Posted September 23, 2014
Whether it’s flying down a ski slope at the Olympics, head banging on stage with your high school band, or maybe just settling for that $3.00 Rockstar from the local convenience store, everyone gets their energy from somewhere. The energy to get up and do something; the energy to make something happen.
While some of those energy initiators peak and then rapidly disappear, others have more staying power. For Denver Online High School freshman, Joe Gurr, his energy catalyst not only has stamina, but it also energizes those around him: volunteering.
When Gurr started at a traditional brick and mortar high school this year, it wasn’t quite what he had expected. “I didn’t like the schedule and didn’t feel like teachers were very focused on me, and I was working at a different pace than other kids.” Gurr shared the same struggles that are common among other gifted and talented students like him. “I was sort of sitting around in the classroom. I think the teachers had a lot to deal with so they wouldn’t find the time to really connect with everyone.” After spending about a week at Colorado Academy and then a day at Thomas Jefferson High School, he decided to try something a little different: Denver Online High School. Gurr revealed that the transition from the conventional classroom to the online platform was a bit jarring at first. He fought with the challenges associated with creating his own academic schedule. He especially had to work diligently to learn how to use his time efficiently and set progress goals throughout the quarter. However, now that he has settled in, he actually enjoys the responsibility and freedom of developing his own schedule. And unlike having to wait around for his classmates or teachers, he said, “I feel like I have a more individualized education. It’s more of a needs based thing. If I need help, I can always ask.” He also added that unlike a traditional school where teachers are usually not available on weekends and after a certain time of day, Denver Online High School teachers are almost always available to help.
Online education takes a certain type of person. Gurr’s mom, Amanda Gurr, contested, “I think online school is hard. It’s harder than going to school every day. To me, it’s almost like going to college.” However, the need to be a self-motivated learner seems to be exactly the type of challenge that fuels Gurr’s young and bright mind. His advisor, Paula Hammel, said, “Joe is a student who takes initiative, gets involved, and is timely in his communication to teachers and advisor. He is responsive, witty, and creative with his assignments and interacts online with the personal connection as if he were still in a classroom. He gives feedback to teachers about what is working and not working in the class to help us create Schoology courses that work for students. Joe is independent and responsible to the point that I feel that I’m dealing with another adult. Mature beyond his years!”
His other teachers could not agree more. Gurr’s math teacher, Gilberto Palomino, added, “Joe is organized, responsible and respectful towards his classmates and teachers.” His track record also just claimed him a spot as a newly inducted National Honor Society member.
While many people tend to assume that online students are simply thrown into the wired world with no quality interaction with their teachers, this seems to be anything but true in Gurr’s case. The freshman stated, “Mr. Palomino is my absolute favorite teacher. He’s just hilarious!” Gurr’s favorite online class is geometry because he not only has fun with his teacher, but he also enjoys being able to use YouTube videos posted within the coursework. He learns best when he can re-watch the YouTube videos until he understands the material, while simultaneously being able to read through the subject matter that is explained further in writing within the online curriculum.
While he seems to be excelling in this new educational environment, the best part of his transformation into online education certainly does not exist in the midst of a virtual world. With the opportunity to set his own schedule, Gurr is now able to create a life of depth and meaning doing what he is passionate about: volunteering. Instead of patiently waiting in a traditional classroom for his classmates to catch up every day, Gurr said, “I can do more. My life isn’t centered around going to school and then coming home every day.” Alternatively, Gurr volunteers multiple days every week at the local K-8 school, Slavens, where he previously attended. He has been heavily involved with preparing 3rd-8th grade students for the district and state Spelling Bee competitions. He said if they win the state contest, they qualify for the Scripps National Spelling Bee that will be held in Washington, DC. He also has played an integral part in assisting middle schoolers with their projects for the National History Day competition in which students must create a project (i.e. paper, poster-board, documentary, or website page) around the year’s topic. He also has helped coach Brain Bowl competitors during weekly practice sessions by assisting them in developing strategies for the different sections of the competition. And if that wasn’t enough, he even has helped elementary kids in the school’s chess club.
In total, Gurr volunteers about six hours every week and will complete at least 100 volunteer hours over two quarters to earn service learning credit through Denver Online High School. When asked why he likes to volunteer, Gurr said, “It’s interesting. I kind of want to be a teacher when I grow up so it’s good experience.” He also added, “I like being around kids. It’s fun and it’s sort of a new thing every time. The kids tell a new story each time. They always come with something new to say.”
Outside of volunteering, Gurr also now has time to play his ukulele and work with his mom’s espresso catering business, Rambling Bean.
When asked if he would ever go back to regular high school, Gurr answered with an abrupt but courteous, “No.” He plans to finish out the rest of his high school career online with the option to take college courses this coming year.
And this comes as no surprise after seeing the energy that Gurr gets from volunteering. The ability to teach others instead of waiting around for classmates to catch up is meaningful. The ability to be a leader instead of just another follower is significant. The ability to earn credit for doing something he is passionate about is smart. And the ability to promote service in young people is inspiring. But maybe most importantly, Gurr’s story teaches us that the ability to lead an energized life that caters to each student’s strengths is invaluable…and makes much more of a lasting impact than that $3.00 sugar overload ever could.