I was contacted recently by a young lady who had created a guide to unschooling for teens. I found her personal story quite interesting and new I had to interview here. Part 1 of this interview addressed her early homeschool years and her switch from homeschooling to unschooling. Part 2 discussed getting into college and getting scholarships. Here is the third and final part of the interview.
What unique experiences did homeschooling provide?
I know that a lot of new homeschooling parents and their friends and family are concerned with the socialization aspect. One of my unique experiences was the chance to really get to know people outside of my age group. It was enormously powerful to be able to study art with local artists. I also have maintained friendships with adults much older than myself, as well as kids much younger than myself, just through common interests.
The other really unique experience that I have had is that I have remained very close to my family. Since we are not all away from the house for eight or more hours a day, I really know what’s going on in my family’s lives. In addition, when I do take classes, often my siblings take them too. I know a lot of other teenagers – traditionally schooled, homeschooled, unschooled – and I have seen how many of my homeschooled/unschooled friends enjoy spending time with their parents as well. It is possible in traditional students, but I have seen it to be pretty rare.
And as I mentioned before, being able to concentrate so fully on theatre is pretty unique for a teenager. I did a 300-hour production internship last spring – that’s two full-time months at a professional theatre.
What, if anything, would you change about your homeschooling experience?
I am very pleased with my homeschooling experience. I am sure that if I nitpicked every detail, I could find something that could have been different, but I am very happy with my education. I feel that even after I move through college and begin my adult life, I will always be a homeschooler – if homeschooling means following passions and soaking up knowledge, I will never finish being a homeschooler.
Bio:
Andi Enns is a seventeen-year-old unschooler from Kansas City, Missouri. She was accepted into her top-choice college, and will be attending this fall for Nonprofit Leadership and Organizational Communications.
She has created a website at http://squidoo.com/unschoolingteen/ for her tips on unschooling high school.
Read more Homeschool Success stories here:
And this interview with a homeschooling mom: Biking from Alaska to Argentina: A Homeschooling Road Trip