Diet – Millenial Influx

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

Agriculture-land of opportunity

On December 1, 2016December 4, 2016 By frewippel

In the early 1900’s, American agriculture began its development in farm machinery and technology. The 18th century included oxen and […]

What’s with the sexism in our salads?

On December 1, 2016January 7, 2017 By sarahholcomb

A family sits at a dinner table lined with piles of leafy salad. Mom gleefully munches on a piece of […]

6 weeks without sweets: How I beat my sugar addiction

On October 28, 2016October 28, 2016 By sarahholcomb

As far as I’m concerned, sugar might as well be pixie dust. For as long as I can remember, it’s […]

You Are What You Eat: Millennials’ Effort to Reshape the American Identity by Changing the American Diet

On October 20, 2016October 20, 2016 By audreygross

“You are what you eat.” While this phrase has been used time and again to over-simplify the understanding of our […]

The guilt behind fair trade coffee

On March 7, 2014March 9, 2014 By abigailreese

Why specialty coffee markets are more effective than fair trade If you’ve ever bought coffee beans by the pound at […]

Hunger: Temporary Satisfaction vs. Long-Term Health

On January 27, 2014January 28, 2014 By torigreaves

A look at a typical Kenyan meal and its implications for the world today Ugali: a mix of cornmeal and […]

Parenting Affects Childhood Obesity in the United States

On January 26, 2014March 7, 2014 By taylorlindell

Seventeen percent of children aged two to nineteen are overweight or obese in the United States, according to the Center […]

Globesity: What can be done?

On January 24, 2014June 25, 2014 By abigailreese

A look into what a celebrity and politics can do to combat global obesity By: Abigail Reese For the first […]

The Daniel Plan: Using Faith to Fight for Fitness

On January 24, 2014July 7, 2014 By alyssapaulsen

The Daniel Plan:

Mind the “Gap”: Social Media vs. Eating Disorders

On December 17, 2013 By alexandriakuo

Fifteen-year-old Becky gazes at her laptop screen with admiration as models like Cara Delevingne and Miranda Kerr strutted down the […]

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.