Interview Feature With…A Homeschool Graduate and Business Owner

Interview Feature with…is a new feature that I am so excited to introduce. Designed to encourage busy moms and dads by sharing interviews with homeschoolers that are not only homeschooling but juggling other things as well.

Today I am happy to introduce you to Jenn from The Spare Room Project. She was homeschooled and is here to share her story with us. If you ever wondered what homeschooled students think about homeschooling here is your chance! Keep reading to find out the answers to our burning questions.

Disclosure: I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

With many graduating this year, you might wonder…What about homeschooled children? Are they ready for life? How does being homeschooled impact them?

I am so happy to have Jenn, a homeschool graduate, here to answer our questions!

Interview Questions:

Question 1: What grades were you homeschooled for? How did it all begin?

I was homeschooled from K-12. My dad worked close to home and had a good job, so my mom was staying home and doing odd jobs like pet-sitting while I was little.

I’m honestly not sure what prompted my parents to homeschool me, although my dad worked for the school district, so maybe he just had too much of an inside perspective or something. I’ve worked at a hospital and avoid them like the plague now, so that would make the most sense to me!

Question 2: What was the best part of being homeschooled?

The best part of being homeschooled was the flexibility.

I hated math (which is ironic, because I love accounting and budgeting and such now), so I could work at my own pace in that and fly through all the subjects I loved. And when a curriculum didn’t work for me or my siblings, we could try a new one!

That kind of flexibility is rarely found in public or even private schools.

Question 3: Did you have a favorite subject, if so what was it?

I’ve always loved writing, but I really hate a lot of ‘traditional’ schoolwork. Homeschooling allowed me to choose the subjects I wanted to write about, to some extent, so I enjoyed writing more than I think I would have in public school.

My kid sister decided to go to public school for her senior year, and based on her experience with writing assignments, I’m really glad that my research papers (which were really attempts to get more pets!) were sometimes counted as schoolwork!

Question 4: What was the hardest part of being homeschooled and how did you overcome it?

The hardest part was, ironically, one of the best parts, in some regards.

Like I mentioned, I hate math, and I ended up switching algebra curriculums 3 times in my junior year. My mom wanted me to start at the beginning of each one, to get a feel for the way that curriculum worked, but I hated math so much that repeating it felt five times worse, so I dawdled and got behind.

I wish I could say I buckled down to overcome that obstacle, but I didn’t.

For my senior year, I ended up going to community college AND continuing to homeschool (that equals TWO full loads of school and I was working as well; I don’t recommend it!!). I took algebra at the community college and scraped by that class, and it was at least more bearable, because I was getting college credit.

Question 5: You are currently running a business with your husband from your home. Do you feel that being homeschooled has helped you in this endeavor? If so, how?

I feel like it has helped SO much!

My husband was also homeschooled, so we both learned how to work without constant direct supervision from a relatively young age.

Because I was homeschooled and very entrepreneurial, my little business ventures sometimes counted for school (it really did teach me budgeting and how to manage finances!).

I also had more time to pursue these types of passions, so I am very self-taught, and I think that really helps when you have to bootstrap it like we did.

Homeschooling in what many people consider a large family (I’m the eldest of four and he’s #2 of five) also taught me how to live frugally, which came in handy, because for six months while we were starting our business, neither my husband or I had a steady income. Being homeschooled definitely gave us the skills we needed to survive!

Question 6: What do you wish non-homeschoolers knew about homeschooling?

That we’re not all weirdos!

When I went to college – both community college and even a Christian college, where a large segment of the students were homeschooled – I consistently ran into people who were shocked that I was homeschooled, because I was so ‘normal.’

Honestly, I was probably better socialized than many of my public schooled peers! They may have been around other people outside of their family for longer periods of time, but sitting in a desk next to someone isn’t socialization.

Because I was homeschooled, I have participated in competitive dance and artistic roller skating; I have gotten to take archery classes, volunteer at various places, and I had MUCH more flexibility with work hours when I was old enough to get a job.

Just because someone’s homeschooled doesn’t mean they are a social pariah!

Question 7: If you could give a piece of advice to a parent who is considering homeschooling, what would it be?

Do what’s best for your child. Don’t homeschool because all of your friends are doing it. Don’t do it because you think public school will ‘ruin’ your child – I have plenty of public schooled friends who are AMAZING and firm in their beliefs (whatever they may be) because they had to stand up for them in public school.

I would not have thrived in public school, but maybe your child would!

If you’re going to homeschool, make sure it’s the right choice for you, for your child, and for your family situation. If it is, you child will thank you when they’re my age!

[irp posts=”5638″ name=”Curriculum Planning: It really is all about YOU.”]

Question 8: When children that are homeschooled are talking to you, what is the one thing you wish you could tell them?

Don’t be too hard on your mom! It may seem like she’s torturing you, but she’s not.

My little sister thought that she was behind in everything when she decided to go to public school, only to find that the only thing she was behind in was math, and that’s because she fought it her whole life.

I guess that’s part of not being too hard on your mom: try not to fight her and your schoolwork. You’ll just end up regretting it later. Trust me!

Question 9: I really enjoy the “blog” section of your website, as you talk about so many different subjects such as art, music, writing and more. What is your favorite part of your business, and why?

I love the flexibility of my business!

In the same way that homeschooling offered flexibility, so does my business. We’re able to cover all of the different subjects that my husband and I are passionate about, and the projects that we can bring other creatives in on.

I love that I can take everything that I learned while homeschooling and share it with others who can benefit from it.

I’ve gone from being that homeschooled kid who wanted to help her friends turn all of their talents into a business (and most 12-year-olds are not interested in that!) to being the 20-something whose friends come to her to help them leave their unfulfilling 9-5 jobs.

If I hadn’t been given the opportunity to follow my entrepreneurial spirit while I was homeschooling, that wouldn’t be possible!

Conclusion:

Thank you Jenn for spending some time with me and answering questions. As a homeschooling mom, with no children graduated yet, I really appreciate hearing your point of view of homeschooling.

You have really helped me feel more confident that my children can succeed as adults.

If you have any questions for Jenn please feel free to leave them below! Thank you!

Also in this series:

Interview Feature With…

-Homeschool Mom and Blogger

-Homeschool Mom and Etsy Store Owner

-Homeschool Mom, Bookkeeping Website, and Etsy Store Owner

–Homeschool Mom, Online Art Course Creator, and Blogger

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