1. You don’t have to be home all day. You can make a point to get out and do something you enjoy. Performing some sort of act of service (volunteering) is actually often beneficial to those who are depressed because it can make you feel good knowing you are helping others out.

2. You are right, it’s a possibility. But all kinds of things are possibilities; we can’t stop living just because they might happen. You make sure you do your part to keep your friends. You can also seek out homeschoolers in your area and perhaps do things with them, too, make new friends.

3. I personally don’t see the need for a boyfriend at your age. Dating is about finding someone to marry. Are you going to get married soon? Homeschoolers can still have boyfriends/girlfriends, but many don’t simply because they do realize that dating is (or should be) about preparing for marriage, not simply some hobby to take up.

4. Don’t worry about it. Deal with it as it comes up. Just always know that there isn’t anything wrong with you homeschooling and it’s just their opinion.

5. If you regret it or not depends on your personality and how much you have glorified the whole prom thing. When you are 60, do you think you will regret having missed prom so that you could get a better education and take care of yourself? What’s BEST for you?? That should be your focus, not some superficial thing like prom. That said, many homeschool groups do have proms. See if there’s one near you that does.

You will only be as isolated as you let yourself be. You may lose great friendships, but that’s a part of growing up. It’d be silly to think that all these great friends of yours will still be great friends 10-15 years from now. If you moved to another city, you’d lost a lot of those friendships, too, right? It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make the move if it’s the best thing for you.

1. I am a very a independent person. I have always been one who has had plenty of friends, but chooses to go eat out alone or go see a movie alone etc. But will I feel isolated too much being home all day?

You’ll only be home all day if you choose to be. You’ve said yourself that you’re in a classroom where 2/3 of the class is BS. So, half an hour per subject is learning in school; why would it be different at home?

2. Although I am very close with my friends, I am afraid not having public high school in common we will not be as close.

I keep up with friends who are in school. You do lose one aspect of a shared experience but you can still be close friends. I’ve stayed close to my best friend, who I met in kindergarten even though I’ve been out of school from fourth grade on.

3. Boyfriend. I don’t have one right now, but am worried that it will be difficult to get one once I am homeschooled.

I have a boyfriend, and we’ve been together almost a year. Still happy, looks like it’ll stay that way. Again, the only way you’ll end up isolated when you’re homeschooled is if you isolate yourself. Go to places where there are boys, and you’ll probably end up dating one of them eventually if that’s what you want.

4. I know I will come across people who will find me odd, and try to preach to me why I shouldn’t be homeschooled (I’m sure some will answer this question), but how do I deal with it?

They’re idiots and don’t know anything about you, your life, or how homeschooling’s working for you. Think of it like this: You’re out in your BMW, and while you’re waiting at a red light the guy next to you leans out of his Honda and tells you that BMWs suck and people who use them can’t actually drive. It’s hard, but just ignore them. They’re usually arrogant and ignorant.

5. Also, will I really really regret not being able to walk for graduation, and if I am not invited to a prom, not being able to attend prom?

Many homeschoolers have graduation ceremonies and proms. I didn’t go to the prom last year but I’m going to go this year. It looked like a lot of fun from the pictures and stories I heard.

The bottom line is that people are people whether or not they go to school, and the social instinct is universal.

It sounds like homeschooling would be perfect for you. I was going to recommend an online school but it looks like you beat me to it. If you’re religious, your religious institution probably has a homeschooler group or at least a youth group of some sort. You could look in to joining that. Or, take a class on something you’re already good at so you can focus on the social aspect. That will help you with having friends you can chill with until your friends from school are around.

I am a former public school teacher who homeschooled my own children for many years. I think that you should get out of that school as soon as possible, it doesn’t sound like it is a good place for you. I also think that if you are going to be homeschooled, you should make sure you have activities outside of your home. There are homeschool groups in most areas. Usually, they take field trips, have special classes in the arts, and are a great source for getting information about the laws in your state. If you could get a job, or an apprentiship with a company or professional (vet, accountant, etc.) it could really enhance your education and social life. Most churches have youth groups that are a safe place to have fun. Homeschooling can be a great way to get an education. Many famous people have been educated through homeschooling – do some research and see for yourself! Whatever you do, try to get the best education possible, that way you are very unlikely to have a job where you are surrounded by the type of people you want to get away from at your school!

Hi, I am 19 and I was homeschooled, so maybe I can answer some of your questions.

Once you are out of the cruddy situation at your school, your stress level will go down. It may take a while for all the stress and anxiety to go away. But just think…if you are homeschooled, you don’t have to stress about what to wear in the morning!! LOL

Homeschooling is a very social experience, for me it was anyway. Instead of being with a bunch of immature 15-19 year olds all of the time, I spent more time with adults. Trust me, when you get a little older, you’ll realize that adults are a lot more fun than stupid teenagers. There’s less drama, less stress over stupid things, less everything.

I think you should go for it! Try it for a year! If you don’t like it, you can always go back to where you are now!

I know there are alot of answers already, but you said you’d like to hear from someone who started out in high school, and is using online homeschool now.

I had similar problems to you [stomach issues from stress], and I had to be homeschooled until we figure this all out.

Anyway, online school is awesome. I’m with Alpha Omega Academy, and the work is so amazing. I can normally do two days worth of work in 4-6 hours, unless there are quizes involved.

About isolation: Just because your homeschooled doesn’t mean you can’t still go out to eat or see a movie with your friends. Homeschooling actually gives you more time to do that, since you can work at your own pace.

Already, I am 2-3 days ahead in all of my subjects. You can go as fast as you want, take vacations when you want, and start your school day whenever you want. There are still deadlines for your work, though. So it’s not all fun and games.

Either way, I hope you work through your depression, and I bet everything turns out okay.

Good luck!

I’m afraid that you may feel very isolated at times. I’m an adult who homeschools her kids and there are stretches of time where I really want a peer to “hang out with”. That desire never seems to diminish with age!

I am also a high school teacher who is not currently working. I’ve worked in overcrowded, disruptive schools and that is so much worse IMO than feeling isolated occasionally. Truly you can learn so much more in an orderly environment.

I have a suggestion for you: Visit several of your local community colleges and find out what classes a 16 year old can take. Most offer similar classes as a high school, like English and Algebra. I believe from reading your writing that you are likely an intelligent student who can certainly handle CC courses. Lots of homeschooled teenagers take them. All you have to do is pass a placement test for some of them, I believe.

Find out if there is a local homeschool coop in your area that caters to high school aged students. There you will meet others your age, and can also continue the relationships from your school days.

Getting more information from the community is essential before making any big decision. Nobody in this forum can say with certainty what would be best for you, because if there is no homeschool support and you feel more depressed when isolated, then staying at home all day could be disastrous.

Please research your decision carefully and don’t haggle your parents too much. They know what they can afford and can handle, and HS a high schooler can be costly and time consuming for them as well.

Good Luck

Wow, that’s very thought out! Your concerns are very real and do have the possibility of making your homeschooling experience a difficult one.

1. Yes, there is a chance that staying the house all day will not only make you feel slightly lonely, but you’ll start going a little stir crazy after a few months. But being homeschooled doesn’t mean you have to be locked in your house. I’m not sure what method you’ll be using, but many home schooling programs incorporate lots of field trips and hands on experience.

2. Yes, you might drift apart from some of your friends now that you won’t see them everyday. You can still call them, go to the mall, ect, but it all depends on how much effort you put into it. From how you describe yourself I doubt you’ll put a lot of effort into keeping every single friend, just a choice few that you value the most. (That’s what happened to me after I graduated.)

I’m curious what your Mom or Dad thinks about this; are they okay with the idea or have you not broke it to them yet?

I’m also curious if you think you’re up to just toughing it out till graduation. Remember, the big thing you miss out on with home schooling is walking across the stage. My sister didn’t get to participate in her graduation ceremony because of grades reasons and she’s regretted it the rest of her life.

Just think, you only have two more years left!

But whatever you decide, I hope it’ll turn out okay for you. Good luck!

Just to add my 2 cents worth. You have many excellent answers already. Public school was not developed to help people in the market place by the way; it was implemented as a tool to create an obedient, malleable conforming society. That is why so many people like yourself do not fit in. When my kids were your age I forced them to go to school because I thought that was the right thing to do. There were no other options and I will regret that decision forever. I am a parent again and I homeschool my kids now. No contest. Look up John Taylor Gatto on the Internet and see his views on education- he is a three time teacher of the year winner and not only supports homeschooling, but he is an unschooling supporter. Good luck to you on your new educational adventure!

Hi. I’m home-schooled and i’m doing my GCSE’s at the moment with the NEC. I love what i’m doing and the freedom is absolute bliss! I wasn’t kicked out of school and I wasn’t bullied, I went to a private school for 8 years and was quite happy. Home-ed was a matter of choice, nothing else. About your friends, I found that after the time away my ex-school ‘friends’ didn’t stay in contact so I thought that they weren’t real friends and I’ve now made different friends with people at school and other home-schooled people! I have joined quite a few groups and so that gives me my social life. I just have to say to anyone who doesn’t believe in home-ed, do you actually know anything about it?? Your social life doesn’t end! You have so much freedom and why think inside the box when there’s so many other possibilities! I hope you find this helpful and if you want to know more go onto Education Otherwise’s website and the hundreds of sites about it on the internet. Oh yeah, the boyfriend thing, do you want to go to college?? If you do then you’ll meet hundreds of boys there and also your only 16! Theres years and years ahead, so don’t worry!

Personally, I don’t think that home school is a good choice for you right now. You’re describing an escape plan not an education plan.

Home school is not going to answer your problems with family, diet, and depression. These are not environmental problems, these are your personal problems that are going to come through regardless of your place of learning.

Regardless of your choice, you need to understand that you are going to have to figure out how to participate in this society. If you think the gang/drug/population/teaching problems are a problem, then you need to also understand that these types or similar types of problems will exist where ever you go and with whatever you do.

Everyone has reasons for why things aren’t working for them in their lives. Some let that drag them down, some don’t. It’s a lot easier when you decide to not let those things drag you down.

/soapbox