I’m 20 years old and have never spent a single minute in a public school classroom.
When my older sister was in 3rd grade and I was about to go into 1st grade, my mother decided public school was not the path for us.
Growing up homeschooled, the stereotype was that I was antisocial, and my only friends were my parents and sister. Thankfully, my mom decided to put my sister and me in a co-op that met once a week. We moved to another co-op a few years down the line with the same format. That path led to some of the best people and friends I could ever ask for.
I’ve had the same friend group for more than a decade; the bonds I’ve made with them are unbreakable and we all stay in touch. Every one of them will be invited to my wedding.
Once I decided college was the route I wanted to take with my career, I was concerned about adjusting to life on a college campus. I had lived in the same house since I was a few months old, so leaving that comfortable environment was scary. Not only that, but daily class meetings and the idea of finding new friends terrified me.
I’ve always struggled with overthinking, always believing every one of my actions was going to go the wrong way. Because of that, I didn’t sleep much the night before I moved into college.
Right before I finally fell asleep, the idea of a new start became interesting.
The second I arrived on campus freshman year and stepped out of my comfort zone, every worry I had carried just disappeared. I was in an unfamiliar setting with unfamiliar people, yet was somehow thriving.
During a conversation I had with a new friend during my freshman year, her response to finding out I had been homeschooled was:
“Oh really? I couldn’t tell.”
One of the lessons I’ve learned from the college experience is that stepping outside of your bubble or comfort zone is beneficial, and change is a tremendous gift. There’s so much you didn’t know was possible, as everyone has a special ability or gift they can bring to the table — it’s just up to them to find out. The other lesson is that your background doesn’t matter. I came in only having known a few close friends my whole life, yet socializing became so easy at college.
Going to college was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and it’s shaped me into a stronger young man, for better or for worse, and the switch from being homeschooled to being thrust into a new environment somehow didn’t phase me.
Stepping out of my comfort zone has been critical in my personal development. It has shown me that sometimes, making the “risky” move is necessary to get you where you want to go.
