Kirstin DeGraeve, from New Kensington, PA, graduated from PA Distance as the Class of 2020 Salutatorian and will begin her freshman year at Penn State University this summer. After completing her high school career at PA Distance, Kirstin looks back on the relationships she made with her teachers and the lasting friendships she made with her classmates.
Like many students and their families, Kirstin was looking for a quality education while having the freedom to work and learn remotely. However, she didn’t want to lose having social interactions between her teachers and other students. She found that, at PA Distance, live learning sessions were paramount.
“The live learning opportunities were really important to my family and me, so that was a huge reason we chose PA Distance,” she explained.
Using the technology that PA Distance afforded, Kirstin developed friendships with her classmates during her four years as a student. “Being able to chat with other kids, and introduce ourselves virtually, was amazing,” she explained.
“I have met some of my best friends at PA Distance,” she said. “We talked every day and met, virtually, on Google Meet, which was great.”
Kirstin also got to interact with some of her classmates in-person at school-sponsored events. For example, she regularly attended the annual bowling trip, held in central locations across Pennsylvania, for PA Distance students and their families.
“I went on every bowling trip and met a lot of my classmates during those events,” she said. “Those memories will stick with me forever.”
In addition to meaningful friendships with her peers, Kirstin also connected with her teachers. In high school, she learned from her teachers, like social studies teacher, Mr. Mysels and Business/Technology teacher, Ms. Azzaro, but got to know them, too. “My teachers didn’t just see me as a student, but they treated me as a person,” she said. “I’m going to miss them and the bond I had with them.”
At Penn State, Kirstin plans to major in Psychology and later wants to become a child psychologist, equipped to assess and treat children and adolescents. As a child psychologist, Kirstin will help children cope with stresses like divorce, death, and family or school transitions. Down the road, she aspires to open her psychology practice out of her own home.
“One day, I want my patients to come to my house and have a place where they feel comfortable,” she explained. “I want to have a business that is my own.”
Kirstin looks back on her time at PA Distance and the skills she’s gained.
“At PA Distance, you’re in a situation when you have to interact with others online. It helped me learn how to connect and communicate effectively, which will help me in my future career goals and how to interact with kids,” she explained.
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About PA Distance Learning Charter School
Since 2004, PA Distance has been providing a welcoming virtual learning environment for students in grades K-12 across Pennsylvania. Students at PA Distance engage in a blended environment that combines “synchronous” and “asynchronous” learning. PA Distance’s mission is to blend proven classroom teaching techniques with educational technologies to promote academic growth for all students.