Interview with Annie Sibbley, Past Homeschooler
TCS: What do you think was a benefit to being homeschooled?
Annie: One of the benefits of being homeschooled was the fact that we were challenged academically. In the school system, there was lots of help for those falling behind, but there wasn't anything for those of us that excelled. My brother, for example, was the top reader in his class. When he read through all of the available curriculum in school for his grade, he was told he now had to restart the levels instead of giving him something more challenging. While we were homeschooled, he read The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire in a week at the age of ten and fully comprehended and enjoyed the read! At ten!
TCS: What was a negative to being homeschooled?
Annie: I, personally, didn't find there was a downside to being homeschooled. My mom made sure of that. Because we weren't surrounded by peers all day, everyday like in the school system, we had plenty of extracurriculars outside of the home. We were a part of several clubs, attending several youth groups weekly, and homeschooled with other families on a regular basis! We were able to travel because we weren't tied to a school, and we got to experience a large variety of wonderful and exciting things that other kids our age never got to!
TCS: Did you find you had enough social events as a homeschooler?
Annie: I always felt like I had enough social events as a homeschooler. We were a part of a homeschoolers’ swimming lesson program, we were a part of things like Awana and youth groups in our surrounding communities, and a few days a week we would homeschool with other families. (They would come to our house one day, and we'd go to theirs another.)
TCS: What did you do for secondary education afterwards?
Annie: After homeschooling, I attended two universities. I attended UNBSJ for a semester, and the following semester I attended Kingswood University where I was at the top of my class and was even tutoring a subject that I was just learning myself.
TCS: Was it hard to get secondary education as a homeschool graduate?
Annie: Although I didn't graduate as a homeschooler, it wasn't something that was questioned in regards to my education. I entered the school system in grade 10 (after being homeschooled for grades 5, 6, 7, and 9) and was out into the class that was more academically challenged. My grade 10 math teacher said I could have been a mathematician if I wanted.
Not only was I completely equipped and prepared for public school, I was one of the top students in my class. The year I entered the school system my grade was tested in English for proper punctuation and spelling. Of the forty students, I was one of four that passed and had the highest mark of the forty.
TCS: If you could tell someone advice about homeschooling and secondary education, what would it be?
Annie: A piece of advice I would offer anyone about homeschooling and secondary education is to embrace your identity as a homeschooler. I often found that the term "homeschooler" came with a lot of stigma. I often had people tell me that I was a lot more social than they would have expected or that I didn't seem like a homeschooled child. Homeschooling gave me an advantage over those in the public school system.
On top of my regular studies, I was able to explore learning about my interests. I got to travel; I was able to do more because my days weren't defined by a seven or eight hour school and bus schedule. I was involved in sports, I took lessons that ranged from horseback riding to guitar, singing, and swimming. I got to travel with my family and explore things and places I otherwise wouldn't have. Homeschooling is something that would definitely recommend and will forever be a time that I cherish.
