Chicago – Millenial Influx

Millenial Influx

News, commentary, opinion, and analysis from the Millennial generation

City of Chicago Carjackings – Make Yourself Aware

On May 2, 2018May 3, 2018 By fionaflynn

Chicago – a city of music, cuisine, sports teams, and crime. In the city of Chicago, we are well […]

Summer Baseball Preview

On May 2, 2018May 2, 2018 By brittanydole

Cubs and Brewers leading NL Central By Brittany Dole The 2018 MLB season has been an interesting one so far, […]

Great Things for Different Couples to do in Chicago!

On April 13, 2017 By geenacalomino

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in a relationship for five days or fifty years, Chicago is a wonderful city […]

These Little Town Blues Are Melting Away

On December 9, 2016 By sophieclark

By Sophie Clarke & Audrey Gross Graduating college: one of the many milestones in life that feels impossible at times […]

Pui Tak: Chinatown, Immigration, and Wendy Yong

On November 28, 2016November 28, 2016 By estherkao

Pui Tak is nestled in the old part of Chicago’s Chinatown. Inside the distinctively Chinese architecture children and adult voices […]

Coffee Shops You Should Be FALLowing: A Guide to the Best of Seasonal Caffeinated Flavors in the Chicagoland Area

On October 22, 2016November 4, 2016 By sophieclark

’Tis the season of sugar and spice and everything pumpkin flavored: no doubt you’ve noticed this on your weekly (or […]

Kylla Pate

On April 27, 2016 By juanwagenveld

Kylla. Who is Kylla? What does a strong, independent woman look like? These questions go hand in hand; in fact, […]

The Minority Experience: Do I “Look Like My Name?”

On April 22, 2016April 22, 2016 By makaylacole

April 17, 2016– Claire Edwards is an Asian American student attending Trinity Christian College, and dealt with a stereotype as […]

When Scars Don’t Heal

On February 18, 2016February 18, 2016 By katiepark

Visit: When Scars Don’t Heal The massive amount of homicides in Chicago have given the city a new nickname, Chiraq—derived […]

Entertainment: Why Live Is Always Best

On November 3, 2015November 3, 2015 By jordantuin

The Nutcracker, The Stag King, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, are all plays that I have paid to see in Chicago. […]

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.