I was gifted and home schooled ask me anything

[Giraffapuses]

I was home schooled until going to university and identified as gifted by the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth. Ask me anything.

What age did you try school? At uni did you find it hard to adjust?

@Namenic I tried school 2-3 times when I was about 11, 14 and then 16.

I did have a difficult time at university but for reasons unrelated to my home education. I still have friends now from uni and passed me degree tho not well. I got a 2.2. But then, I didn't attend my lectures for two years so....

Had I not have had a difficult time I'm not sure if it would have been hard to adjust. I think it would have been okay but certainly would have required a change. I had less freedom of choice over study and obviously there were the usual learnings about being independent etc.

Thanks so much giraffapuses - although we are happy to home Ed the kids, I would like them to try out school (even if they don’t want to continue long term). It’s just a question of what age(s). It’s helpful to hear your experiences.

btw, I think it’s great that you’re open to sharing about getting a 2.ii at uni and confident. I know a couple of people who also did that - and are now doing great like you are. Most people (myself included) don’t do as well as we could have at different points. I hope I can impress on my kids to keep learning, whatever happens.

@Giraffapuses I'm confused that you were gifted and talented but your parents didn't teach you to read until 11 - surely that means they didn't unlock your potential early enough?

Nothing wrong with getting a 2.2 but again, it's a bit random for a gifted and talented child.

Do you feel like you could have excelled more (purely in "traditional / academic sense, as you spiked very successful in your own right) if you had gone to mainstream school?

If you could do it again, would you still choose homeschool?

@Namenic Great. Good to give your children the choice.

I think your right. Your ability to learn has a lot to do with the circumstances around you and how "ready' you are. Sometimes that comes in later life. Good luck keeping your kids hooked.

@purpleneon don't know on the potential question. I was identified as gifted/talented by the National Academy for gifted and talented youth (nagty). But, I should say, I was like a prodigy. So perhaps not gifted enough for what your imagining.

Your question about getting a 2.ii actually speaks to something quite important. Being gifted doesn't mean you'll succeed no matter what else is going on around you. University was a difficult time for me for a host of reasons. The takeaway is make sure to support your child emotionally. Otherwise they may struggle to flourish no matter their potential.

Tell me more about yourself

@languagelover96 I'd love to. But, I'm keen to remain anonymous. Are there particular things you are interested in? I'm open, I can talk friends, salry, my Dh. Whatever:)

Not really

Just wanted to thank you for your time to answer all these questions. Enjoyed reading the stuff your wrote.

@WomenAreBornNotWorn

My children are exclusively HE. This thread is a real confidence booster. Thank you for posting.

Why do you find experiencing trauma, getting a poor degree & failing to get into their university of choice a 'confidence booster'?

My kids were home educated up until the ages of 11 and 13 respectively. The 13 yr old is dyspraxic and autistic but gifted, hence our decision to HE. He could read books (basic ones) at the age of 2.5 and I’ve never had to teach him spelling. He went to our local private school in year 9, was immediately put into top sets (based on his entrance exams) and is predicted 10 grade 8s and 9s at GCSE. He already has a 7 in Japanese which he took whilst being home educated. We didn’t do autonomous home ed like the OP but they did a maximum of 2-3 hrs a day of work and we had very long holidays plus weeks off any time we felt like it. My other son got into the local grammar and has been put on the pathway for grade 9s in everything at GCSE. He is neurotypical.
This isn’t a boasting post. It’s just to counter the assumption that to home ed your kids is to fail them. My kids learned so much whilst being home educated but also they had good mental health, learned in ways appropriate to their own learning styles and very much enjoyed learning. They still search up everything and are very curious about things outside of school based subjects. The only thing I would say is that home ed is still quite a privileged form of education as it requires one parent to give up employment to be present for their children (although I worked around my husband’s job in our case).