Hey, hey, everyone! WOW, I had a lot of work to do this week due to Labor Day. But I’ve got to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed my day off! Besides, I have some exciting things planned for a ✨ special occasion ✨ this weekend, so it was all worth it! But we’ll dive a little deeper into what that ocassion is in just a second.
Right now, all I have to say is #TGIF. Or in other words, thank God it’s Friday!
Today, I’ll be talking about a couple of the things that I did this week, as well as sharing a very exciting announcement about some upcoming fun-filled adventures. Let’s get started!
So, my school has this yearly event called a “Club Rush,” which is essentially a Zoom presentation of all the clubs that my school offers, and each of the club sponsors gets to share a little bit about their club. For the past couple of years, I had already set my mind on which clubs I wanted to join before the Club Rush occurred. But this time, I stayed for the entire meeting. And ironically, 2 of the clubs that I joined were different from my original plans.
At first, I was anticipating on joining Creative Writing Club (for my 3rd year), Book Club (for my 2nd year), and Art Club (for the 1st time ever.) But once I took a look at my schedule and saw a lot of the other awesome clubs that my school offered, I ended up applying for Creative Writing Club, Glee Club (or Chorus), and Teen Driving Club! And guess what, y’all! I was accepted for all three!
My first club meeting of the year was Glee Club, this Wednesday. And I’ve got to say that it might just become one of my favorite clubs of all time! But I’m not exactly surprised: I am a music lover, after all.
Let’s not forget about how I said that I will be doing some fun things, this weekend. Now, you might be thinking that we just decided to plan some special outings just for the fun of it, right? But for me, this weekend is actually the celebration of a major holiday on my calendar . . . my BIRTHDAY!!! And we plan on celebrating for the entire weekend!
Goodmommy even ordered some early birthday gifts for me, and they arrived just a few hours ago. At first, I was going to show them to you guys today. . . but then I thought, why not let you wait until my birthday post–which will be coming very soon–to show you all the good stuff! What? It’s fun to keep you all on your toes!
But until then, Happy (Early) Birthday to me!
I had a really good time writing this casual post about the things that I did this week, and I hope you all had a blast reading it, as well. Have a beautiful and blessed day, God bless you all, and I will catch you next time! Peace in! ~ Q’Zion ♡
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Good morning, afternoon, day, or evening everybody! This is Princess Q’Zion, and welcome back to my blog! Well, September is almost here. And that means that August of 2022 is about to come to an end. It almost feels like this month went by a little too fast. But, it was a great month–thank God–so I can’t really complain.
Here is a wrap-up of how I spent this August. Let’s get started!
Life Updates
So, I’ve officially gotten through my first month of high school . . . and now that I’ve got back into the lingo of doing my school work every day, I can officially say that I don’t think it’s that different from junior high. For me, entering high school was kind of like turning 13; I felt a little bit more mature and like I was starting a new chapter. But there have not been any drastic changes in my life. And to be honest, I’m super happy about that, because I love my live as it is.
Towards the end of this month, me and Goodmommy have began walking outside three days a week to increase our stamina. We originally started due to a fitness assessment for my HOPE course–but we loved it so much that we decided to walk outdoors regularly. And even though we practically just started our fitness journey, I’m already feeling healthier and happier, every day. Oh, and speaking of my family, it’s been a while since I’ve gave an update on Peace–my betta fish–to you guys. Honestly, I think Peace gets more and more energetic every day. Here’s a picture of him.
This was one of the only clear pictures that I could get of Peace today because every time I come up to the tank, he wiggles so fast that it’s so hard to catch him being still lol. But can we talk about how Peace’s colors have gotten even more vibrant compared to a month ago? Let’s face it: Peace simply cannot take a bad photo.
Books That I Read
A majority of the reading that I did this month outside of school was actually around the first week of August. Because in reality, being a freshman is practically the same thing as having a part-time job. Anyway, I’m just happy that I was able to finish a few books, this month, since it’s something that I’ve been working on, recently. Plus, considering that my birthday and Christmas are both right around the corner, I have a sneaking suspicion that I’ll be getting some new books very soon. 😉
Frozen II: Forest of Shadows by Kamila Benko – After a year-and-a-half’s pause halfway through this 416-page novel, I finally finished it. I have to admit though that once I resumed, I literally could not put this one down!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney – In my opinion, Rodrick Rules is the best out of all of the DoaWK movies, and I think the book was really good, too!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney – This book was the inspiration of the Dog Days film. And I’ve got to say, it’s probably one of the funniest additions to the series (although none of them compare to the original, in my opinion.)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down by Jeff Kinney – Greg–the protagonist of the series–was mainly just rambling throughout the course of this book. Nothing super exciting happened, since it was literally Greg just jotting down his random thoughts. But overall, it still included some funny moments and made me smile, so I’ll count it as a win.
Movies That I Watched
Pureflix–which is basically the Christian version of Netflix–had been a little disappointing for the past couple months. Like, it was really hard to find something that was actually good to watch. Me and Goodmommy were even thinking about trading it for a new streaming service–even though we really didn’t want to.
But thank God, Pureflix finally had a good comeback this month! So to make a long story short, we binged the new additions throughout the entire month, and we found some really good Christian films! Here is a list of all the movies that I watched this August, and a few of my takeaways from each one.
The World We Make – I think we actually saw this film at the end of July, but I still really wanted to include it because I absolutely loved it! Interracial couples are kind of marginalized in the entertainment industry. But I’m glad to see that they’ve gotten more representation within the past few years. This movie really touched on the subjects of racism, racial prejudice, grieving, and what true love really is in a really tasteful way. I definitely recommend it for everyone!
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters – A relationship between a father and his daughter is probably one of the most precious of them all. I thought that this movie did a really great job of portraying the ups and downs of that relationship. This one isa strong recommendation of mine for other teenagers–especially teenage girls, because the two oldest daughters in the movie are both facing things that many girls will likely find relatable.
Miracles From Heaven – This tear jerker of a movie–which just so happens to be a true story–is a must-watch for the entire family. Even though me and Goodmommy watched it about two times before re-watching it this month, we still both ended up crying, once again. No matter how many times you watch it, it’s going to affect you, and that’s what I love about this film! PLEASE don’t sleep on this movie–it is truly a ✨ masterpiece. ✨
Why We Breathe – All I have to say about this movie is- eh. Although I appreciated how the movie included a well-represented black character and the tastefully-addressed issue of domestic violence, I didn’t really like the main character’s personality. Sure, almost every protagonist makes some mistakes, throughout the course of a plot, but I feel like the main character in this film made several mistakes without redeeming herself. In conclusion, the film was a good idea, but the execution was far from stellar.
Play the Flute– Although I thought the start of this one was kind of slow, it became a favorite of mine about halfway through. The plot of teenagers who doubt the concepts of Christianity changing their ways and developing their relationships with God was a really satisfying watch. The themes of peer pressure, making our lives count for God, and what it means to “play the flute” (Matthew 11:17) gave me a better understanding about both the Bible and life itself. If you’re a Christian teen, Play the Flute is definitely a must-watch.
My Favorite Posts of the Month
Well, I published a total of 18 post on my blog, this August. Pretty good! These are some of my personal favorites, for this month.
Aaaaannnnddd, that’s all for the wrap-up of August 2022. Honestly, creating a recap of my entire month was unexpectedly satisfying. I would really appreciate if you all would let me know what you thought about it. You never know: monthly wrap-ups just might become a new tradition, on The Joys and Trials and a Christian Teen.
What was the best part(s) of this August for you? Also, is there anything that you have planned in the last few months of the year that you are looking forward to? Feel free to share your responses in the comments.
Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! Peace in, and I’ll catch you later! ♡
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Hey, y’all! It’s Q’Zion, here and welcome back to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen! I hope you all are enjoying the beginning of the brand new school year; I know I definitely am!
Speaking of school, one of my electives that I’m taking right now is Health Opportunities Through Physical Education, also known as HOPE: in short, it’s like P.E., except it goes a bit more in depth with how we can set goals to benefit our physical, mental, social, and academic health.
This week, we have to submit this fitness assessment, where we do a variety of exercises to test our physical endurance, strength, and stamina. One of the largest parts of the assessment was the 1 mile walk/run. Me and Goodmommy decided to get the job done by visiting a local park for the first time.
I’ve got to admit that before I began taking the HOPE course, it had been a long time since I’ve actually went outside and had a good run; probably too long, in fact. But what I love about the course is it allows you to look at your overall health as is, and use the information that you gather from workouts like this to set goals for future improvement.
Our Apple Watches were a huge help in keeping track of our distance and heart rate, while we ran—and took walking breaks, in between. Seriously though; a fitness watch is truly a necessity for anyone who wants to keep track of their physical activity.
Everyone needs to get at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. And while it might take a little extra effort—there’s nothing like taking a walk in the summer breeze.
Walking in nature is such a different feeling then working out in your home. Not only is there much more space to move around, but it’s pretty hard to resist not taking a photo here and there. But can you really blame me? I’ve got to give it to Goodmommy, she found a beautiful park!
And I think one of the things that I love most about this particular location is that it has a lot of statues and other structures that can help you learn about the history of our country, such as past wars and victories. The historical aspect of the park almost makes it feel like an outdoor art museum.
This eagle statue on a podium was probably my favorite of them all. It looks so realistic; I can’t imagine how long it took to make. Plus, can we just talk about how perfect the landscaping is? Now that’s what I call ✨gorgeous ✨!
Overall, me and Goodmommy had such an awesome time together. From now on, we plan on going outside to get some fresh air a lot more often. Next time I’ll be sure to take pictures of us in action. I can already see both me and Goodmommy reaching our fitness goals pretty soon! And I can’t wait to continue to document our journey!
What’s your favorite way to exercise? Also, do you prefer to work out inside or outside? I would love to hear from you all down below in the comments!
Hav a great rest of your day or night, y’all! God bless you all, and I’ll see you next time! Laters! ✨
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Virtual school is more popular than ever these days–so much so that now, many kids who began virtual education as a result of COVID-19 are now attending virtual or remote schooling part- or full-time. And while most people think that attending school on a screen is a piece of cake, not all parts of virtual school are easy for many kids–and one of those factors is note-taking.
Considering that I’ve been attending virtual school for nearly 6 years, you could say that I’m pretty experienced with creating a note-taking system. And I’d like to help new virtual students–or students who just want a more organized way to study–to do the same. Here are 5 quick tips that will help steer every remote student onto the road to note-taking mastery! Let’s get started!
1. Use your resources
One of the many benefits of being a virtual student is that we have so many different ways to learn and study at the click of a button. In case you are still learning how to navigate your online education platform, ask your teacher if there’s any guided notes (meaning notes that outline lectures, but allow students to fill in the blanks with material found in a lesson), tutorials, or other helpful resources to help you with your notetaking and studying. And don’t forget to take advantage of opportunities to ask your teachers questions through tutoring sessions, live lessons with your instructor and fellow students, or your teacher’s contact information.
Online education gives us so many methods to seeking the help we need: all we have to do is use them.
2.Write down the highlights of each lesson
I know, I know. How exactly are you supposed to tell which parts of each lesson are truly important? Well, the truth is, sometimes it can be hard as a virtual student. But the number one thing that helps me is asking myself, “What do I think is going to be on the test?” and “Is this something that I think is important?” When we think about the definitions or topics that we will likely be tested on in the future, or simply what that we think we will need to know, it becomes a little easier to see what is truly worth jotting down and what isn’t.
3. Find your own style
The truth is, the style of notes that are best suited for helping us remember our subject’s material depends on the person. Some students prefer to split their pages in two, where one side is for definitions and the other is for important notes. While others like to use lists, bullet points, and headings to keep their notes organized. And people like me may just make up a style of their own. Either way, make sure that you are taking your notes in a way that will be the most helpful to your learning. After all, you’re the one who’ll have to use your notes for the rest of the year.
4. Write like you talk
I’m not sure who is responsible for writing our lessons, but–even though they do an awesome job–sometimes we need to reword the important information the way we would explain it to a friend. The way we talk is a reflection of the way that we process information. This means that reading notes that are written in our own words is the best way to help us truly absorb the information that we learn.
5. Consider color-coding
Not only is this a method that I love, but many students (both in-person and virtual) do as well. Bright colors from markers such as highlighters are meant to catch our attention. So if there’s anything that you jot down and feel like you’ll need to revisit later, make it stand out with some color. Not only is it really functional, but also really cool if you want to add some extra ✨ pizazz ✨ to your notes.
What? There’s nothing wrong with getting a little fancy!
Note-taking is a must for students of all ages—it’s like the golden rule to truly remember all the things that we learn on a daily basis. To all my fellow students out there, hopefully with the use of both these tips and the ones that you discover in the future, you’ll all become note-taking experts!
What are your favorite methods for taking notes? Do you use color or do you prefer notes that are straight to the point? And finally, do you have any tips for students who are trying to find a method for taking notes? Feel free to share your responses down below in the comments.
I pray that each and every one of you will have a peaceful rest of your day or night. God bless you all, and I will catch you next time! Peace in! ♡
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We are more than halfway through August of 2021–where has the time gone? Anyway, I hope you all are having an amazing day or night. For those of you who aren’t aware, I recently started 9th grade, and one of my two electives is American Sign Language (ASL). One of my older cousins is Deaf and uses sign to communicate, so I’ve always wanted to learn ASL so that it would be easier to have conversations with her.
Turns out that my school offers an American Sign Language course as a foreign language.And voilà; I’m officially studying ASL!
I decided that I would get a little creative and do another page in my journal. And I decided to go all-out and make it inspired by some of the highlights of my first week of my studies. Today, I’m going to share some of the things that I’ve learned, so far, with you guys.
ASL has always been so fascinating to me; probably because it’s pretty much speaking English, the only difference is that you are communicating with your hands instead of your mouth. Almost like a shadow puppet, where every sign means something new and you use your hands to tell a story. Sign language of any region is all about sight, and using your eyes to hear the world around us in a different way.
Deaf culture within itself is another topic of the course. Although most hearing people are probably unaware, the Deaf community has not only developed their own languages (including sign, lip reading, and oralism—or speech training), but also their own art, values, technological advances, and history. Learning more about the contributions of the Deaf community to make the world a more equal place is definitely something that I’m looking forward to.
I’ve already memorized the entire alphabet, so I make sure that I occasionally practice my finger spelling by writing down practice words—as you can see in my journal—and trying to sign them as fast as possible. I think that this technique is a really good method to improve both your memory and speed, which has already proved itself to be pretty helpful when learning ASL.
The last thing that I’ve learned and want to share with you all is that despite what we may think, ASL is actually a very precise language. If the shape or the way you move your hands is even a little off, it can completely change the meaning of a sign. Crazy, right? That’s why it’s super important to watch demonstrations—and copy them while looking at yourself in the mirror—to make sure you’ve mastered each sign.
The truth is, every little detail counts when it comes to ASL. And if you ask me that only makes the visual language that much more creative and beautiful.
I am so thankful to God that I was able to take this course, in the first place; even though I’m just starting, it’s already one of my favorite courses for the year. In fact, I may even post updates here and there to share my progress with you guys.
Hopefully, you all were able to learn a thing or two from this post, as well. ASL is so much more than making shapes with your hands; it’s a part of an entire culture and community. I truly encourage anyone who has curiosity about the language to learn it for themselves. Either way, I hope you had fun reading about my takeaways from my first week oflearning ASL.
Was there anything in this post that surprised you? Also, can you speak a sign language (of any region and/or country)? And if not, have you ever thoughtaboutlearning? Feel free to share your responses in the comments! I would love to hear from y’all!
Have a fatabilous rest of your day, everybody! God bless you all and I will catch you next time! Peace in! ♡
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Greetings, everyone! Q’Zion, here, and welcome back to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen! Yesterday was my first day of high school–which is ninth grade in the United States–even though I started doing my work a couple days before school was officially back in session. But I don’t mind because I am absolutely in LOVE with all of my classes.
Even though I attend a public virtual school, we still have to do a lot of notetaking throughout the day. And that means that we need a lot of supplies to last us for the next nine months. Now that all of our school shopping is complete, I decided to do a what’s in my backpack sort of post and show you guys some of my brand new school supplies for this year. Let’s begin!
Here’s a little sneak peak into my backpack. I know that I don’t really need one because I don’t go to a building–my school is also my house. But it’s really good for storing extra school supplies that I can’t put in my office area. Plus, I’m a little obsessed with the coral and sky blue color combination. Isn’t it gorgeous?
Although Goodmommy already ordered about 25 70-sheet notebooks in a variety of colors, you really can’t go wrong with a bunch of notebook paper. I plan on using this binder and sheets of notebook paper for extra-curricular notes, like my clubs for this year. Well, technically, my school’s Club Rush isn’t until next month . . . but at least I’m prepared!
This is just a close-up picture of the notebook paper. A.k.a. my attempt to make them look more aesthetic. 😉
I’ve got a little secret to share with you all: I actually use more pens in my notes than I do pencils. For whatever reason, pencils seem to have a “chalkier” look on the pages. I think smooth ball pens look much more crisp, which is how I like my notes to look. BiC is one of my favorite companies to shop from for pens, so I’m super pleased that we were able to catch these before they flew off the shelf.
Okay, so just because I don’t use pencils that often doesn’t mean I don’t use them at all. Even though I use standard pencils for sketching, most of the time, mechanical pencils are also a personal favorite of mine while jotting down notes. I’ll probably jeuje up a lot of them with pencil grips that I make on my Rainbow Loom. That’ll be a nice challenge to complete, on a weekend.
One thing is for sure; I won’t be needing any more erasers for a long time. But the truth is, I love this mini pack of pencil toppers so much because of how colorful they are more so than because of their actual function. I also have a simple pencil sharpener to match.
So I don’t know if I’ll have to turn-in any art projects this year–considering that I won’t be taking any art classes–but I do plan to join the Art Club, so hopefully I can put together something vibrant with these markers and crayons to show to my fellow club members some time this year. Either way, I can always use some more art supplies–especially since it’s been years since I’ve use a marker or crayon.
Crayola absolutely slays when it comes to markers. And the skinny ones are probably my favorites, so I’m glad I was able to get some!
A large portion of my notes are actually provided by my school, where they give us guided notes to print out before starting each lesson. Then, it’s up to us students to fill in the blanks with what we learn. As a result, glue sticks are absolutely essential for keeping all my notes in my notebooks.
You know how I said that I prefer to write with pens in my notebooks? Well, there’s one little disadvantage that comes with that preference: pen is permanent. As a result, we always have to keep a couple bottles of the BiC Wite Out liquid solution, which you can apply on a permanent writing mistake, let it dry, and then write on top of it. I actually have to use this pretty often, so it’s always handy to have some available.
The main scissors that I use are pretty large and sharp on the tip, which I actually replaced for a pair of pink classroom scissors because they didn’t cut that well. But this blue pair of scissors looks like they have a decently sharp edge. Plus, the royal blue color and the design are absolutely adorable!
I had a lot of fun collecting and photographing all of my new school supplies, and I hope you all had just as much fun seeing what I have for the 2022 school year. I didn’t mention earlier that I also got some more ink for our printer, as well as a few neon highlighters, but I was so excited that I’d already opened them by the time I began taking pictures lol. Either way, I’m super glad that my freshman year is starting off to a great start, and I pray that all of yours are, as well.
What are some of your favorite school supplies items that you bought this year? Do you go to school in-person or virtually? And finally, are you excited to start school again, or do you wish summer break wasn’t over, yet?
Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! God bless you all and I’ll catch you later! Peace in! ♡
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Although for me, school will be back in session in approximately 2 1/2 weeks, others are already back to school or about to be, and some kids are just starting their summer break. Whether you’ll be going back to school in a two weeks or two months, it’s important that we are prepared well before school actually begins.
Sure, it’s only the end of July. But for many of us, the sound of school bells ringing is right around the corner; we might as well get ready! To help you start on your back-to-school preparations, I’ve provided 6 helpful tips for how you can start the school year with a prepared peace of mind.
Stock Up With School Supplies
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to my school work, I need more and more supplies every school year. And since school supplies tends to go on sale early into summer break, why not get your back to school shopping over with early? Knowing that you have all the supplies that you need to get your work done in style will surely put a load off of your shoulders.
Create (and Follow) a Morning Routine
Staying up till morning while binging your favorite TV shows is the epitome of many kid’s summer break. But as school inches closer, there comes a time where we need to get back into a daily routine. Getting ready in the mornings is one of the most important aspects to starting a productive school day. So creating routine to help you start your day is a great way to prepare.
Talk About Back-to-School Anxiety with a Confidant
While a new school year can be a fresh start for some students, it can be a much more nerve-wracking experience for others. In case you have a few back-to-school nerves, it’s a great idea to consider sharing some of your worries with a trusted companion of yours–especially someone that has been in your shoes once. Whether it’s a parent or guardian, an older sibling, or even a close friend, speaking to someone who knows what it’s like to be nervous as school approaches can sympathize with your emotions and encourage you that you will ace whatever this year throws your way.
Keep Reading
I know, I know! Summer break is one of the few chances that we get where we don’t have to read. Why would we want to spend our days of leisure doing something that we have to do during most of the year? Well, my friends, just because you don’t have to do something doesn’t necessarily mean that we shouldn’t. Plus, going from reading absolutely nothing to the sudden change of reading everyday can cause us to loose a lot of what we learned last year. In fact, educational professionals have actually named this “summer slide.” Therefore, the best way we can prevent loosing our current knowledge is by continuing to read. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later when you do.
Do a Quick Review Of What You Learned Last Year
Have you ever been working on an assignment in the middle of a school year and suddenly said “Oh–I remember learning something like this last year!” Well, instead of having this kind of realization months after school begins, it’s always nice to get a quick review, beforehand. And skimming through some of your leftover notes from last year–a week or two before school begins–is a great way to start.
Relax
Although it can be a little unnerving when school is just around the corner, we have got this in the bag! Take the last few weeks of your summer break to practice self-care and above all, know that this upcoming school year is going to be even better than the last: all we have to do is prepare, relax, and believe. Remember, you’ve got this!
I’m definitely going to have to take my own advice with these back to school hacks; God gave me some good ones! I hope that after reading these tips, you are on your way to being prepared for your next year of school! I’m quite sure each and every one of us will ace it!
LET’S CHAT~What are some of the ways you prepare for a new school year? Don’t be afraid to share some of your bright ideas down in the comments.
Have a blessed day, everybody! God bless you all and I’ll catch you later! Peace in! ♡
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Your first thought after reading this title might have been: but . . . it’s summer break. I know, I know! But today this idea popped in my head, and it was so good that I couldn’t hold off on it.
I have been homeschooled for a total of 5 1/2 years. I attended in-person public school from Pre-K to 3rd grade, and then I transitioned to virtual public school. Although this topic wasn’t something that I paid much attention to before I became a homeschooler, I have come to discover that because being homeschooled can be rare (especially pre-COVID) many people have stereotypes about what it’s like to attend school at home, mostly due to a lack of knowledge or friends who are homeschooled.
Therefore, today I will be addressing some of the most common misconceptions about fellow homeschoolers and explaining why they are either true or false. Enough chitter-chatter. Let’s get into it!
1. Homeschoolers are anti-social
From my personal experiences interacting with my peers, the truth is the exact opposite of this statement. In fact, many of the homeschooled kids that I have talked with are more on the extraverted side. Most of us want to interact with each other more, and when we get the chance to meet in person, lots of chatter fills the room as we talk and get to know each other. Homeschooling doesn’t dictate what type of personality you have, so whether or not you are anti-social depends on the individual alone.
2. In-person schooling is harder than homeschooling
In-person and virtual education both have a list of pros and cons. Though I would have to say that academically, virtual school is harder. The reason is because when you’re at home, there are so many possible distractions from your schoolwork, whether that be your siblings, birds chirping outside your window, or the fact that you are close to your bed–increasing the temptation to sleep in. We also have deadlines for assignments, just like those who go to school in-person.
On the other hand, in-person schooling is harder socially, since you can’t control who else attends your school and those you have to be around on a daily basis. The risk of bullying, peer pressure, and the effects of them are at a higher risk, in my opinion.
3. We go to school in our pajamas
One hundred percent, this is true! And I’m so glad about it! This is honestly one of my favorite perks of being homeschooled. While I usually get dressed up for live classes (so I can interact with other students and teachers with my webcam on), I tend to stay in my pajamas for a majority of the day. And I have heard many other homeschoolers say that they do the same.
4. All homeschoolers are academically gifted
Homeschoolers are somewhat represented by the media as nerdy and timid geniuses who are above average in all of their classes. But in reality, the grades that we get don’t differ much from those who attend in-person school. Some students take all AP or Honors courses. Those like me get straight As, with Honors courses sprinkled in. Others get Bs and Cs on average. In my school, we get to check our current grade in each course at all times during the school year, which is a perk of virtual learning. Grades really all depend on the student, their work ethic, whether or not they have learning/mental challenges, etc.
5. We don’t participate in extracurricular activities
For this one, I will use myself as an example. While I take my school very seriously, I also do paintings and other arts and crafts several times a month. I also like to read novels, write on my blog almost daily, and I even joined Creative Writing, ASL, and Book Club for 8th grade, all of which I loved. About three years ago, I was even in the praise dance team for my local church. Like most kids, we homeschoolers have hobbies and friends. In other words, we have lives outside of our education.
6. All parents who homeschool their kids do it for religious reasons
As most of you likely know, I am a Christian, raised by a Christian family. However, I have always attended secular schools, and my current education does not cater to a specific religion. Although I do not know the beliefs of each of my past classmates, there are students who are homeschooled that have religious beliefs that are not Christian, and some who don’t share any religion, at all. In fact, the amount of secular families who have homeschooled their kids are increasing in number.
7. Being homeschooled means you get to do whatever you want without doing any schoolwork
Although this stereotype is one of the most common, it’s also one of the most false. Before this summer, I did an approximate amount of 8 hours of schoolwork a day, including a one hour lunch break. And when I first began adjusting to virtual schooling, it could take me up to 12 hours a day to get my work done every week. If anything, I would say that we homeschoolers have more work than in-person students; and we have to do that work without a teacher at our side 24/7. While a good schedule still allows us time for our extracurricular activities, we still do lots of work throughout the week. Just as any other student would.
8. Homeschoolers aren’t prepared for the real world
This statement could not be any farther from the truth. Even though we stay at home while we do our school work, a majority of homeschoolers still have access to the news, social media, the Internet, and other resources as such. Besides, we still go out of the house and interact with other people on a regular basis. I think how we do our school work makes us more independent and give us the skill of leadership. Fun fact: many colleges actually seek out homeschoolers to give scholarships to. We have just as many opportunities to learn about what is going on in the world as other students, and therefore we are just as prepared.
Hopefully this was a huge help for anyone who had any questions about what it’s like to be homeschooled. In case you have held any of these stereotypes before, I would like to reiterate that a person’s personality, hobbies, and academic intelligence all have to do with the individual. We are all beautiful and unique in our own way, and that doesn’t change according to what type of school we attend; even if it’s your own home.
LET’S CHAT~Are you homeschooled? If not, do you know anyone who is?
I pray that you have an excellent rest of your day or night. May God bless you all! See you soon! ✨
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♛ The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen ♛ 