High School: Are you ready to go back?

You may have quit high school for one reason or another. But that does not mean that earning your high school diploma is no longer an option. Whatever your age and circumstances, being a high school graduate (as opposed to not being one) is something that can help you with your career and your life in general. It can also open doors for college.

Statistics point to a lot of reasons why getting a high school diploma is beneficial:

• Those who don’t have a high school diploma earn $143 less than high school graduates, and $479 less than college graduates. (National Center for Education Statistics)
• Joblessness among high school dropouts are at 12% while it is only at 4.1% for college graduates.
• High school dropouts aged 16 to 24 are 63 times more likely to have been in prison than college graduates.

As with a lot of things worth doing, it’s never too late. The question is, are you ready to go back to high school? Or, rather, are you ready to tackle high school lessons presented in a different way – online? Here are some things to consider and steps to take to help you be ready to enroll in a virtual high school:

• Academic Readiness. Are you ready to take on Math, literature and history lessons once again? At the onset, you can talk to the online teachers to give them a heads up on your situation and the help you may be needing throughout the term. You can also try taking it one step (or one course) at a time. In fact, it s highly recommended that you don’t bite more than you can academically chew, especially on your first term.
• Emotional readiness. Being a student of an online high school will require you to concentrate, be engaged in the lessons and to have confidence in yourself, especially as you relate to the online teacher and your virtual classmates. Gear yourself up to the challenge of balancing work, family and studies. Make sure that you have the determination you need to help you overcome the challenges of juggling your responsibilities.
• Family support. Even with the convenience of getting your high school courses on line, there is still considerable work required. Do you have the support of your spouse and the rest of the family? Are they willing to pitch in with chores so that you can free up more of your time for lessons? It is also important for children to understand your “study” schedule – where they will avoid disturbing your “school day” unless it’s absolutely necessary. The good thing about an online school is that you can work early in the morning (before going to work) or late at night to minimize disruptions and also enjoy time with your family.
• Technological readiness. Since your lessons are delivered via your computer, you need to be familiar with the basics of using your computer and the software you need. You can ask a tech-savvy friend for some pointers or you can also contact the help desk at The American Academy. You also need to be equipped with the technological tools – not just a computer, but also a good internet connection.