A good while back, my mother wrote a post about homeschooling high school. And of course, as promised, it’s quite a while later that I’m sitting here at the keyboard to address many of the questions that a teenage homeschooler gets asked at any and all social gatherings. We freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and free floaters of the homeschooling community seem to be black sheep, the smallest minority of the entire category. Oftentimes, it’s assumed that because you made it through the entire run of education at your kitchen table, you either must have hated every moment of it or had the most iron-nerved parents around. I’m here to say that that’s not always the case. There are actually homeschooled high schoolers who have made it and enjoyed it. Correction. LOVED IT.
“Don’t you feel like you miss out on the social life public schooled teens lead?” Confession time: I’m actually not a very social person. Now you can say that’s because I’ve never had a chance to be (those unsocialized homeschool weirdies), but that’s just my personality and I doubt being public schooled would have changed that. However, my years of formal education haven’t been spent entirely at the kitchen table–and now that I’m a teen I have even more opportunities to get out with peers. I frequently go to movies with my best friend and every Wednesday at 5:30, you can find me at AWANA, participating in their program for young adults– Journey. I’ve also been given the wonderful honor of being my Dad’s personal helper in missionary STUFF when my Mom isn’t available. (I call myself his temporary personal assistant.) That means going with him to churches, helping him present a message, taking photos, and then standing in the lobby for a few hours answering questions from young and old alike. Often, I’m called upon to talk about my personal experiences on the mission field and listen to others tell of theirs. The result of all this is that I’ve become a sympathetic listener and I’ve learned to leave my fear of socializing at the door. I’m given the opportunity to engage with people of all ages and have become adept at meeting people where they are in comfort.
“Do you feel left out?” This question could probably be more accurately phrased as “Do I feel like the odd man woman out?” Because “everyone else” is public schooled, do I feel jilted that I’m not, or somehow unsure of myself around those that are? No. Actually, some of my best friends are public schooled and we spend the greatest summer days together. However, with the horror stories they bring back from the local school district, I can confidently say I’m glad I’m homeschooled. I never feel like somehow I missed the boat to opportunity; actually, I feel blessed that my parents spared me the drama. Along with that, I’m also blessed because, well, what sixteen year old who’s public schooled can pursue her dream of becoming a midwife with abandon? They’re worrying about taking the required science course and making every credit count, not their life goals. Homeschooling has allowed me to search for my calling from God since I was little, trying things I was interested in and learning with joy. This has been an especially useful mind set to learn, as I’ll be using it in the year after graduation to dig deeply into who God has called me to be.
“How do you handle tests?” With a lot of deep breaths and prayers. I study hard for tests. It’s a personal convtiction of mine to give everything my best and tests are no exception. However, I can tend to stress it just a little too much. When a quiz comes around, you’ll find me going back over the material and drilling myself on unfamiliar vocabulary. In the material sense, my tests come in many different formats. French tests are online, assigned and graded by my French teacher M. G. (short for Monsieur G). Language tests come by textbook, and I self grade them afterwards using the answer key. Biology tests are administered by my mom. At the end of the year we take the CAT, the California Achievement Test. In short? Days of sweating over nothing and praying to God that I don’t mess up. All for nothing. Now that I’m older I make a point of encouraging my siblings to relax, and not freak out as bad as I do.
“What do you study?” I’m currently studying a variety of things. I’m taking advanced Biology, Algebra, French 6, Music, Etymology and Grammar, PE, and computer skills. I work on my doula certification and midwifery preparation independent from my normal school schedule. I’m learning financial math and life skills through a group that meets every Wednesday. I also write fiction extensively, study the Bible daily, bake several times a week, play guitar, and read more than is probably good for me.
“What about college?” Right now, college is not something to which I’m making a commitment. My current plans involve graduating and then taking a year to study a subject that is near and dear to my heart: music. For me, this will be time for me to commune with God on who He has made me to be, and my opportunity to sit with Him and ask “What is my purpose and where do I need to be?” Of course, if that calling involves college, I will move forward with obedience, but if not, I will still stride forth with confidence, knowing that I am doing the right thing because He said.
“Do you have any friends?” Most definitely. My closest friend and I met seven years ago at our church’s AWANA program and we’ve hung out ever since. We’ve experienced (and sometimes been dragged into) the teenage years together, with all its ups and downs. And that doesn’t even mention all the other people who I count as my network of friends. I am officially the adopted niece of a wonderful couple in our small group, the accomplice in elder siblinghood with a member of my Journey group, the end-all be-all for my younger siblings and the loved and cherished sister-in-Christ of countless amazing men, women and teens. When it comes to having friends that count, I’ve got it covered. There’s not one of the people I call friends who I can’t trust with my heart and every aspect of my messy life. I call myself blessed to have so many who will (and do) drop everything to come to my side in time of need.
It might seem like I have the perfect life, like I was born into the most fabulous family ever (which I was, but not the point :-), who has everything together and never balks at the red lights in life. But that’s not true. High school for all of us has been a rough roller coaster of a ride that makes you dizzy, sick to your stomach and sometimes ready to scream or cry. It’s difficult, the lessons you learn are hard, and suddenly it’s not always fun to be me. But it’s also a rewarding time, where one learns to become an individual, to decide what you believe and what you don’t, to realize where God is calling you and feel the joy of following Him because you want to, not because of your family’s beliefs. This post is all about encouragement and telling all you teenagers, pre-teens and homeschooling parents out there that you can do it, and it can be ENJOYABLE. There’s rarely a day I don’t like doing school or checking in with my mom as we kick around ideas for next year. Not everything is a rose bowl, I won’t lie (being a teenager guarantees rough patches) but from one home schooled high schooler to another pursuing the same trail, life as a homeschooled high schooler is amazing and fulfilling and I don’t feel at all that I somehow “missed out” in any way, shape, or form.
Well, I’ve finally finished the post that’s been sitting on my calendar for several weeks. But even though I’ve answered some basic, standard questions, it’s possible that I didn’t answer a personal question that you have about homeschooling high school (or being schooled at home). To remedy this, if any of you reading this post have a question burning in your soul about how to survive or why you should bother teaching the teen years of school, I urge you to write it in a comment and either I or my parents will hopefully be able to satiate your curiosity. I don’t claim to be an expert and neither do they, but together, we will attempt to cheer on and offer comfort and advice to those who need it. Thanks for listening!
Shared at: Let’s Homeschool High School!
Hi Mary Hannah!
What an accomplished writer you are! You have a wonderful way with words.
It’s Jackie here, stopping by from the April Let’s Homeschool High School Blog Hop. I wanted to personally thank you for linking up with us this month.
My daughter, Hannah, had planned on going to art school after graduation, but has since changed her mind. She is more focused on being an entrepreneur. Homeschooling gives her the opportunity to focus on that, just as it has given you the opportunity to pursue your music studies.
I wish you much luck in your future plans.
Joyfully,
Jackie
Let’s Homeschool High School Admin Team
Thank you for those words of encouragement! And thank you for allowing me to share on your blog!
Hello Mary Hannah! Would you like to have this included in this week’s Carnival of Homeschooling? (I will check back later to see if you had a chance to reply.)
I would be honored to have my post included! Thank you!