How GWUOHS Helps Student-Athlete Makayla Balance Tennis and School

For students with ambitious goals, success often depends on finding a school that can support both their education and their growth beyond the classroom. For Makayla, that has meant finding a learning environment where she can stay focused on academics while also dedicating serious time and energy to tennis.

Flexibility That Supports Growth

Makayla says her experience at George Washington University Online High School has been positive, pointing to flexible teachers, accessible support, and a system she learned to navigate successfully. She also says she appreciates the school’s understanding approach to deadlines and the ability to ask questions whenever she needs clarification.

That flexibility matters because Makayla is balancing school with a demanding athletic schedule. She says she is on the court for at least four hours a day and uses time at home, during lunch breaks, and between training sessions to study and complete assignments. She also explains that she relies on communication with teachers to stay on track, which has helped her manage both responsibilities.

Building Toward Big Goals

Makayla first got involved in tennis at age seven and says she began focusing fully on the sport around age eleven after also participating in track and other sports. Today, her goals are clear: she wants to play Division I college tennis, compete as one of the team’s main players, and ultimately pursue a professional career.

She describes one of the most rewarding parts of tennis as the feeling of finally mastering something she has worked hard to achieve. She also shares that one of her proudest tennis moments was beating a player she had previously lost to by a wide margin, showing how much her confidence, technique, and focus had grown.

Lessons Beyond the Court

Makayla says tennis has taught her that discipline matters more than motivation because motivation can fade quickly, while discipline helps her follow through on what needs to be done. She says that mindset has carried over into school, helping her stay focused and complete work even with a rigid daily schedule.

That persistence has also shown up in the classroom. Makayla says she has struggled with math since around seventh grade, but this year she was proud to raise her performance to a B rather than a C. For her, that improvement was a meaningful academic accomplishment and a sign of progress.

Support for Students and Families

Makayla says GWUOHS has supported her both as a student and as an athlete through flexible teachers, reminders, regular offers of help, and useful guidance about NCAA requirements and college planning. She also says the school has been understanding about the injuries she worked through this year and the demands of recovery.

From her family’s perspective, that support has made a meaningful difference. Makayla’s mother says the school has provided the flexibility and structure her daughter needs to pursue tennis at a high level while continuing to make academic progress, and she adds that the experience has strengthened life skills like accountability, self-discipline, and time management.

Her mother also describes Makayla as highly motivated, disciplined, resilient, respectful, and goal-oriented, and says she is especially proud of the way Makayla continues pursuing excellence in both academics and athletics. She notes that balancing training, tournaments, and school requires real sacrifice, but says Makayla has continued forward even through challenges.

A Path That Opens Opportunity

Makayla says GWUOHS has helped open opportunities for her to improve her skill level by giving her more room to train, and she says she is deeply grateful for the scholarship support that helped make that possible.  She also says the school has given her useful guidance and support through Journeys Symposium, GWUOHS’s multi-year college and career preparation program that helps students build academic skills, explore goals, and plan for life after high school. In her view, that combination of flexibility and structured support has helped give her what she needs to keep moving forward.

Her father adds that Makayla has been able to train in Florida at Saviano Tennis Academy, an opportunity he says would not have been possible without GWUOHS. He also says that managing online coursework alongside a demanding sports schedule mirrors the kind of independence and responsibility students need in college, drawing on his own experience as a Division I basketball player.

For families considering online learning, Makayla’s mother says one of the biggest misconceptions is the fear that students will not receive a quality education, and she says that has not been true in their experience. Instead, she describes GWUOHS as an excellent option for student-athletes who are serious about both their sport and their education because it makes room for both.

Makayla’s story reflects what many families are looking for in a high school experience: strong academics, flexible structure, caring support, and the chance for students to keep moving toward the goals that matter most to them. For students balancing school with athletics or other demanding pursuits, GWUOHS can offer a path that makes both possible.

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 here.