“ In terms of personal growth, I have grown more mature since taking the Personal Finance course - it has helped me become a better person. I was previously nervous and uncertain about the idea of going to college, but taking the course has helped me ease into that and I am now more knowledgeable about things that will help me when I graduate. The course discusses different topics you need to know when you graduate, such as credit which impacts several aspects of one's life and has also helped me better understand what it will be like when I am in college.

I like how flexible the timing is for GOA, as you can decide when and how you want to work. Just because you have the whole week free doesn't mean you must leave things until the last minute. You get to choose when and where you work, and it's much less stressful since there is a deadline, as time is more flexible. You usually have about a week to work on each assignment.

Taking online classes such as the GOA means that you get to pick and choose a course that you may be interested in that the school doesn't provide. For instance, if you're taking the IB and know what major you want to do and there is no specific class in that subject, you can find it at GOA. There are so many choices to choose from that you can have fun with, such as a creative writing class or a physiology class. The times are flexible, so if you are too busy in one semester, you can take it the following semester or after school. ”

“ The GOA has helped me gain exposure to different educational paths for my future. There's architecture and many other things one can choose and do. That way, it allows me to manage my time better and makes me open to communicating with people I am not physically with.

Architecture-wise, I've learned to enjoy the different design processes of architecture, as well as looking at how we can incorporate those with sustainability and the environment. Having the chance to learn something that’s not available in school is great, and through that you can gain considerable knowledge. ”

“ I like the way the courses are organized and how they are structured. The information I've learned has been exciting and self-directed, and I have picked up new skills. We had many fun Zoom calls with the students and the teachers, and I got to interact with different people you wouldn't usually meet in a typical school setting. I also had one-on-one mentor discussions with the teachers, who were friendly, valuable, helpful, and understanding.

The unique thing about GOA is the diversity of everyone who takes part in it. There are teachers and students from all over the world, and you get a new perspective - everyone's so lovely and sweet. At the beginning of the course, there are always introductions where you meet everyone individually. It helps to use that time to get to know a few people at least and start talking to them because that motivates you also to do the work.

For example, I reached out to a student based in Houston, Texas, via a social media platform at the beginning of the filmmaking course, and we've become great friends. We are similar and like a lot of the same things, and it's been great because you get to meet people with the same interests. ”