How Flexible Learning Helped Madalyn Earn Her High School Diploma While Raising a Daughter 

After becoming a mother as a teenager, Madalyn wasn’t sure how she would ever finish high school. But with the support of Ohio Digital Learning School’s (ODLS) Flexible Learning program, she completed more than three years of coursework in a single school year—all while raising her two-year-old daughter. 

According to Madalyn, ODLS’ Flexible Learning option made this accomplishment possible. Thanks to her self-paced studies and assistance from the school’s supportive staff and faculty, she was able to overcome obstacles and achieve her goal of graduating from high school. 

How Madalyn Got Started at ODLS 

Before she started at ODLS, Madalyn attended an in-person public school. However, she started falling behind on credits after she became a mother.  

“I was supposed to graduate in 2023. Then I had my daughter and failed half of 10th grade and my 11th-grade year, so I had to redo it all,” she said. 

Madalyn was determined to resume her high school education, but it took her a few years to find the right school for her needs. With its high-quality curriculum and flexible scheduling, ODLS proved to be the right fit for her. 

Why Flexible Learning Matters 

Madalyn successfully juggled online high school classes with her duties as a mother by utilizing ODLS’ Flexible Learning option. This initiative gives students facing unique life circumstances the opportunity to make progress toward graduation while fulfilling their other responsibilities. 

Through Flexible Learning, students can watch recorded lessons or attend live sessions while building a schedule that works best for their lives, rather than following a traditional school day.  

“You can work through your classes as fast as you want or as slow as you want,” Madalyn said. 

During the first half of the 2025-26 school year, she focused on completing as many classes as possible. Things became more challenging when her daughter got sick multiple times during the second half of the year. 

During that time, Flexible Learning allowed her to focus on caring for her daughter while continuing to make progress toward graduation at her own pace. 

The Importance of Teacher Support 

Flexible Learning doesn’t mean students are on their own. Students who choose this option have regular check-ins with their homeroom teachers, giving them access to academic guidance, encouragement, and personalized support to help them stay on track toward graduation. 

Between those check-ins and the assistance and encouragement she received from other staff and faculty members, Madalyn didn’t have to complete her courses alone. Instead, she got the motivation she needed to keep going. 

“I didn’t meet a single teacher I didn’t like in my whole experience at ODLS,” she said. 

One of Madalyn’s favorite educators was her history teacher Susan Rife-Roark, who she said was “super helpful and supportive.” She also appreciated school counselor Janson Jacobsen, who was there for her whenever she was confused or had questions. 

Madalyn’s Next Steps as a Student 

Now that Madalyn has earned a high school diploma through ODLS, she has gained access to all sorts of new educational and employment opportunities. In the fall 2026 semester, she plans to continue her education by taking online college classes through Post University. There, she will pursue a degree in human resource management. 

While she’s still thinking about where she wants to work after graduating from college, Madalyn said she will have no shortage of options in this field. 

“It basically opens up every single job opportunity to me. Every career has a HR team, so I could work anywhere from a little mom-and-pop shop to a huge hospital,” she said. 

Looking back, Madalyn credits Flexible Learning with giving her the opportunity to achieve a goal she once thought was out of reach. 

Learn at Any Pace at ODLS 

Every student’s path to graduation looks different. Whether they’re balancing work, parenting, health concerns or other responsibilities, ODLS’ Flexible Learning program helps students continue their education on a schedule that works for them while receiving the support they need to succeed. 

Learn more about Flexible Learning and discover how ODLS can help your student reach their graduation goals. 

Back to Blog