Breaking the Stigma Around Cyber School Friendships

May 27, 2025

As graduation approaches, I have been reflecting on my time in high school. However, I have not had what many people consider the “typical” high school experience. When I first joined PA Cyber Charter School in seventh grade, I was a shy girl who did not talk to many people, and honestly, I fit the stereotype of the “lonely cyber kid.” Now, as a senior, I have helped plan and attended prom. I danced and sang like nobody was watching, with friends and even making new ones that night. The common belief is that students in cyber school are isolated or do not know how to socialize. I have even heard it from strangers, friends, and family. My friends in a brick-and-mortar school assume I do not have any other friends beside them. My older siblings’ joke that I’m “missing out” on the high school experience they had when they were my age. While it may not be the same, my experience has been just as worthwhile.

The pandemic made online learning more common, but even now, long after the masks have come off, stereotypes about cyber school students remain. People assume we are always alone, glued to our screens, and lack real social connections. Yes, cyber school friendships might look different, but they are just as real. In brick-and-mortar schools, you see your classmates every day and friendships can feel easy. In cyber school, it does take more effort and intention, but that effort makes friendships that much stronger. Often, online students are not the only ones who struggle socially. Students at in-person public schools struggle with loneliness, too. I have seen schools make buddy benches and create programs to address this problem. So, why, in the 21st century, are we still believing that social struggles are exclusive to cyber students?

From my experience, cyber school can be the opposite of isolating. At PA Cyber, I have had so many opportunities to connect, and my friendships have become a huge part of my high school experience. We have dozens of clubs that meet weekly over video and chat, and are full of students with similar interests. From Newspaper Club to the National Honor Society, these spaces are not just resume boosters, but a place where real friendships are built. Field trips are another big part of our social life. PA Cyber hosts trips across the state, like the Zoo Rendezvous, one of the biggest events of the year. I met my friend Bailey on a trip to Gettysburg, and even though she lives hours away we still talk all the time. I’ve built a friend group that spans Pennsylvania and even beyond. Through competitions and events, I’ve made friends in Georgia, Idaho, and Massachusetts. We do not see each other often, but we stay connected.

Even in our classes at PA Cyber, we are interacting with each other. I have created bonds with teachers, like my musical theater club advisor, who came to my Eagle Court of Honor ceremony. Teachers encourage us to turn our cameras on, especially at the start of the class, just to check in. My mythology teacher gives us fun challenges to grab something blue or grab as many pens as you can. We also get to work in breakout rooms and collaborate on projects, just like any other student in a traditional classroom.

Then there are the regional offices, like the South Side and Warrendale offices in Pittsburgh. When I was younger, I would take dance classes there. More recently, I have done painting classes and coffee meet-and-greets. Over time, I have gotten to know the staff and other students at these gatherings in person.

So no, I do not get to walk through crowded hallways or eat lunch in a school cafeteria, but I get to build friendships in club meetings, on field trips, through laughter in class, and during events across the state. These friendships are just as deep, and just as important. Social growth absolutely happens here, just in a different way.

Emma Perman is a senior at PA Cyber. After graduating in June, she plans to attend Elon University in North Carolina to study Journalism, with either a double major or minor in theater. Emma is currently Assistant Director with the Pittsburgh Performance Society, a 2025 Remake Learning Days Youth Ambassador, a Gold Award Girl Scout, and an Eagle Scout.