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Just Keep Swimming: Michaela Sandeno’s resilience over injury paid off in the end.

On May 7, 2020May 7, 2020 By maggiefranke

Just Keep Swimming Michaela Sandeno’s resilience over injury paid off in the end. By Maggie Franke Michaela Sandeno was one […]

Tricia Deter: A trainer who defies the stereotype.

On May 6, 2020May 6, 2020 By gracepointner

By Grace Pointner The way Tricia Deter is wired changes the game. As a trainer, she is intentional. She is […]

Her Bones on the Line: Hannah Oechsle

On March 26, 2020March 26, 2020 By cassidythornburg

Her Bones on the Line: Hannah Oechsle By Cassidy Thornburg In a 25-yard long, 6-lane pool in Lakeville, Minn., Hannah […]

Wheaton’s Frozen Chosen: Jake Rhoads

On March 4, 2020March 27, 2020 By abramerickson

Wheaton’s Frozen Chosen: Jake Rhoads By Abram Erickson To spend an hour in conversation with Jake Rhoads is a lesson […]

Back to the past and a future in broadcast

On January 28, 2020January 28, 2020 By maggiefranke

A profile of Josephine McLaughlin Wheaton College junior Josephine McLaughlin is no average Wheatie. From her internship opportunity at WGN […]

Olivia Cerci: The Beauty of the Little Things in Life

On December 16, 2019December 17, 2019 By jaceygould

Olivia Cerci: The Beauty of the Little Things in Life By Jacey Gould A Photographer at Heart Olivia Cerci, a […]

‘I took it as a challenge:’ A look into the life of Jeremiah Thompson

On December 15, 2019December 15, 2019 By melissaschill

By Melissa Schill It’s a quiet Sunday afternoon in the middle of October. Jeremiah Thompson and two of his roommates […]

Sharing Songs and Soul: The Life and Loves of Jacey Gould

On December 13, 2019December 16, 2019 By oliviacerci

By Olivia Cerci Jacey Gould is on a quest to share some songs from her “uncool playlist.” This year, Jacey, […]

Sarah Doyle: Home, relationships, and adding spice to life

On December 13, 2019December 21, 2019 By cassidykeenan

By Cassidy Keenan I sit in a comfortable chair in Lower Beamer and look at Sarah Doyle, who is sitting […]

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 […]

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.