairs and encourages her students to be similarly involved.
*Setzer, J.C., and Lewis, L. (2005) Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary and Secondary School Students: 2002-2003; (NCES). U.S. Department of Education. Washington D.C.: National Center for Education Statistics
Testimonials
