The Side Effects of Being Homeschooled

Yeah, so I have been away for several weeks… sorry about that. But—thank goodness—I do have a very valid excuse for all of this. You see, I began college a few weeks ago. This will be my third week to be exact.

So with that in mind, I want to make a little reflection on my past educational life, since, as many of you know, I have been homeschooled basically my entire life. And yes! That is my class picture in the cover photo. Don’t we look so cute!

Anyways, I will now be answering some questions that have been accumulating for years. These questions I have either been asked directly, or I have heard them asked to my parents, or they are just general questions people ask when they realize that I am a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement, and that I was homeschooled, and therefore will freak out and drop college because I did not have a social life since I was locked up in the house studying and because I dress different, and because basically I am not used to the outside world. In other words because I’m an anti-social weirdo.

Well, let’s answer the questions, shall we. And note, these questions I am answering very honestly. I will not hide anything here.

1) What do you think about college?

College has been a great growing experience for me. It has allowed me to grow more into an adult. I have been able to put into practice all that I have learned before.

2) Is college too hard for you?

Honestly, it’s way too easy. I am in a class where I basically know everything. And here I thought that college would keep me awake doing homework at night. Maybe when I get to hard core math, then I’ll be crying my eyes out, but so far so good.

3) How have you coped with being in a classroom setting…?

Because I was homeschooled and if I am in classroom with 29 plus students I will faint? I have actually enjoyed the classroom setting very much. It’s dynamic and I like participating. And yes, I do prefer studying on my own account, but that love for self teaching has helped in my college assignments. While the other students pile over to the professors desk to ask more questions and to get their sheet of information further explained because they just cannot figure it out on their own accord, I just walk out of class because I already know what I have to do.

4) Do you feel you have to dress different in order to fit in?

Fit in? I dress how I like. I don’t feel I need to dress differently in order to fit in. The only person I need to please is God, and no one else. Actually, the way I dress has helped me very much. I am treated with respect from young men. I have had several experiences in this regard, but Ill mention one here: One time, I was coming out of the classroom and a young man—classmate of mine—let the door close on another girl who was dressed very inappropriately, but he held it open just for me. I must confess I felt like a princess! And in reality I am, and so are you. We are daughters of the King of Kings and we ought to dress and behave like one too.

5) How about guys? Has any guy approached you with bad intentions? Do they look at you differently or with wrong eyes? 

Yes I have been approached. With bad intentions? Well, if a guy wants to buy you an iPhone, is that a bad intention?? LOL! I have only been approached once in all the time I have been here. But it was one of those guys who seem to have a chronic mental problem. Those who come to college just to pick up chicks they say. I mean, c’mon there are no chickens in college as far as I know. Go to the farm for that. Hahaha! Yeah, I know what that term means. I’m just being funny. Those guys need to glue their nose in a book and actually study. And yes, I know how to handle them. Hmmm, looked at me with different eyes? Oh yes, all the time! Of course they look at me, but they look at me with respect. Not one guy has ever looked at me with another look in their eyes because I never give them reason to do so.

6) Do you have friends in college?

Remember, I am a social human being. Lol! Yes, I have friends, but rather acquaintances. Sometimes, I attend this group where young people get together to read the Bible. I find it amazing because I can share about my beliefs, and I can also ask questions in order to make the others think more deeply about a Bible verse.

7) Have you done missionary work in college?  

Of course I have, and it has been great! I have given out several Steps to Christ, and I have also sold some books to some friends. I also began this little project where I leave little anonymous notes with Bible verses, or an inspiring quote in empty desks, and people actually take them. At times, I also leave Steps to Christ in empty desks along with a little note, and the next day when I walk by to check the spots where I left them, they are no longer there because people keep the book! It’s just simply amazing!

8) How are your grades?

Straight A’s, with God’s help. I like to study, so I am one of the top students in my class.

9) Is college a temptation to bend your principles in regards to your beliefs? Are you not afraid that you will slip into the world and leave the church?

This has never been a problem I worried about. Why would I be afraid? Of course, in college and pretty much everywhere you will have temptations surround you, it is up to you not to let those temptations dominate you. One has to have that constant relationship with God in order to resist. We of ourselves CANNOT resist on our own. And yes, although, as I said, this has never been a worry to me, I am conscious of the fact that I cannot afford to neglect my relationship with God at any time. With God’s help, I am still here, and I pray that I don’t stray from the right path.

10) Do you like any guy in college?  

Several people have asked me this, and I’m guessing a greater number just don’t dare ask me. LOL! And I think a lot of people think this a great risk because there have been countless cases where a girl goes off to college, she falls in love with a guy, and then she has a kid or she just leaves the church and slips into everlasting doom. But my answer is no. I do not like any guy here. I came here to study, not to waste my time. Of course, please don’t be under the impression that I am saying that I am a saint and I will never do this or that. I am a human, and I make mistakes, but I am trying, with God’s help, to stay away from those mistakes. And I know that if you really care about me, and care about all those young people from the church also studying in college, I know you will pray for them.

11) Why didn’t you go Missionary School first and then attend a Christian/Adventist college?

Missionary school? I have already taken missionary courses. I have not been able to attend a full course of say two years in Australia, but if presented with the opportunity, of course I would go. But one does not really need to travel in order to learn something that you can very well learn on your own at home. And why did I not go to a Christian college so that I would not slip into the world? Do you realize the time in which we live in? To me there is no difference between a secular college to that of a Christian or Adventist one. Of course, in the Adventist one they would understand things about not being able to work on Sabbath or the like, but in regards to the rest, it’s pretty much the same. So for me, choosing AVC was the best option. I was not going to say move to another state in order to study and waste money where I have a perfectly amazing college 45 minutes away from my home. I honestly find it very unreasonable, when young people move out from their parents home in order to go study. What are they trying to do, get rid of their parents rules for once in their life? I mean, I know that that is not always the case, but for me I just found this college to be perfect because I was going to be still at home and be able to help my parents. I don’t want to leave my parents home just yet. I’ll be sad enough when I get married and then I’ll have to move out. Hehehe!

12) Did you wish you were never homeschooled?

This is probably the question I have been asked the most. And it’s funny in the sense that all throughout the years my response has not changed: Yes, homeschooled has A LOT of side effects, you learn to study on your own; you learn to love and appreciate your home; one gets to spend the entire time with their parents; you learn at your own pace; you avoid peer pressure; you learn to have self-control and not play outside until you finish your work; you can study outside on a nice sunny day; the kitchen becomes a classroom, and there’s the perk of, you know, nibbling on a cookie while you work out a division problem (ummm, eating between meals in not good, so please leave the cookie alone); I became a teacher at a very young age because I helped teach my two younger sisters; I had time to dedicate to music and writing. Well, I could go on and on with this list, but I’m afraid I have written so much already. In a nutshell, my answer is this: I AM BLESSED BECAUSE I WAS HOMESCHOOLED. I NEVER regret being taught at home. I look back into my childhood years and I smile because I enjoyed it very much. And now that I’m all grown up and going to college, all those things I learned at home are proving to be helpful to me.

P.S. Special thanks to God, my parents, sister Marin, the Torpey family who have supported us through this wonderful journey.