I was home educated from 13.. AMA

[aroseaday]

Following on from the other homeschooling children thread!

I'm in my twenties now and was homeschooled from age 13.

Would you home school your own DC?

Why did you leave school, and who’s decision was it?

Thanks for volunteering to do this

What was best and worst about HE?

what qualifications have you got?
were your parents aware of university entry requirements or other examinations?

Did you socialize with friends?
How is your relationship with your parents?

did you do any exercise/pe?

How are your RL social skills?

Were you lonely?

@Boscoismyspiritanimal
No, though it wasn't necessarily a bad experience being homeschooled. I really enjoyed primary school but had to leave secondary due to health reasons.

I did miss having friends and felt very out of touch. Also feel I would have learned better in a classroom.

@Isabellaswann
No worries

I left school due to health reasons (severely anorexic) and was in hospital for some time and had a teacher there, we just continued it once I was out the hospital as it had been a year already and I wasn't well enough mentally to go back to normal education.

@Onceuponatimethen

Best would probably be sleeping in and not having as long 'school days' (as I learnt quicker having one on one teaching and didn't have to do PE and things like that).

Worst, really missed my friends and struggle even now feeling comfortable around loads of people whilst socialising!

@woodencoffeetable

My parents didn't have to be too aware as we had a tutor who knew all of that for me. I wasn't taught by my parents- they both worked full time but my mum did quit work for a year whilst I was very unwell. (We are not wealthy btw! My parents just scrimped to afford the teaching).

As for qualifications, I did 6 GCSE's
English language, Maths, Combined science, French and History.

If I had stayed in school I would probably have also wanted to do D&T (textiles specifically), Dance, and Art too.

Did you have a separate tutor for all subjects, or the same person for everything?

@woodencoffeetable

As for after GCSE, I went to a normal sixth form college and did a year of A levels but had to drop out due to my health deteriorating again. At 19 I completed an access to higher education diploma in medical sciences. (Not because I want to be a doctor but because it interested me and I can use it for most degrees).

I would love to go to university one day when I better have my mental health under control as will probably do something science based (biology mainly) or maybe something completely different!

@JamesNesbittsBrows Not as much as I'd have liked to. Lost contact with most of my school friends but did have friends from hobbies.

Relationship is perfect with my parents. They have always been incredibly supportive.

@woodencoffeetable

Not specifically PE but I did enjoy riding my bike or running once a day. I also did ballet and jazz dance for years. (Which didn't help my anorexia or body image thoughts )

@PieAndPumpkins I would say good but I definitely am an introvert at heart! I live with my boyfriend and we do loads together but I do prefer to be alone. Have a small but nice group of friends that I meet for coffee's/dog walks and occasionally they drag me on a night out.

@WineIsMyCarb Yes but that was mainly due to feeling like the weirdo with an eating disorder.

@Taxiparent I had three over the years, one French friend of my mums who tutored me for GCSE French, one maths tutor (because I'm hopeless at it) and one general education tutor that I saw twice a week for 2 hrs a time.

A lot of work was done independently.

Are you fully recovered?

Do you think it impacted your character at all?

Sorry to be obtuse - and to go off topic - but how was dancing bad for your eating disorder and body image?

Did you find that a general tutor had enough subject knowledge to teach all subjects, for example there is a lot of exam technique, written structure for subjects such as History and I wonder if you think that a general tutor was able to teach you to a high enough standard for you to access the top grades?

What do you do as a career now?

@Bringringbring I am a healthy weight now (the slimmest I can healthily be though!😂) but definitely not mentally recovered despite lots of therapy. Eating disorders are very still very badly understood and treatments aren't great.

Yeah, definitely less outgoing.

@IchbineinBerlinner it's okay! It's because ballerinas usually have a specific body type (very small and thin!) and I felt that pressure at my dance school.

@nellyburt
I work from home with my boyfriend (he owns a marketing and sales company) and I do admin part time.
Eventually like I said I would love to go to uni in a few years when I'm a lot better.