Looking Back: A Success Story From a Grown-Up Homeschooled Kid
By Hannah H.
Hey there! I wanted to share some thoughts on my life growing up as a homeschooler in a family of six. Picture this: no early morning rush, staying in your PJs as long as you wanted, exploring subjects that fascinate you, and being able to learn at your own pace. Homeschooling gave me the freedom to not get caught up in the hustle and bustle of public school life and focus on what truly matters, family and personal development and growth.
Discovering My Passions
Forget about boring textbooks! Homeschooling allowed me to dive deep into the subjects that truly ignited my curiosity. From learning about the secrets of ancient civilizations or reading poetry written by some of the greatest minds of all time, I had the freedom to explore the topics that fascinated me the most. Of course, I still had to make sure I was continuing my education in the core subjects such as language arts, science, and math but with my mom’s help, I was able to actively take part in my education and have some choice in my own learning experience, which was an amazing gift. I also watched my mom as she pursued her business, Times Tales, with my Aunt Jennie. This taught me to really pursue my passions and think outside the box, when it came to learning. I really enjoyed art as a child and you can see some of my paintings above! My mom actually put me in an art class so that I could follow my interest in art and I really appreciate that looking back. No one-size-fits-all approach—this was education that fit my personality, catered to my interests, and allowed me to have balance in my personal life.
School On the Go
This brings me to my next point…I had both flexibility and balance when it came to my studies as a homeschooled kid. Do homeschooling and vacations mix? Well, as a former homeschooled kid, I can definitely say yes! I could hit the road with my family and bring my studies along for the ride or I could jump ahead in my studies in the weeks before an upcoming vacation and take a school-free vacation (YES PLEASE!!). Who said learning had to be confined to a classroom, or in my case my bedroom or kitchen table? Not my mom apparently! I loved being able to have the opportunity to choose when I got my school finished, whether it was jumping ahead in my studies or keeping up with a daily consistent pace. During my high school years, my mom also didn’t require that I had to start and end school at a specific time each day as traditional public school does. Whether I started working on my schoolwork early in the morning or later in the evening, as long as I got my studies completed, I was able to have this autonomy.
The Pajama Stereotype
I know there is a stereotype about homeschoolers and PJs and In my case, this stereotype was absolutely correct. As a homeschooler, I got to rock my PJs all day long if I wanted to! Who needs uniforms or stiff collars? The freedom to study in my comfiest attire, in my bed, on my couch, or even outside in the sunshine, allowed me to focus on my studies while being cozy and happy with my environment. Who knew that learning could be so comfortable?
Connections That Count
Contrary to popular belief, homeschooling doesn’t mean you are a hermit. In fact, it introduced me to a vibrant community of homeschoolers in my small town. Through participation in homeschool groups and locally run sports activities, I met some of the most interesting people and socialized with people of all ages. Additionally, I played softball, soccer, and tennis for 3 years with the local public high school team. Many parents of homeschoolers are not aware that their children are able to participate in the public school sports teams as homeschoolers. I had so much fun, made so many great connections, and learned so many sports-related important lessons through my involvement with public school sports.
Public School Sports 
I was a pretty shy individual and when I first enrolled in public school sports, I thought that the public school students wouldn’t like me or would think I was weird for being homeschooled, but I received the exact opposite reaction. During practice or when we were on the bus heading to a game, I would receive a ton of questions from my new friends about homeschooling, with the students often mentioning that they were jealous and wished they were homeschooled. They asked me if I could stay in my pajamas all day, if I slept in every day, if it was weird having my mom as a teacher, and so on. Contrary to what I originally thought, I only received positive reactions and genuine inquisitiveness from other students. Through my experiences on public school sports teams, I learned some powerful lessons about being comfortable in my own skin, sportsmanship, discipline, and so many other lessons that I still apply to my everyday life.
Conclusion
Homeschooling often gets a bad rap, but in my opinion and in the eyes of so many other grown-up homeschooled kids that I know, homeschooling was a gift. It was my ticket to freedom, self-expression, growth, and lifelong learning. It gave me the chance to follow my passions, enjoy learning in a comfortable environment, embark on exciting adventures, and connect with an incredible community of fellow students. Homeschooling wasn’t just an education—it was an amazing journey that shaped me in ways I’ll always be grateful for.
Special shoutout to my wonderful mother, who chose to quit her career in business and stay home to teach and nurture her four daughters. I will always be thankful and appreciative of the sacrifices you have made as my teacher and my mom.
