The American Academy

Have you heard about the story of the mayo jar and two cups of coffee? The story tells of a professor who goes into class with a large mayonnaise jar and two coffee cups. He first pours the golf balls into the jar. He then proceeds to put in small rocks into the jar. He gives the jar a shake. Then he puts it the sand. Each time he puts something in the jar, he asks the class if the jar is full and the class answered, “Yes”. Lastly, he puts in the two cups of coffee, effectively filling the jar to the brim.


Preparing to go back to school is an exciting time. Previously, “back to school” meant preparing your books, backpack, and school things, as well as coming to school with pressed pants and a neatly ironed shirt. Now, with the advent of online high schools – “back to school” takes a different route.

Consider the following to help you prepare to dive into your online learning:

“It’s a different ballgame.”

The beauty of enrolling in an online high school is that it gives you plenty of freedom and flexibility in terms of your schedule and availability. It also provides you with learning opportunities within the comfort of your home. You can work on your online lessons while working, going to school or taking care of your family.

If you have decided to earn your high school diploma online, you will be investing not just your money but also your time into the courses. As such, it will be wise to avoid making blunders that will negatively affect you in one way or another. According to experience, here are some of the mistakes you need to know so that you can avoid them:

Is your child gifted in the area of athletics? Is your child training to be the next Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Michelle Kwan or Venus Williams? You know the kind of sacrifices required of your child in order for him or her to make it to the top. This means waking up at the crack of dawn to exercise, going to regular rehearsals and traveling to various places to attend competitions. It takes a special type of discipline to be the kind of athlete your child desires to be.

Are you thinking of enrolling in an online high school program? Are you wondering if this is the way to go? Well, here are some reasons why people have decided to enroll in a virtual high school, instead of a regular school:

One of the most common apprehensions of parents who are considering having their child enter an online high school program is that it may result in a lack of socialization for their child. “Will homeschooling result in a child that has trouble relating to others? Won’t he be deprived on the company of his peers? Won’t my child be a social misfit, incapable of having meaningful friendships with people his age?”

Well, the answer is, “Not at all!”

Socialization: What is it?

High school graduation is among the most cherished memories for a student. And who says only those who go to a “normal” school gets to graduate? Even those who get their high school diploma online can enjoy all the flurry of activities, the opportunity to wear a toga and cap and party! This rite of passage can be a grand affair for family and friends. This can serve as a fun and festive send off celebration as your child prepares for college, having finished high school early.

Planning a Graduation for Online High School Students

So you have decided to enroll yourself in an online high school. Congratulations! You are about to embark in a challenging but rewarding journey! You may have missed high school for one reason or another. Or, you want to steam full speed ahead and graduate high school earlier than your peers. Another reason may be that you have a very unusual schedule that prevents you from attending classes regularly.

Now that you have made the important decision to get into an online high school program, here are some tips to help you make the most out of it:

The saying “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” rings true as you consider whether to stick to the program (and graduate at the recommended time) or get hold of a high school diploma earlier than your peers. It is important to have a plan to help you gain perspective and direction in your bid to graduate high school early.

Before you make the first steps towards earning the credits you need to finish high school ahead of time, here are some questions you need to consider: