My Experience as a Homeschooler. And Why It's Not For Everyone.

Compared with public school, homeschooling is a route still not many take. And from my experience, maybe it's for the better. I was homeschooled for 2 years. I have summed up the major pros and cons of homeschooling along with what I wish I had done.

Pros

1. You're the Boss. You are in control of your time and what you learn. Unlike in school, you can take breaks, whether that's to go to the bathroom, have a quick snack or exercise. You often get told off in school for having basic needs such as using the bathroom. Homeschooling doesn't adhere to this rule. Everyone already knows that drinking water has massive mental and physical benefits. It should be seen as a positive that students are staying hydrated, however, this isn't the case with many teachers. Girls also have to rush to toilets to prevent the risk (and embarrassment) of others noticing they're on their periods.

Along with breaks, you can choose what to learn. Everyone learns things at their own pace. What's nice about homeschool is you have more time to go over a topic you're unsure about or you can skip lessons you are already confident in.

2. You can sleep more. The trouble with school is students often stay up late to complete piles of homework. At this stage, teenagers are still growing and require between 7-10 hours of sleep. As you probably know, this is beneficial for your health. Homeschool allows you to hit the snooze button and stay in your blanket heaven an hour or two longer.

Cons

1. You may become less social. School provides lots of opportunities to socialise. It's a great place to make friends as you spend hours with the same people. However, with homeschooling, you don't have the same privilege. You can meet people on social media, but I believe the closest and most precious bonds are face to face. Real-life interactions allow you to see the best and worst parts of someone. People often glorify themselves on social media which doesn't let you see the complete version of them. Also, you grow up with other students, so you'll see how they change and progress as they develop from teens to adults.

2. No one is there to guide you. Once you begin homeschooling, you are suddenly in charge of your education. In school, you follow a timetable, and all lessons follow a strict program. Teachers ensure you learn everything you need to pass the exams. If you don't have any plans for homeschooling, you may have the job of browsing through various education websites until you find the right fit.

I wish I had:

- Got tutors earlier. They cost but they provide material and learning which caters to your needs. As Michael Scott said ''I know these are expensive, but the lesson is priceless''. They were a huge help for my exams and I recommend everyone get them. Websites such as www.mytutor.co.uk I found great as I formed close connections to my tutors. Initially, I was scared of being judged for my lack of knowledge, but the tutors are very supportive, genuine and intelligent.

- Followed a schedule from the beginning. I found having a timetable more effective than doing work when I ''feel'' like it.

Conclusion

You should only start homeschooling if you have carefully planned out what you'll be learning. It's also crucial you have close relationships with your friends/family as their support will be essential. I'm glad I did it because it taught me more about myself. I learned what techniques worked better for me in terms of learning and revising. However, I didn't socialise as much which I think outweighed the advantages of homeschooling.