women – Millenial Influx

Feminist Foe or Friend?

On December 13, 2020December 13, 2020 By miapittshope

Feminist Foe or Friend? By: Mia Pitts-Hope When you go to google and type in feminism the google search will […]

Courtney Rockness: Running for Life

On December 11, 2020December 11, 2020 By gloriacoleman

Courtney Rockness: Running for Life By Gloria Coleman Courtney Rockness stared at the doctor, scared to hear the news. He […]

Lillian Mejia: Artist and Immigrant

On December 10, 2020December 14, 2020 By christykim

Lillian Mejia: Artist and Immigrant By Christy Kim Lillian aka Lily Meet Lillian, also known as Lily, who is a […]

Women Rock The Vote!

On November 4, 2020December 15, 2020 By lilymejiagautreau

By: Lillian Mejia-Gautreau One hundred years ago in 1920, women won the right to vote in national elections. Today, women […]

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 […]

Rosie Ruiz: Falsely Finishing First

On April 13, 2020April 13, 2020 By gracepointner

By Grace Pointner A flash of yellow, blue and white were carried across the finish line by a woman with […]

Stronger Players, Higher Pay. Isn’t that the issue?

On April 13, 2020April 13, 2020 By gracepointner

Exploring the pay gap between Men’s and Women’s soccer By Grace Pointner Men are stronger than women. Yes? Science gives […]

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 […]

Empowering Women to Empower Communities

On November 29, 2018December 1, 2018 By laurenrowley

OPINION Empowering Women to Empower Communities By Lauren Rowley Women are the most underutilized resource in the world when it […]

Is Sexism in Sports Here to Stay?

On November 19, 2018November 25, 2018 By gracepointner

OPINION Is Sexism in Sports Here to Stay? By Grace Pointner Sexism in sports exists. If we continue to let […]

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.