December 13, 2019 - Millenial Influx

Breaking the Fourth Wall: Immersive Theater On the Rise

On December 13, 2019December 15, 2019 By cassidykeenan

By Cassidy Keenan If Shakespeare could have predicted how far into the future his plays would still be performed, it’s […]

Why We Need a Theater Major Now

On December 13, 2019December 21, 2019 By cassidykeenan

By Cassidy Keenan The arts at Wheaton College have come a long way in the last several decades. Artists on […]

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, […]

Smart City: A Friend or Foe?

On December 13, 2019December 21, 2019 By oliviacerci

Exploring Tensions Between Benefits and Consequences of Mass Data Collection and Advanced Tech By Olivia Cerci Toronto’s waterfront neighborhood may […]

Real or Fake Christmas Trees- Which Is More Sustainable?

On December 13, 2019December 13, 2019 By hannahpugh

Our Environment’s Voice in the Real Vs. Artificial Christmas Trees Debate By Hannah Pugh Pine needles and flannel-wearing lumberjacks surrounded […]

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 […]

Peter Pan Prequel ‘Starcatcher’ Opens Arena Theater’s New Season

On December 13, 2019December 13, 2019 By cassidykeenan

By Cassidy Keenan Two weeks ago, the blackbox theater I am standing in was completely empty. It was nothing more […]

Hallmark movies may help your mental health

On December 13, 2019December 13, 2019 By cassidykeenan

By Cassidy Keenan I am on the phone with my mother and sister. They both tell me how excited they […]

What do the 2020 candidates say about student debt?

On December 13, 2019December 19, 2019 By melissaschill

By Melissa Schill Understanding front-running candidates’ education policies for students and parents of students is crucial with the 2020 elections […]

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.