A Student’s Perspective - What Homeschooling Gave Me

Being homeschooled taught me so much about what learning can do for me. I was given so much confidence because I had my education in my own hands. I did not feel scared by this truth, but instead empowered by my family and glad that I was aware of my independence. I had a voice in how my days were structured, what topics I was researching, and how to relate all of this information to the real world. I was taught by my resources and attribute this to how well I made my transition into the real world.

My first experience with a “real school” was high school. I was 13, at a school I interviewed to be at, taking college classes surrounded by people who were used to the structure of a typical public school. I should have felt out of place, but I was overconfident because I knew that I was given a drive that those raised in public school did not show. I was used to being self-motivated and thus created an addiction to knowledge. I knew how to pace myself, manage my time, and use every source I had to gather all of the information I needed to succeed. I was told when I interviewed for this school that I was going to have to be okay with being graded strictly. I was going to have to accept and handle a C or even a D in a class. I took that as a challenge and ended up ranked 13th in my grade. I can be proud of what I did accomplish and learn from my shortcomings - I attribute that to how grounding homeschooling was. It gave me a personal connection to everything I took in. The learning was happening in my home, in my backyard, around my friends, on a road trip, or in the mountains. 

I do not feel that being raised so differently stunted me in any way; I genuinely feel that it has given me an advantage. The opportunities my mom gave me to reflect on my schooling continuously brought my mind back to how what I was learning was serving me in my life. How it was going to help me in the future - where it was going to take me. I was constantly excited and stimulated because my mind was allowed to wander. That is the most important thing I have brought into my adult life. When you have time, just go down rabbit holes of information. Learning should feel personalized and special. Customizable templates are always going to promote more independence than a curriculum made to fit all.

Rachel Herndon