Breakout Room BFFs

Access Launch: How did you Learn about Launch?
Bristol Michael: Me and my mom were trying to decide if I wanted to go back to seated school after COVID or if I wanted to do virtual… My mom heard about Launch and did some research, and I decided I wanted to try it.
Josi Walker: My home school district set me up with it. I started Launch because of COVID, and then decided to stay online full time instead of going back to traditional school.

Access: What was it like to go from learning in a school building to learning online?
JW: At first it was challenging to get used to being home all day, but after a few weeks I got the hang of it, and it became normal for me. Once I got used to it, I really liked it.
BM: It wasn’t too hard for me. I liked that I got to be home in my bedroom with a blanket while I was doing my work. And I also really liked my teachers—everyone was so nice!

Access: How did you start talking with each other?
BM: It was spirit week, and Josi and I both dressed up as 80s girls for one of the dress up days.
JW: Bristol was like, ‘Oh my goodness, she’s dressed for the 80s, too!’
BM: Ever since then, we’ve been chatting every single day.

Access: What was it like to meet in person the first time?
JW: We met at the park in my neighborhood.
BM: At first we were both really nervous and excited at the same time, because we had never met each other in person!
JW: She went to Panda Express before we met, and she got a little Panda to give me.
BM: We played for about an hour and a half, and when we had to go we were both really sad!
JW: The second time we met up, I made matching bracelets for us.

Access: How do you stay in touch when you’re not hanging out?
BM: We play games online, and we play games and talk through approved apps.
JW: We can FaceTime and text each other.
BM: We like to play a game called Roblox together.

Access: How would you describe one another?
BM: She’s funny, she’s smart, she’s kind, she’s pretty, and she’s really athletic!
JW: Smart. Beautiful. Amazing. My BFF!

Access: What are your hobbies?
BM: I like to play basketball and softball. I also do gymnastics and cheer, and I like to play with my dogs—they’re very fun! I like to play outside. I have a friend who lives in my neighborhood, and I play with her a lot. I also like playing with my family. We’ll play board games and card games when it’s rainy outside, or we’ll watch movies together.
JW: Playing with Bristol is a big one, and playing with all of my other friends. I also love playing with my cats and hanging out with my family—we love to play games and watch shows. We really like to watch TikToks!

Access: Do you have any pets?
BM: I have two dogs. One is a Havapoo named Benny. He’s very tiny, but he’s super feisty and athletic, too! Then I have a big dog, a Great Dane, named Truman. When he was a puppy he was pretty athletic, but now he’s pretty lazy. He doesn’t really want to do stuff anymore, except for sleep and eat.
JW: I have four cats. Two of them are tuxedo cats—an old man named Jazz and a kitten named Ace. Then I have Plato. Mrs. Schmitt said he looks like he has a toupee on his head, and now that’s all I see! And my last cat is Titan.

Access: What’s your favorite book series?
BM: Clementine by Sara Pennypacker. I like how funny she is!
JW: My favorite book series is Diary of a Pug by Kyla May.

Access: What’s your dream job?
BM: I want to be a cosmetologist or a gamer.
JW: I want to be a veterinarian because I love animals.
BM: And I also want to work alongside Josi. I want to be her assistant!

Access: What’s your favorite thing about learning with Launch?
BM: Well, I love my teachers and I love my classmates. I’ve made a lot of friends! I also love typing, and we get to do that a lot—most of our assignments we have to type, and I love that!
JW: I like being home with my family, and of course I like being able to finish earlier than I would have to if I went to school in person sometimes. Also, my teachers were so nice!