running – Millenial Influx

Millenial Influx

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

Another ‘Running Boom’? Yes, Indeed.

On November 19, 2020November 19, 2020 By courtneyrockness

By Courtney Rockness It’s a cold, miserable day in Wheaton, Illinois. Even so, I bundle up, lace up my shoes, […]

A Little Rain Stops a 33-Year Drought for American Women Runners

On April 18, 2018April 18, 2018 By brittanydole

38 degrees and wind is no match for dedicated runners By Brittany Dole The 2018 Boston Marathon’s weather conditions were […]

Blood, Sweat, and Jesus: the Power of Sports Ministry

On March 6, 2015April 14, 2020 By abbydorman

Blood, Sweat, and Jesus: the Power of Sports Ministry By Abby Dorman It was almost time for lunch, and they […]

When ultramarathons become ultra unhealthy

On February 16, 2015 By kirkan

I once trained for nine months to beat my running mileage record and succeeded; I breached the three-mile mark at […]

The Battle for Fitness Among Intellectually Disabled

On January 31, 2014January 31, 2014 By samsmith

In a world simultaneously obsessed with beauty and food, the struggle to maintain fitness is an immense one for everyone, […]

Nike FuelBand v. FitBit Force | Which Would You Steal?

On December 11, 2013December 12, 2013 By sydneybrynn

Written by Bond Roth and Sydney Brynn. Just Do It. A phrase that has dominated the sports world since […]

The Shaping of Sydney Brynn | Running and Loving with a Fire for the Lord

On November 20, 2013November 20, 2013 By williambyrd

“I remember my parents took me out to get pizza one day at our favorite pizza place. They sat me […]

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Jordan Hasay

On November 4, 2013 By sydneybrynn

Jordan Hasay is my favorite runner. As a decorated University of Oregon Track and Field athlete and now a member […]

Stead[fast] Security: The 2013 Chicago Marathon

On October 18, 2013 By sydneybrynn

The race was spectacular to watch. Over 45,000 runners and 1.7 million spectators crowded the streets of Chicago last Sunday […]

Prodigious Twins Keep Running in Perspective

On April 8, 2013June 25, 2014 By meredithmanchester

Most professional baseball players could hit a ball before they hit puberty; most female tennis players started talking about ‘love’ […]

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.