In this interview, Shellee Howard of College Ready talks with Elise, a high‑school senior from Virginia, about how she has been thriving during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Elise describes the shift to fully online schooling, noting difficulties in subjects like math and languages when teachers are not physically present, and explains how she supplements instruction with YouTube tutorials and peer help. She offers encouragement to younger students, urging them to use all available resources, ask teachers, friends, and upperclassmen for assistance, and stay proactive. Regarding college applications, Elise outlines her process of triaging essays—dropping less‑essential requirements to conserve energy—and using self‑guided virtual college tours to explore campuses on her own schedule. To maintain mental health, she emphasizes taking breaks, interacting with family, and getting outside for walks to avoid feeling cooped up. Elise credits the College Ready portal for organizing her school list, essays, and documents in Google Drive, which she says would be impossible to manage alone. Throughout, she highlights goal‑setting, motivation, and a positive mindset as key to staying happy and productive during challenging times.
Chapters
Hi Elise, this is Shellee Howard with College Ready. How are you?
Good, how are you?
Excellent. I have heard some wonderful things from a few of the people in the organization that say that you are thriving during COVID Can you tell me what life is like? Where are you coming from?
So I live in Virginia and we just started our online school. I'm a senior, and it's been really different. There's a lot to adjust to, but it's also— change is good. So it's not always going to be easy, and a lot of classes like math and languages are really hard to grasp when the teacher is not with you in person, but you just have to use your resources And I like to look for other teachers on YouTube to help me with notes or quiz preparation if I'm not getting all the knowledge I need from my teacher.
I love that. So you're going outside of just feeling stuck. Maybe I don't have a great teacher online. That sounds fantastic. So when you are You know, you're a senior, so life— you've been through normal high school, and you know that this is not the norm. But think about for freshmen who maybe are just transitioning into high school. Can you give them any words of encouragement or advice during this time?
Yeah, I think definitely use your resources and ask your friends, ask your teachers for help for anything you need, or ask upperclassmen if you have that available to you.
Yeah. So you're kind of feeling stuck at home and you're online. And I heard some teachers are doing a great job and other teachers, you know, are— they've never been taught to teach online. So I give them a lot of credit. It can't be easy. So when you think about how you're thriving during this time, let's talk about picking colleges and all of the excitement that goes around that. How are you doing with all of that? How are you deciding what needs to be done instead of being overwhelmed?
Yeah, so, um, for me, I've looked at all the essays compiled I need to do, and if one of them is kind of iffy for me, a school, and there's a lot of requirements I have to do, I sort of just cross it off my list to save myself some energy and stay motivated. I also like watching virtual college tours to get a better feel for the schools that I'm interested in.
Excellent. Do you have a favorite virtual college tour website that you can share, or do you just kind of seek them out individually?
So far I've just been going through the schools. I really like self-guided tours because I can go on my own time and just, if I want to go back to something or re-listen, So that's an opportunity.
Excellent. And then when it comes to staying balanced and feeling secluded, are you doing anything that is giving you that smile that's been on your face?
Yeah, so during my class breaks or after school, I go downstairs and interact with my sister and my mom or have a little snack. And I try not to stay cooped in my room all day because it gives me a headache and I can go crazy and lose focus. So it's really nice to go outside or take a walk when you have the time to just step away from your work.
Yeah, that's all great advice. So when you think about this new world and social distancing and preparing for college, and you're smiling through every time I talk to you. You're so optimistic and smiling. Is there any trick to that or anything you can share with students that, that help you turn that frown upside down?
Well, I just put goals in place and I try my best to stay motivated because that's what keeps me happy, even though times can get hard and you have to work really hard for some things, or you might get frustrated if you don't understand something. Just staying motivated and like I said, using your resources so that you can stay 100% is The best thing I can do.
Excellent. Can you just talk real briefly about how College Ready has helped you through this process?
Yeah, so I really like how the portal has organized all my schools and categorized them for me and then put my essays all together along with the Google Drive has been super organized and helpful, and I would not be able to do all that on my own.
Excellent. Well, thank you so much for sharing. I know there's a lot of students out there that are, are really struggling during this time, and it's so exciting that you're thriving. So thank you so much for joining, and I am so excited to see what colleges come your way.
