“When I tell people that I attend an online school, one of the first questions they ask is, “How do you make friends?” It’s a fair question. Without school corridors, lunch breaks, or playground conversations, many people assume that students in virtual schools miss out on meaningful friendships.
To be honest, I wondered the same thing when I first started. At the beginning, it felt a little unusual. Everyone joined the lesson, focused on learning, and logged off once the class ended. There wasn’t much time for casual conversations, and I wasn’t sure whether I would ever get to know my classmates beyond the small squares on my screen.
However, I soon realised that making friends online isn’t impossible – it’s simply different.
For me, friendships began through small interactions. It might have been laughing at the same joke during a lesson, working together on a group project, or simply recognising the same names appearing in class each day. Those small moments gradually turned classmates into people I genuinely looked forward to seeing.
One thing I have learnt is that everyone feels a little nervous at first. Starting a conversation can seem awkward, but often the other person is hoping someone will do the same. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple message, a friendly comment, or asking a question after class to begin building a connection.
One of my favourite aspects of RISA is meeting students from different parts of the world. Learning about their cultures, traditions, interests, and experiences has broadened my perspective and helped me appreciate different ways of thinking.
Despite living in different countries and time zones, we all share the same lessons, assignment deadlines, and the occasional rush of preparing for a test. These shared experiences create a genuine sense of community, regardless of where we live.
Of course, online friendships are different from seeing someone every day in person. However, that does not make them any less meaningful. The friendships I have built through Royal Institute Smart Academy Online School are based on shared experiences, conversations, encouragement, and support – just like any other friendship.
At the end of the day, friendship is not defined by where you meet someone. It is built through kindness, shared experiences, trust, and laughter.
My experience has shown me that meaningful friendships can grow anywhere, even through a screen. Virtual school has taught me that genuine connections are not limited by distance, and that some of the strongest friendships can begin with something as simple as saying, “Hello.”
