Homeschoolers find their place at Laney

Laney students might be surprised to find they have homeschooling students as young as 14 as their classmates. According to Anthony Flores, the interim director for the Laney College program “Gateway To College,” there are high school student ages 16-20 who are in the program to get their high school GED.

They take all classes at the college, and graduate with a certificate because of all the accumulated college credits. Maria Pena, 17, a former student of Midwest High, who dropped out of high school in the 10th grade, but is desirous of getting her diploma, admits that she is “more serious than I was in high school. This is real stuff.”

 The truth is, a homeschooling student and a community college student have a lot more in common than some might realize, such as flexible schedules, optional classes, and exposure to a wide range of people.

One of the many things that homeschoolers and college students have in common is the flexibility in their schedules, allowing the students to have fuller lives.

Unlike public school where you’re sitting in class from 8-3 almost as you would an office job, as a homeschooling student you’re able to set your own schedule, and that leaves room for things such as an early start at community college.  

Students with more flexible schedules also have more time for outside activities, time with their friends, and some breathing room from school.

Homeschooling and community colleges both allow students to choose their own curriculum. For example, a student in high school wants to learn Chinese but her school doesn’t offer that option, but a homeschooling student can fulfill that desire by taking a class in that subject at the college.

Additionally, there are many advantages to studying things by choice, such as being more motivated to learn the topic, verses a once-size-fits-all high school schedule.

As a student in college would pick their classes that fit into their major and choose electives, homeschooling high school students have this option as well. In public high school, on the other hand, you have a limited choice of classes and schedules.

Finally, homeschoolers and community college students are both exposed to a much wider range of people than students in high school. In public high school, in most cases, the foreign exchange students are separated.

The foreign students stick together and the locals stick together. But as a homeschooling student, you’re around different people every day, from a wider range of teachers and students.

The same goes for community college students; they’re in a classroom and are exposed to different people every day. As a homeschooled student you’re able to connect with people of different ages as well.

After knowing all of these similarities you’ll never look at a homeschooling student the same.  So next time you’re sitting next to someone who is in high school, you might just be smiling inside to know how much you share.