Computerschooled sixteen year old? Bored and sick of it.?

Question

Hey. I'm sixteen years old and computerschooled in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Just like being homeschooled, only on a computer, so my mother doesn't have to teach me. Anyway, I'm bored with it. I only have one true friend and I'm so sick of it. I want to have friends and go out and stuff. What should I do? I've been homeschooled for nearly seven years now. There's no way I could go back to public school. Someone help?

Answer 1

So what is stopping you from going out and meeting people and doing stuff? Presumably your mum doesn't have you tied to the computer 24/7! Sorry but, honestly, all you have to do is open your front door.

I'm 14 and home educated but I also volunteer at our local hospital and at our local old folks' home. I also have a number of seasonal jobs with various neighbours and I help teach swimming to the little kids at their swim camp. Plus I belong to swimming, riding and cross country running teams and take part in various sporting contests.

Check out your local library, community website/notice board, local sports centre, local homeschooling groups if you don't already know what goes on in your town.

Also don't forget to check out the many non-school based activities like Scouts, ATC, Young Farmers etc.

Edit: Okay the only reason people "assumed" is because you posted "I only have one true friend and I'm so sick of it. I want to have friends and go out and stuff". Want to do, not do do.

Anyway maybe you need to consider why you "only have one true friend" and not more at Karate, work etc. Do you need to be more assertive? More confident? Are you being too restrictive in who you view as a potential friend? Are you trying too hard to make friends? Is there some reason why other people view you as unapproachable? Are you shy? Or quiet? Or too loud? Do you and your "one true friend" spend so much time together that other people see you as being akin to conjoined twins?

Oh and at 16, would your mum not trust you to start taking more responsibility for organising your own learning rather than thinking cyberschool is your only option? Who knows, maybe you've just outgrown what this particular cyberschool can offer you? Or maybe as you've grown up, your learning style has changed and their e-methods no longer suit you. It doesn't have to be a choice between your mum teaching you or doing other people's programmes such as the cyber school - I'm 14 and I do my homeschooling by searching out my own resources to learn from: books, people, college courses etc. Maybe you need to sit down with your mum and explore some of the other options open to you.

Answer 2

Join a homeschool group so you can meet other homeschooled kids!  In our area there are several.  We even have a band for homeschool students that has more than 150 members!  Get involved in a youth group at church or meet other teens by volunteering.

Answer 3

I've heard from others that having all your classes online or on the computer can get to be a bit boring. It's one thing to play on the computer and chat with friends, but when you have to work it gets to be too much sometimes.

I'm guessing your are doing public school from home? Not many options there for you, especially if your mom is unable to get involved in your curriculum for whatever reason.

BUT, you can do some things to break it up a bit, the main one is to get involved in a homeschool group. Find one that has activities, or even one where you can take some enrichment classes, like art or music or something. Most groups have lots of things to do, so find one in your area.

It is really important to be involved with other homeschool families, and your mom is going to have to get involved and help you get to some of these activities so you can get to know others.

Answer 4

Many parents don't have the confidence needed to teach, so the online school may be something that she feels covers what you need to know.

First, you need to sit down and talk with your parent(s) about getting out and getting active.. Volunteer (my son volunteers at the local library children's department), take up a sport or hobby that you can do with other people, take classes at the local community center or local college continuing ed, take a part-time job.   You need to make an effort too.. what can you do to make your situation better? Be proactive and check online to see about local homeschool groups, local activities and what you would like to do to find like-minded people.  or maybe just some teen activities.  

Meanwhile chat with some teens online. They might have ideas to help. http://teenhomeschoolhang.com/

Answer 5

Well are you chained to bed.  Is your parents attidue you can't go out until your 40.

If that's the case you're out of luck, they won't let you have friends in school either.

It's up to you to go out to the Mall, get into TEam activities like Karte, Soccer, Softball, square dancing.

All my friends were made as a result of clubs like the outside Astronomy club, or in my apartment building and neighboorhood.  Only a few were made at school.

To be frank I have no contact with ANYONE from MY SCHOOL anymore.

The long term friends I have come from other schools who I met through other friends and they go back 35 years.

I have kept contact with my highschool sweetie, but not in the last 15 years.