The Homeschooler of the Month: May

Hello all!

I hope your school year is winding down!  How has your weekend been?  This Month's Homeschooler of the month is, Verjinyah, a very great friend of mine! :D  So let' get started!  Thank you so much Verjinyah for talking with me! :)

1) Introduce yourself!  Your name and age (if you don't mind)  When did
you start homeschooling?  What are some of your life aspirations?   

 My name is Verjinyah, I am a seventeen year old just finishing up her junior year. I first started being homeschooled when I was in preschool, so this upcoming senior year will be my 12th year of homeschooling! My life aspirations are not that extraordinary. A simple life with husband and children I can honestly say is all I truly want in this life. 

2) What curriculum do you use?  What is your favorite subject or part of
 school?

After many years of trying different curriculums (Konos, Seton, Catholic Heritage, Our Lady of Victory, etc.) I am now doing Mother of Divine Grace (since the 6th grade). My favorite subject is definitely Religion, it really helps you to open your eyes to the wonders and graces around you and appreciative for the small simple things in life.

  3) What do you do for fun when you're not homeschooling?

 When I'm not doing school I like to do a lot of embroidery and dancing while listening to my iPod. I also like running around in an empty field in my bare feet ;) 

  4) What kind of books do you read for fun? What book character do you most
 relate to?

I read several different kinds! Little Women is my all time favorite and I re-read it every year! The Eight Cousins is also another one of my favorites along with the Once Upon a Time is Timeless series and an occasional Jane Austen book. I grew up with the Little House books so I can't forget to mention those, and currently I am reading the Anne of Green Gables series. 

   When it comes to relating to book characters I like to use the March sisters from Little Women because each sister covers different personalities, feeling etc. Starting with the oldest, Meg: I can relate to Meg because in many ways I feel the same way she does, the interest and want of growing up, to live a peaceful domestic life. I am also very fond of pretty things and clothes! 

   Jo: I may not be entirely sold on the tomboy side of things, but like her I love fun and mischief! I do have a slight careless side to me, I laugh easily and I don't pay attention much when that happens! This happened once when I was alone at a Cloistered Benedictine Convent for a while, and during one of our meals (which are always eaten in silence) something made me laugh out loud and so hard that I knocked my glass of water over and spilled it all over one of the sister! While I can relate with Meg about growing up, I also feel like Jo, because at the same time I do not want to grow up, and I don't always want things to change. Her curiosity is like mine as well, I am very curious! I remember when my parents were out of town once and we got a box in the mail, I called her to ask if I could open it because I just HAD to know what was inside! It turned out one of the things was a pretty new Sunday skirt for me :) . I'm certain I'm as stubborn as she is too! 

   Beth: Feelings.... Beth was very gentle and devoted to her dolls. She gave them the upmost care. This was her most gentle and caring side. For me I feel the same way when it comes to babies or small animals. I don't know why, but I feel very devoted and protective of them whenever near. 

   Amy: Accomplishment and refinement! I want to know and be able to do things properly with respect and dignity! Small things are include in that such as a good artistic taste, being able to do a little art, singing etc. Again the love of pretty things in this character is another thing I can relate to. 

  5) What is your plan for after high school?  Is college part of your plan?
 If so, what college(s)?

My High school plans are the same as my life aspirations. A simple loving family life is all I really want and plan to have if possible (God willing). College isn't part of my plan, I have never seen myself going to college. Instead I will be taking midwifery classes. 

  6) What is one thing you'd like to do when you're grown up? (serious or
 fun)

    Well it really is the same as my life aspirations/after high school plans! Though a trip to Italy to visit some shrines would be nice ;) 

  7) Do you get any interesting questions when you tell people you're
 homeschooled?  What are some?

   Well to be honest, I don't get many home schooling questions! It's common in my area, and people who aren't home schooled all have friends or family who does home school. A common questions I do get though, when people ask is: "Do like being homeschooled or would you rather go to school?" But most of the time people instead tell me that they wish they were homeschooled as kids, or that they think home schooling is awesome. 

  8) Who is your favorite Saint? 

  Do I have to choose just one?!?! ;) St Margaret Mary and the Devotion to the Sacred Heart!  

9) What is the most memorable thing about homeschooling?  Do you have any
 funny stories about homeschooling? 

   Well for some reasons I have a few images in my mind when people ask me that or a similar question! and those are sitting at the kitchen table when I first started home schooling and I was given a very large purple journal type book for drawing. Another would be when I was supposed to be reading science or History and I would hold it up to make it look like I was reading, but really I was reading an American Girl book. Another is talking on the phone with my teachers that Mother of Divine Grace gave us! my favorite teacher has always been Mrs. English. I remember when I was studying Greeks and Romans in 7th grade and I was supposed to write a paper on the Greek gods form mythology. My teacher received my paper and we discussed it over our weekly phone call. In one part of the paper I had put some incorrect information about mythology in it and she asked me where I came up with that (it had something to do where I said that "after many years the Greek gods had moved to Rome" instead of "the Romans had adopted their pagan beliefs and gods"). I told her that I had picked up that information from the Rick Riordan books. I guess they weren't as historically correct as I thought they were! 

  10) What is your favorite bible verse? Do you have a favorite quote? 

   

Well I'm not sure that I have a favorite bible verse.... instead I like all the verses that are tied in/similar to this very clear statement: "God will never give you anything that you can't handle". In addition that, I also like any verses that tell about our Lord's mercy, forgiveness, kindness etc. 

  11) Do you have any advice for beginning homeschoolers or people
 considering homeschooling? (from a student's perspective) 

Well to be honest I think the most important thing for a new homeschooler (and even someone who has been one all his/her life) is understanding "why". Being diligent and focused on your work is one thing, but truly appreciating and understanding why you are being homeschooled is another thing. So I would say appreciating and understanding why your parents have decided to (or thinking of) homeschooling is important, whether its because they want you to learn more about your faith, or simply because they don't want you to be badly influenced by other students in the public or private schools in your area.

~Thank you so much, Vigi!  What did you all think? 

God bless!