Local student dives into online learning

Maddy Kohel, of Minneapolis, is a freshman at Falcon View Connections Academy. She came to the online school in 2021 to be in a learning environment that offered her the schedule flexibility she needed to train full time as a competitive diver.

Maddy previously attended another online school she very much enjoyed learning in the virtual classroom. However, as Maddy hopes to continue her academic and diving career at the Division 1 college level, she needed to switch online schools to be eligible to participate in high school diving competitions. Because Falcon View Connections Academy is authorized by the Wabasha-Kellogg School District, its students are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities at their local schools.

According to Maddy, she has always been passionate about diving and competing at the highest level possible. She said it clears her mind and has taught her many life lessons about discipline and setting goals. She believes attending classes online has positioned her for success in college with the time management skills she’s been able to develop.

“It has benefited me in my education greatly,” Maddy said. “I find that I have created great study habits and have developed good time management skills that will provide me with success in college and in life in general.”

Maddy said her training and competition schedule means she does her schoolwork and attends the LiveLesson classes, which are recorded, at different hours of the day.

“What I like most about Falcon View Connections Academy is the flexibility and the great teachers,” she said. “They are very helpful and understanding of my abnormal schedule.”

Maddy said her favorite subject is AP Human Geography because she finds it very interesting to learn about why people migrate and to study different cultures, and the economy all over the world.

Outside of the pool and the virtual classroom, Maddy enjoys hanging out with her friends. She said many of them also attend school online so they like going to coffee shops and doing their schoolwork together on their days off.

“It is helpful to have people I can relate to and hang out with in my free time,” she said.