Family Archives - Page 2 of 4

Hannah Pugh: There Is Beauty In Vulnerability

On December 11, 2019December 21, 2019 By elenachernov

There Is Beauty In Vulnerability By Elena Chernov It was a brisk November Wednesday afternoon. We sat down in the […]

Why Child’s Play Should Have Skinned Knees

On December 2, 2019December 21, 2019 By oliviacerci

Technology’s Deterioration of Childhood Recreation and the Battle for Bumps and Bruises By Olivia Cerci It was the third time […]

‘Pay Up Kid, I’m Your Parent’

On November 18, 2018November 25, 2018 By estherkarpets

OPINION ‘Pay Up Kid, I’m Your Parent’ By Esther Karpets How would you feel if your parents asked you to […]

When the Final Exams Are The Least Of Your Worries

On November 14, 2018November 25, 2018 By estherkarpets

PROFILE When the Final Exams Are The Least Of Your Worries… By Esther Karpets A case of complex PTSD, an […]

Are Babies Just a Trend?

On October 19, 2018 By estherkarpets

Are Babies Just a Trend? By Esther Karpets “I have no time or money and I just can’t imagine ever […]

Flying with Children: Yay or Nay?

On May 4, 2017April 15, 2018 By geenacalomino

Last month I had a four hour flight from Puerto Rico to Chicago. On this flight, there were two children […]

Get to Know Trinity’s VP of Enrollment: Rick Riddering

On May 4, 2017April 15, 2018 By geenacalomino

Trinity Christian College is known for its tight community and their family feel. This feeling is true, too, when you […]

Social Isolation: There is Hope if You Seek It

On April 26, 2017April 29, 2017 By karacunningham

I remember when I decided to create a twitter account when I was a Sophomore in college. I had about […]

An Open Letter to Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos

On March 2, 2017 By heatherbrinks

An Open Letter to Betsy DeVos: It’s been awhile since America has seen such a controversial and disagreeable confirmation […]

Breaking Down Walls: Cancer Style

On February 2, 2017February 26, 2017 By emilyfrank

Dealing with cancer was not in my plan, but it’s a memory I can recall very clearly. I was in […]

Homeschooler in the Real World

Emma Folts, a sophomore at Wheaton College, shares her experience about her transition into college and how homeschool has both helped and hindered her.
How has your homeschool experience benefitted you, especially in your transition into college?
I think the one thing that homeschooling did that was really helpful as I entered college was that it taught me time management. As a homeschooler I had the same freedom as a college student has to put things off during the day and go see a friend instead. Since I had that experience, I knew the cost of that.
Also, personal responsibility and accountability with assignments. I feel like a lot of the other students had more expectations for gentler grading and that the professor would give them retakes or extensions, but that wasn’t something that ever happened to me in school. That learning curve wasn’t added because I never had it the other way. I think another thing was that because I was homeschooled, I was familiar with the format of teaching and then studying on my own.
Did you see any issues with your transition socially?
I think that homeschooling had two ramifications for me socially. One was helpful, one was hurtful.
It was really helpful because as a homeschooler, I had spent a lot of time realizing and developing who I was as a person and learning to recognize people who were being themselves, and those were the people I sought out as friends. Friendship as a homeschooler takes a lot more investment. I knew I was choosier with my friends which made me a lot less anxious and a lot more content.
The only real negative impact of the social bit was that I was really used to getting to choose the time I got to spend with people. As a homeschooler I spent a lot of time with people, but that time was controlled by me. As a college student, I found that you can’t really control the time you spend with people and alone time is not really available. Learning to deal with that was a lot harder than anticipated.
Any last comments on homeschool and how it has affected your college experience?
I think homeschooling is really helpful, however it does take a slightly increased amount of advocacy with your peers when you’re entering into college. I think a lot of people come in with certain assumptions about homeschool, especially students. You’re going to get a lot of, ‘oh my gosh, you don’t seem like a homeschooled person!’ [You can’t] take that too personally and explain your experience so that friends can understand it’s an important piece of you, though it might not look like the homeschooling that they’ve seen.
My encouragement to anyone who is a homeschooler transitioning into college is to realize the benefit that you have having been homeschooled, and to realize that the bit of advocacy and explaining that you need to do with your peers is totally normal and that it’s not a big deal. Once they understand your experience, it’s not something I’ve experienced being looked down on for.