#blextrophy

[vivinthevalley]

Sneak peek of episode 2, season 2, of King of the Nerds!

[vivinthevalley]

Why stop the fun now? I have a fun project for us to all nerd-out together. I hope you will take a look and consider contributing to take Hobby-Con from dream to reality. Hobbies, nerds, crafts, Cali-for-nia, baby animals, what's not to like?

[vivinthevalley]

hi Genevieve! DId I hear you right on KoTN that you were home-schooled, or were you just kidding? How did you like that experience? For what it's worth, it amazes me not only your EQ but also how cool and collected you are at these challenges! Go Viv Go!!!!!

Thanks! I was homeschooled. I was taken out of first grade, homeschooled through eighth grade and I went back to public school for high school.

People always talk about homeschoolers being “poorly socialized.” This is a very negative stereotype that is hurtful in the same way all negative stereotypes are. The fact of the matter is, the ‘I knew a homeschooler once who was totally socially inept,’ meme is due to selection bias. Someone sees a socially inept person, ask if they are homeschooled, and BAM! stereotype confirmed. No one asks the happy, well-adjusted social person if they are homeschooled and it rarely comes up in normal conversation, so the majority of homeschoolers pass unnoticed unless they bring it up themselves.  

If I have EQ issues (and I’m not saying I do or don’t :)) it has nothing to do with my homeschooling or socialization and everything to do with my own innate personality. My brothers and I were all homeschooled, and our social abilities run the gamut.  Homeschoolers get plenty of opportunities to socialize with kids their own age. I did Homeschool PE at the Y twice a week, daily sports classes, Homeschool Band, 4-H, Homeschool Biology Class, and regular field trips with other area homeschoolers. But in addition to that, I got much more time to interact with people of a variety of ages and backgrounds because I was out in the world rather than sitting in a classroom. 

I personally loved being homeschooled.  Like I said, I actually spent most of my time out of the house. I went to work with my mom and did tons of fun things (mentioned above). I only spent about two-three hours on schoolwork a day, so that allowed me extra time to pursue other things I was interested in, like my writing. I had a very good setup because due to 4-H and all of the classes I took at the YMCA, when I was ready to join high school, I actually had two or three friends (who all attended public school their whole lives) starting at the same school at the same time, as well as more friends a year younger, so I didn’t even have to start out not knowing anyone.

So I was really happy I’d stayed home. I feel like I got the best of both worlds—I got to skip the tediousness of grade school, the hormonal hell that is middle school, and then I got to join high school in time to enjoy all the fun stuff like prom and homecomings as well as establish an academic record so I was able to get a great scholarship at the university I wanted to go to. Win-win-win.

The story behind why my mom decided to homeschool my brothers and I (and my brothers were only homeschooled through middle school) is a long one, but the book that inspired her to take the leap is called Dumbing us Down by John Taylor Gatto.

[nerdandthreequarters-blog]

Servants of the Forsaken Orb present their very own Nerd Anthem, "Nerds are King." 

[enbeees]

Man I wish I had some friends who watched king of the nerds.

Considering Blextrophy (celeste and Genevieve at least) is planning on another hangout next friday, I would love to have someone come over, and try to get in on the video part of the hangout itself.

Too bad I'm way too shy to actually do it alone...

Love you three!