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Rolling admissions are open for our mid-year intake 🚀
You set your alarm for 6 a.m. You get dressed, grab some breakfast, and on your way to school, you squeeze in some last-minute revision for a math test. Six hours later, you’re heading back home. After a quick chat with your family over dinner, it’s time for homework—until it’s late. Then, you set your alarm for 6 a.m. once again. This isn’t just a mundane reality; it’s the routine most students are forced into.
Despite our differences, traditional education often treats us like we are all the same. Like we all have the same goals and plans for life; getting stellar grades, getting admitted into top college, graduating, and getting a stable job. And while it indeed is a dream for many, including myself, it is important to realize that many paths can lead to similar outcomes. We often forget that not only the result but the process itself should be a rewarding experience.
But is there a way to break free from this cycle? Homeschooling offers a solution, allowing students to receive a quality education while nurturing their unique interests and providing space for individuality.
Sir Ken Robinson contended that “My contention is, all kids have tremendous talents. And we squander them, pretty ruthlessly.” He further claimed that our education system is broken and “the result is that we are educating people out of their creative capacities”. Furthermore, Eddy Zhong, while talking about his experiences with starting a technology company at 16, stated that “Over just these 5 to 6 years in the education system these creative children have turned into these teenagers that are unwilling to think outside of the box”. He explained that while school can make you academically intelligent, it fails to develop creative intelligence. Whereas, the goal should be to have curiosity as your fuel.
It makes sense when you think about how time-consuming school is; it just feels like investing your precious time into mundane activities every day. While academics have value, focusing on exams and grades can sometimes be a bit all-consuming, and make it difficult to dedicate time to activities that put a smile on your face.
For me, such a thing was writing. Working on a novel is a very long process, so you do not see results immediately. It is not like your book will be published a week after you are done, and the writing takes months. Because of the school approach to grading, I was used to the quick stimuli evoked by this pattern: study, take tests, receive grades, and feel excitement. Each time I would invest some time, energy, and inspiration in something that is not school-related, I would feel guilt. Home education showed me that learning is much more than just reading textbooks and creativity is a muscle that you need to keep working on.
If you care about your creativity, perhaps the idea of homeschooling should cross your mind. This way of education has been around since the 1970s. However, since that time, it has evolved, becoming more inclusive worldwide, and most importantly giving students a vast array of opportunities to explore…
“Over 300 million children worldwide are being homeschooled.” (Learnopoly website)
Usually when the word homeschooling enters the chat you are thinking: parents who have become full time teachers for their children. And while it indeed may look something like that for some families, it is good to be aware that home education has many faces:
It is also worth noting how widespread home education is today. Based on statistics from 2024 it is clearly visible that more and more families consider this way of education to be a real and beneficial alternative as opposed to teaching in public schools. According to Learnopoly research “Homeschooling had been growing at a steady rate of 2-8% per year. However, during the pandemic it saw a sharp increase.” Additionally, “Half of parents who weren’t homeschooling before the pandemic view it more favorably now. ”
Nowadays, with rapid growth of technology people worldwide gained access to electronic devices and the Internet. Utilizing that is not just a nice alternative or an addition to public school studies; for those from underprivileged backgrounds, with lack of access to good educational institutions and educators, it’s everything. Homeschooling may be a ticket for a better future and entrance to the dream profession.
“Homeschooled children tend to develop more creativity because they have the freedom to learn in a way that suits their styles. They are not bound by standardized curricula, which often stifles creativity in traditional school settings. Instead, they can engage in hands-on projects and real-world experiences that inspire innovative thinking.” – Dr. Peter Gray, a Research Professor of Psychology.
My adventure with home education began in the second year of high school, prior to that I attended public schools. The last three years have been a very enriching experience; I learnt a lot about myself and my passions. I flourished by taking advantage of time flexibility and assuring complex development: body, soul, heart, and brain are equally important.
Passion Project & Extracurricular Activities:
Timeline of striving for more in my education
Firstly, homeschooling has allowed me to dedicate time to exploring my own passion projects, and participating in extracurricular activities.
During sophomore year I signed up for a business project that was advertised by my home-education school institution. Thanks to that I met two amazing friends that I keep in touch with until this day. Together we learnt about the inside world of business by making decisions about investments, hiring employees, purchasing equipment, and expanding the offer while running a digital restaurant.
During junior year I enrolled for an online business program where I was collaborating with students from other parts of the world. I was in a global virtual team consisting of 5 other highly aspiring individuals in order to create a business proposal for a struggling company. I made amazing friends, and learnt how to overcome difficulties such as different time zones and language barriers while further strengthening my knowledge in the business field.
During senior year I finally self published my very first novel in the form of an ebook. I felt so proud and accomplished that I have followed my dreams and creativity hunger.
During summer before senior year I discovered the School of Humanity and decided to enroll for their summer school program. I was captivated by their vision to empower young people from around the world that wanted something more from their education experience. In my challenge pathway “Future of money” I was able to expand my knowledge in economy, bitcoin, and finances but not solely listening to webinars but also by doing internships, my own research, and presenting my ideas to solve global problems. Moreover, it further introduces me to new opportunities and initiatives – School of Humanity is a time-lasting community full of inspiring individuals.
Flexibility:
Having time flexibility as a high school student is not only a privilege but also a great responsibility. You want to maximize your potential by following your passions, gaining valid experience for your future career but without taking too much on your plate and burning out. By creating a routine that works for me I manage to obtain a school certificate with the grades I wanted, building a CV that makes me confident to enter university/job market, and taking first steps in the world of literature.
Practical Skills & Real-World Experiences:
Taking initiative makes you a more enterprising person.
By actively reflecting on my education journey I noticed how beneficial and crucial for students’ development engaging in extracurricular projects is. They help with:
Homeschooling is a great way to achieve personalized and comprehensive development but you need to make this decision based on your personal needs. While home education solves many problems that are present in normal schools, it definitely comes with its own challenges. However, the main source of the problem is not the challenges themselves, but the fact that transferring to home education from in-person studies feels like stepping into a completely new land. Vey beautiful land, but each land has its own conditions that you have to get used to. For example, many learners may fear: lack of regular socialization or this sudden increased of responsibility (as all of the sudden you are the one making terms and planning your education). But there is a really clear recipe for those issues.
Based on my experience “lack of regular socialization” is not a real struggle when it comes to homeschooling. In fact, socializing as a homeschooler comes with greater benefits as you can opt for community that is the right fit; you can surround yourself with good and healthy environment. Some tips to get started: engage with your local community, organize events or volunteer (for example, libraries are a place where you can make friends with day students from local schools), enroll for online programs, or find a team to work on a passion project together.
Becoming a homeschooler means being responsible for your own education; use that time wisely. Remember that effectively navigating your duties is a great training for adulthood. But it doesn’t have to be a hard journey! Almost the entire knowledge is under your fingerprints. Use the internet’s resources to access learning plans, enroll for courses and educational webinars. The Internet can make your education journey more effective by incorporating the thought “learning with and from others”. It is especially valuable when applied in a global perspective – technology development introduces us to hybrid programs that provide a community for learners. Just think about it: exchange of thoughts and experiences, joint cooperation with people from other parts of the world that are also homeschooled! For me School of Humanity slack channels serve as great motivation, and inspiration when searching for useful study techniques or projects to invest my time in.
Making this important decision may be daunting, after all education is a crucial component of ones life and future. Don’t feel like you are alone on your journey. Seek support and contact with other homeschoolers to learn more about their experiences; it is also a good idea to ask for some tips so you can assure stepping into this new chapter with confidence. Homeschooling is an enriching journey that will impacts not only your academic life but also shaped you as a person. It is a process of understanding your goals and interests; but most importantly it’s hopefully a time when you will realize what education truly means. You will have a chance to follow your dreams by investing time in activities, such us: internships, passion projects, volunteering, and more. Are you ready to embrace that unique and inspiring experience?
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