Hey there,

The first time I had any kind of exposure to online education, I’d say it was at the beginning of college.

I spent my entire teenage years at a school where we weren’t even allowed to bring our phones. It honestly felt like it was illegal to have any kind of contact with the outside world during those 12-hour school days. Technology was almost seen as a distraction, something to be avoided, not embraced.

So, when I entered college, I was pleasantly surprised by how much value was placed on technology in adult learning. Taking online exams and submitting assignments via email instead of printing them out and handing them in felt like a small revolution. For someone who came from such a tech-restricted environment, it opened my eyes to a new kind of freedom.

Then came the pandemic. Like many of us, I had to adapt quickly. But what I really learned during that time was that online education isn't just an alternative, it's a gateway. A gateway to studying from anywhere, connecting with people across borders, languages, and cultures. Suddenly, learning was no longer confined to a physical classroom. It could happen in your room, at a café, or in a completely different time zone.

Thanks to online education, I’ve been able to immerse myself in everything I know today about marketing, design, and English. It’s more accessible than ever, and many of the platforms offer certifications that lead to real job opportunities. Some of the ones that have helped me the most are Grow with Google and Coursera; they made it possible for me to learn at my own pace, on my terms.

What started as a limitation in high school – living under strict offline rules – eventually turned into an unexpected advantage. Online education taught me how to take ownership of my learning and adapt to a world that’s constantly evolving. It showed me that access and flexibility are just as important as discipline and effort. Today, learning feels like a choice I get to make every day, not something that’s forced or confined. And that’s real freedom.