Homeschooled kids are cool kids too

There is a saying I have heard a few times before. “That weird homeschooled kid.” I never used to understand it, because I was a homeschooled kid. Now that I am older I can better understand. Other kids find homeschooled kids to be different, mostly because the stereotypical version of them lacks social interaction. That is not true for all of them. I am homeschooled, but I have had PLENTY of social interaction that many don’t think of me as ‘that weird homeschooled kid’. In fact there are times where some of my friends have even forgotten that I am homeschooled. I have 4-H to thank for that. Without the program, I would not be able to speak in front of others at all. Now when first meeting people I am quiet, but I warm up eventually.

Now there are times that people say “I wish I could be homeschooled too.” Yeah it is great for me, because I can pick the hours to work on school but I don’t just sit around all day doing nothing. I have work to do. I live on an Organic dairy farm that my parents run, but I help them do it along with my other siblings. We also have beef cows, horses, dogs, chickens, and goats to take care of as well. So it’s not all fun and games for me, some homeschooled kids’ maybe, but not this one.

I attend PACyber which is an online school that gives me a course to follow. I have been homeschooled ever since I was little. What started me off with it was my mother. She started us in homeschooling because my older siblings had some trouble with public schooling. I have never switched from being homeschooled. I will admit, there were times when I would think about going to public school, but being able to stay at home and do my work was easier for me while working on the farm and taking care of it.

The most awkward times for me, I would say are when my friends are talking about afterschool programs such as sports or other after school activities. I have never experienced them. I just get to listen to what that person has to say about it. I like hearing it, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t have much to contribute to the conversation. There were chances for me to get into sports but homeschooling sports aren’t advertised well or they are a big distance to get to, so instead I use my time to work with the animals on the farm. This gives me more chances to go to 4-H events as well, so I don’t really mind. I also have more time to work with my horse and goats. So being homeschooled works well for me, but may not be the best choice for others.



I hope to see many of you at our next event, Capital Days!

Danielle Knapp
State Council Reporter