“An online environment worked really well for me. I felt comfortable in my own environment at home,” she explained. “The classes were smaller than in my home district so I had more one-on-one time with my teachers.”
Maggie loves reading and writing and plans to follow that interest after high school. In fact, she will be attending Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio where she will major in Literature.
“The classes available to us were also great,” she said. “I enjoyed taking English and advanced AP classes the most. I liked the challenge.”
“Maggie is one of the most passionate students I have worked with. She is passionate and loyal to all things important to her,” PA Distance High School Counselor Mrs. Mihoerck said. “She always shares what she is currently reading. Her love of literature is incredible!”
“I’m thinking about becoming a literary agent when I graduate from college,” Maggie said. “Reading for a living would be great.”
During high school, Maggie often spent her free time as an apprentice at Little Lake Theatre, a community theatre outside of Pittsburgh, PA, where she would build sets, usher, and help people park their cars before big shows. She lovingly describes Little Lake as her “second home”.
“PA Distance helped me focus better. I loved the flexibility and having more time throughout the day,” she said. “I will miss the teachers a lot. They really care about their students. I’m going to stay in touch even after graduation.”
At the combined virtual and in-person graduation ceremony in Harrisburg, PA, Maggie was asked to make a speech as the Salutatorian. Her words resonated with many of her classmates as she spoke about her struggles with mental health that went hand-in-hand with her success in school. However, she explained, once she found her place at PA Distance she flourished inside and outside the classroom.
Now that she is an official high school graduate, she is even more excited about starting a new chapter at college.
“I’m very excited to go to college,” she said. “And, I’m thankful to PA Distance for giving me the opportunity to get this far.”
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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.