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Millenial Influx

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

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 […]

What’s the Deal with Spanking?

On September 18, 2015 By stephenwatts

Before I started school, as a child of two working parents, I was usually taken care of by my grandmother. […]

Finding Truth at the Mosque Next Door

On March 6, 2015August 15, 2015 By sarahmiller

I happen to live, work, and study in one of the most Christianized towns in the world—Wheaton, Illinois, the “City […]

Is There Hope for Global Teens with Alcoholic Parents?

On March 7, 2014 By williambyrd

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/138117070″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”100″ iframe=”true” /] According to the World Health Organization, the Czech Republic is the #2 drunkest […]

Why School Lunches are Killing Students

On March 6, 2014 By sydneybrynn

“In a typical week, elementary school menus include chicken tenders, cheeseburgers, and ‘Pizza Fridays,’ with sides of cheesy rotini, mozzarella […]

The Whale Next Door: Tech Toys Feed Childhood Obesity

On February 13, 2014February 13, 2014 By williambyrd

According to science, certain whale species are currently on the verge of becoming extinct in part due to hunting. This […]

Why Millennials Should Not be Scared to Marry Young

On November 17, 2013November 18, 2013 By bondroth

To clarify, the kids in the featured picture are too young for marriage, but I, on the other hand, am […]

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.