How GWUOHS Supports Kashifah as She Explores Her Interests and Plans for the Future

For many students, the right school is not just about academics. It is also about finding a place where they can explore their interests, manage a full schedule, and feel supported as they grow.

For Kashifah, George Washington University Online High School has provided that kind of environment during her first year. She says the flexibility of the program has helped her balance school with sports like horseback riding and golf while still staying on top of assignments and making time for the things she enjoys.

A Flexible First Year

Kashifah says she has enjoyed her first year at GWUOHS and plans to stay for the rest of her high school journey. She describes her teachers as welcoming, supportive, and available to answer questions, and she says she appreciates how the program allows her to manage her time well.

She also values the school’s sense of connection. In her view, learning alongside students from many different places adds to the experience and reflects the diversity of the program.

Exploring Different Interests

One of the strengths of Kashifah’s story is that her interests span more than one area. She speaks enthusiastically about history, science, sports, and writing, showing how an online learning environment can give students space to develop multiple passions at once.

Kashifah says history is one of her favorite subjects because she enjoys remembering details, learning about past events, and seeing how the world has changed over time. She also says she enjoys science because it feels logical, encourages careful thinking, and includes interactive labs that allow her to be creative in her work.

Writing With Purpose

Writing is one of the ways Kashifah expresses her ideas, especially when reflecting on issues that matter to her. She spoke about her poem, The Olive Branch, and her experience participating in the 41st annual Young Playwrights Festival.

Kashifah says she wrote the poem to bring attention to people living in war-torn areas and to speak for those she feels may not always have enough representation. In describing the poem, she explains that she wanted to portray the perspectives of mothers, children, and soldiers while showing how war affects entire communities. She also says the poem carries a larger message that people are connected to one another no matter where they come from or what differences they may have.

Her experience at the festival was equally meaningful. Kashifah says performing on stage was one of her first experiences of that kind, and although she was nervous, she found the environment welcoming, collaborative, and inspiring. She says she especially appreciated being around other poets and playwrights who cared deeply about writing and about speaking to important issues in the world.

Support Inside the Classroom

When asked how GWUOHS has supported her as a student, Kashifah points to the consistent encouragement she has received from teachers, advisors, and school support resources. She says her English and history teachers, in particular, have helped her strengthen her writing through prompts, essays, research projects, and detailed feedback.

She also says that reaching out through Teams, using school help desks, and staying in contact with staff has helped her feel supported throughout the year. That sense of community stands out in her description of the school and helps explain why she feels so positive about her experience.

Looking Toward Medicine

Although Kashifah enjoys writing and hopes to continue it as a hobby, her long-term goals are centered on medicine. She says she has started developing ideas for a book, but she also shares that she hopes to study at Yale University, pursue medicine, and eventually become a cardiovascular surgeon.

She connects that goal to a long-standing desire to help people, as well as her interest in dissections and learning more about the cardiovascular system. Taken together, her interests in science, service, and careful study point toward a future she is already beginning to imagine in a meaningful way.

Advice for Other Students

For students considering GWUOHS or online school more broadly, Kashifah offers advice centered on support and self-confidence. She encourages students not to carry the burden of school on their own, to ask questions when they need help, and to remember that teachers, advisors, and counselors want the best for them.

She also emphasizes the importance of staying true to yourself. In her view, students can still make friends, have social interactions, and enjoy a full school experience in an online setting.

A Place to Grow

When reflecting on her experience overall, Kashifah says GWUOHS has been an amazing place for her and that she is proud to be a student there. She describes the school as a place where teachers, staff, and advisors have supported her throughout her journey and says she would encourage other students considering a transfer to move forward with confidence.

Her story shows how a supportive online school can help students do more than keep up with coursework. It can give them room to pursue different interests, build skills across subjects, and prepare for the future with confidence.

Learn More About GWUOHS

Families interested in learning more about GWUOHS and what the admissions process looks like can find additional information and next steps on the admissions page.