Homeschool Blues | Teen Ink

Homeschool Blues MAG

July 9, 2008
By Catie Frankland BRONZE, Jessup, Maryland
Catie Frankland BRONZE, Jessup, Maryland
4 articles 0 photos 0 comments

I get stereotyped a lot. When I meet someone for the first time, we’ll be talking about movies, music, or summer jobs – then, the dreaded question: “So, where do you go to school?” I shift slightly. I know how they’re going to ­react. I know that they’ll give me a weird look and then find an excuse to move on, muttering a derogatory remark as they smirk at me. You see, I’m homeschooled.

This stereotype has affected me numerous times. One day, my friend and I were taking the PSAT at the local high school. The attendant found our educational choice amusing.

“Do you ever wish you could go to ­real school?” she asked.

“I do go to a real school, thank you very much.” I tried not to sound annoyed.

“You don’t get out much, do you?”

“I get out plenty.”

“Do you know what prom is?”

“Yes, I’m going to mine this spring.” I sighed thankfully as a voice boomed over the loudspeaker, signaling the start of the test.

Last summer one of my coworkers, who was in college, asked what grade I was in and what school I went to.

I ­answered. “Don’t you get tired of sitting at home all day?” she asked, blankly.

I sighed. It was too late; her view of me was already tainted. I could tell she thought I was naive and ­immature.

“So do you have any friends?” she asked.

“Of course!” My sarcastic self wanted to say something about a hermit, but I decided to stick to the facts and not let my big mouth get me in trouble.

People’s reactions are beginning to ­annoy me. I used to dread being asked where I go to school. I would do almost anything to avoid the question. I was afraid I would get stuck in the homeschooler stereotype: long hair, dresses, 16 kids in the family, never heard of Britney Spears, never been to a mall, just sit at home and knit all day. I’m not super smart, and I don’t have a learning ­disability. However, as I near the end of high school, and ­reflect on almost 10 years of being homeschooled, I realize that I shouldn’t be afraid of the stereotype; I should redefine it.

You see, I have two sisters: one is ­attending a public high school, the other goes to the local community college. I play lacrosse and basketball, and my best friend and I will be starting driver’s ed soon. One of my other close friends attends a local high school. I go the mall almost as often as I brush my teeth. I love rock music. I was shocked at Jamie Lynn’s pregnancy. I love McDonald’s double cheeseburgers and hate Starbucks coffee. I write poetry. I hate algebra. I have a MySpace. My toenails are lime-green, my hair is shoulder-length, and I want dreadlocks. I help run a coffee house for high school bands. Oh, and my best friend, who is also homeschooled, received a full Division I college scholarship for soccer.

I’m not handing out this information to prove that I am just like you; I want you to see that you are just like me. I don’t live in a different world than ­other high schoolers. I only choose to be homeschooled.

Recently a coworker asked the ­question and seemed surprised with my answer. “You’re homeschooled?” he asked, shocked. I smiled. That’s the message I want to send. I want to show them what a homeschooler is really like: any other teenage girl.



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This article has 171 comments.


Minus said...
on Oct. 23 at 10:11 am
Minus, Morse, Louisiana
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
I was going to be homeschooled online for a few years but the computer wouldn't work

on Oct. 13 2023 at 8:05 am
Mahathi_R BRONZE, Chennai, Other
1 article 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The entropy of the Universe always increases"<br /> <br /> "Medicine is my lawful wife and literature, my mistress. When I get fed up with one, I spend the night with the other- Anton Chekhov"

Well said and written

on Aug. 23 2019 at 10:44 am
SergeantSteel82 GOLD, Fort Wayne, Indiana
11 articles 0 photos 30 comments

Favorite Quote:
one of the greatest tragedies of our time is this impression that has been created that science and religion have to be at war.<br /> -Francis Collins<br /> <br /> I may never let go of my anger and wrath, <br /> But I will always have the last laugh.<br /> -Corey Taylor <br /> <br /> I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.<br /> -Voltaire

I've been homeschooled since sixth grade, I get all A's, I have many friends, I get better scores than most public schoolers on the same tests. just because I am homeschooled doesn't mean I am a stereo type. I may not be up to date on certain events, and I don't go to prom because I don't like it, but I am still a student, attending a normal school. To be honest, if given the choice to go back to public school, excluding college, I would say, "H#ll no!" because public school is said to be about socially "thriving", when in reality, its about social surviving. I love this article, and it speaks to many of us fellow homeschoolers.

MA BRONZE said...
on Sep. 24 2018 at 10:47 pm
MA BRONZE, Midvale, Utah
4 articles 1 photo 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
If life shuts one door, open another, or you could open the closed door. That's how doors work.

This is so true. I was homeschooled through middle school and I had multiple people always assume I was antisocial. That wasn't even close to true. I had a busier social life then most kids in public school. I had events almost every night that my friends dragged me to and I did a ton of stuff. People have always assumed that homeschooled people are worse in social situations so thanks for writing this.

Eswzem BRONZE said...
on Aug. 23 2017 at 4:05 pm
Eswzem BRONZE, New Castle, Pennsylvania
4 articles 9 photos 67 comments

Favorite Quote:
“For I have a plan for you. A plan to give you peace not for disaster, but a plan to give you hope and a future.” -Our Heavenly Father

Wow. Very nice, well written article. I too, am homeschooled, and going into 10th grade. That makes it 11 years including kindergarten. I hate it when people judge me for what they think I am. You expressed most homeschoolers feelings; we don't want to be judged but treated fairly. Excellent job. We thank you for sharing with the world the common homeschooler's issue.

on Oct. 3 2016 at 7:40 pm
legitannah GOLD, Akron, Ohio
19 articles 3 photos 27 comments

Favorite Quote:
Ce n&#039;etait qu&#039;un renard semblable &#039;a cent mille autres. Maus j&#039;en ai fait mon ami, et il est maintenant unique au monde.- Antoine Saint-Exupery

Nice work! I love your line about not wanting them to see you're like them, but that they're like you- that's the perspective! :) I've been homeschooled my whole life too with some online school and co-ops mixed in there so I definitely know the basic types and stereotypes. As someone who comes from a very diverse background, I've always hated how you can see people mentally categorize you as soon as you answer the question. Also I'm new to Teen Ink, so I'm glad this gets to be my first like :)

on Mar. 24 2016 at 8:05 pm
K.M.Knightley, Joplin, Missouri
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try.

Well said! I have been homeschooled my whole 16 years (besides one semester at a private school) and never once regretted it. I think that society as a whole looks down upon homeschooling because they (meaning the government) have no say at what the kids are taught. Ever since the beginning, parents have taught their kids at home–from household tasks, to algebra (which I also hate:) Thank you for being willing to speak out. :) Keep it up.

Balletfan said...
on Jun. 11 2015 at 5:53 am
Yes, this is very well written. I'm 13 and been homeschooled my whole life. Sadly, I have no friends my own age nearby (I have lots of friends that live hours away) because whenever I answer that horrible question, they just move on. It's very unfair. I personally would like to go to school, if I was allowed to

Annamaj BRONZE said...
on May. 13 2015 at 7:55 am
Annamaj BRONZE, New York, New York
1 article 0 photos 15 comments
Well done! I'm homeschooled where I live, when say I'm homeschooled, people just ask a lot of questions. I don't mind their curiosity, but answering the same questions twenty times over gets old

on Sep. 25 2014 at 4:53 pm
PureDrawings BRONZE, Chandler, Arizona
3 articles 43 photos 230 comments
This is so true. When you say your homeschooled its like they view you as this weird thing that just entered earth. I agree with you all the way! Great Job!

on Feb. 16 2014 at 2:04 pm
LostInThoughts BRONZE, Heath Springs, South Carolina
3 articles 0 photos 13 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;People haven&#039;t always been there for me, but music always has!!&quot; -Taylor Swift

Well I am an All Honors student and I am considered popular. But popularity means nothing to a girl like me.

on Feb. 15 2014 at 1:52 pm
Afterdarkreader SILVER, Sterlington, Louisiana
5 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
&#039;Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,Nothing is going to get better. It&#039;s not.&#039; Doctor Seuss

if you think it would be better than your current school for your education level and social level than go for it.

on Feb. 14 2014 at 5:31 pm
LostInThoughts BRONZE, Heath Springs, South Carolina
3 articles 0 photos 13 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;People haven&#039;t always been there for me, but music always has!!&quot; -Taylor Swift

And after I  finish the year out would it be smart to homeschool?

on Feb. 13 2014 at 9:28 am
Afterdarkreader SILVER, Sterlington, Louisiana
5 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
&#039;Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,Nothing is going to get better. It&#039;s not.&#039; Doctor Seuss

finish the year out. Just trust me. It's important. Next year do whatever you want. Also this is a good article but a little hard to follow.

on Nov. 27 2013 at 2:01 pm
I am now a freshman in high school and wish everyday to be homeschooled. I know if I was I would go to school for JROTC and band, also I run varsity track. Do you think it would be a good idea for me to homeschool? Or do I need to finsh the year out?

on Aug. 18 2013 at 4:10 pm
DawnieRae BRONZE, Lancaster, Ohio
3 articles 0 photos 218 comments
I am homeschooled, I have been for like years. Ussually when people learn I am hokeschooled they think its cool. They ask me of it means I get sleep in late. I don't haha I get up early! Anyways, great article! I really love finding out about what other homeschoolers feel about this! I love homeschooling and would never go to public school for the world. I love being with my family!

on May. 30 2013 at 3:24 pm
I'm a freshman and this is my first year being homeschooled. my dad is in the military and last year we lived about an hour away from where we do now, i went to school and had amazing friends and a boyfriend who i still keep in contact with (though we're no longer dating) and well now i live here and i'm homeschooled but i go to the high school part time for band, and i play soccer there, but gosh at the beginning of this year i felt exactly the same way that you just described, and sometimes i just feel like beating my fists on the wall and scream that i want to be in school, but gosh i'm rambling lol i just wanted to say THANK YOU and i wish that i could just walk aaround with what you just said on a tshirt. every. single. day. would make everything so much easier. my problem is when people are like eww why would you *choose* to do band? because i love it, same as soccer, you know? but thank you, again. just thank you :)

on Feb. 28 2013 at 6:51 pm
FreeToBeWierd BRONZE, Charlotte, North Carolina
4 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
If Music Be The Food Of Love, Play On

I really really enjoyed reading this. I am homeschooled and I often face these sterotypes and questions. But I am glad that you stand for all of us homescholers ^_^ Gah-reat jobo XD

kmeep GOLD said...
on Feb. 27 2013 at 7:35 am
kmeep GOLD, Woodbury, New Jersey
17 articles 2 photos 62 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you can&#039;t laugh at yourself, laugh at other people.<br /> -Tim Hawkins

I agree. I'm homeschooled, but I definitely don't sit at home all day. Actually, I'm an extrovert. And I have plenty of friends.

on Jan. 5 2013 at 11:30 pm
Thank you for sharing this! I was homeschooled for ten years, too, and there are so many stigmas and stereotypes. It's unfair, and simply untrue. I get asked those same questions all the time. There's a guy on youtube, Jordan Taylor, who speaks to the same thing... search "top 7 lies about homeschoolers" and watch the "messy mondays" video. (: You will love it. He humorously combats the common stereotypes.