All Nonfiction
- Bullying
- Books
- Academic
- Author Interviews
- Celebrity interviews
- College Articles
- College Essays
- Educator of the Year
- Heroes
- Interviews
- Memoir
- Personal Experience
- Sports
- Travel & Culture
All Opinions
- Bullying
- Current Events / Politics
- Discrimination
- Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
- Entertainment / Celebrities
- Environment
- Love / Relationships
- Movies / Music / TV
- Pop Culture / Trends
- School / College
- Social Issues / Civics
- Spirituality / Religion
- Sports / Hobbies
All Hot Topics
- Bullying
- Community Service
- Environment
- Health
- Letters to the Editor
- Pride & Prejudice
- What Matters
- Back
Summer Guide
- Program Links
- Program Reviews
- Back
College Guide
- College Links
- College Reviews
- College Essays
- College Articles
- Back
Happy at Home MAG
I had fully planned on attending high school. Honest. I had already missed middle school, so there was no way I was missing out on “the best years of my life.” But, when the time came to enroll or continue home-schooling, I picked the latter.
Why? All I had dreamed about was having a huge group of friends, possibly meeting a guy I thought was incredible, and having a shiny, gray locker. What grade school student doesn't look forward to her own locker? I still have yet to open one.
You see, the closer I got to school, the less appealing everything looked. I'm heading into my last year of high school and still don't care about a graduation ceremony or the prom. I'm positive that I'll never look back on these years with regrets.
How do I know that I didn't miss out? How do I know that something amazing wouldn't have happened if I'd just gone to school? Because without home-schooling I know I would never have picked up a pen. I love to write, but in school my whole class hated it. The room would fill with groans when it was time to pull out our writing folders. I would suppress a smile and fake a groan with everyone else.
I'm now also a proud book devourer. Reading only when it is required is something I'm sure I would still be doing had I remained in the classroom.
I'm stronger now. I'm not going to dislike something just because my friends do. Or ignore someone because everyone else does. I see that high school band, film, or theater geek, and I smile. Never before would I have admitted to admiring them. They know who they are and aren't afraid to pass up mainstream activities to pursue their own interests. Home-schooling helped me learn to be strong and independent-minded.
That's how I know I haven't missed out. I don't conform to what everyone thinks is normal. Sure, home-schooling is not for everyone. Neither is public school. People will always ask me if I feel I missed out on my high school years. The answer will always be no.