There was always a slight stigma about kids who were home schooled, or did school from home via the computer. I was never the type of kid who was kept home schooled until I hit high school. During my middle school days I was considered “popular”. Popular meaning active in school activities and having more than 10 friends. That is what popular is where I am from. But in my first year of high school, I was bullied and stressed for many reasons. Half way through the year I had left and decided to do school from home through a computer. I wanted to still be apart of my school so I could still go to homecoming, prom, and be able to graduate with my class. I thought it was going to be easy, barely any work or effort. I was very wrong. By the end of my freshman year, I passed with only about three total classes finished and above a 65%. This was all due to pushing back work and not taking it seriously.
My parents made me go back to school my sophomore year and said if I finished out the year back at my old school, I can do cyber for the remaining two years. During my sophomore year, I thought I could start fresh and new but the entire year I sat by myself at lunch and nobody talked to me all day (besides my best friend who I shared one class with). People saw me sit by myself, but continued to ignore me, as if I did not exist. They knew me, they had known me since I was 5 years old. I tried to reach out but got no response back. It was the last two months of school and I was so fed up with being ignored I started to eat lunch in the guidance office. By eating lunch I mean eating a granola bar and binge reading Harry Potter. Finally the long year was over and I can do cyber school again.
Junior year was bland. I can’t remember most of the work I did. Luckily I had a supportive best friend and hobbies to keep me company. But senior year was totally different. I was given classes that changed me and made me better. Classes on mental health, classes on meetings and branding yourself, classes that just helped me understand who I am. I started enjoying my work and enjoying to do school. If I were to have stayed in public school, I wouldn’t have been able to be who I am today. My electives in public skill did not shape or benefit me besides my driving class. Now, I get to travel, visit cities and see shows, all while being able to learn what I need to and what I want to. And that is what makes it all worth it.
