(Let it be understood that the following in no way is a meant to undermine the efforts of my educators. I had many wonderful teachers whose impact is still lasting.)
Unschooling From The Start
When my son was born, nearly 8 years ago, even before I had any idea that he would have challenges surrounding his speech, hyperactivity, an intense need to move constantly, and a general inexhaustible amount of energy, which are all traits that would make thriving in a typical school environment, extensively difficult, I knew that he would receive a non-traditional and informal education.
Looking Back
I distinctly remember the night I graduated from high school. I remember the date, the time, the color of my gown, the dress I wore and countless other details. What I remember most however, is standing outside the entrance, staring at the building I had attended 5 days a week for the previous 4 years, thinking to myself, what now?
Now What?
What now? I had been a straight A student. I was about to be recognized as one of the top ten academically achieving students in my graduating class. I spent all of my time, (and then some,) reading chapters, writing papers, fulfilling all the requirements. It’s who I was, but was about to become who I had been.
I stood in that spot, one I had walked past countless times and felt what I can only describe as empty questions.
Here’s what I knew:
-It was no longer about books and term papers.
-I would no longer be seen one high achiever among two hundred students, but more likely one average employee among millions of workers.
Here’s what I would soon come to learn:
-So much of day to day life is not about facts and memorizing or having the right answer but rather about adjusting to circumstance and environment.
-My achievements on paper had little to with my ability to apply knowledge in the functional world.
Here’s what came of it:
I struggled HARD. For a long time. Finding self worth, (after graduating,) did not come easy. Now, truth be told, there were many factors that contributed to my lack of societally acceptable success, but many of those factors were inescapable, and, I struggled. I had excelled on paper and all but failed in reality.
Stay With Me…
Forty years ago, I was born with Cerebral Palsy. Most of my struggles surround my vision, my gait, and my large and small motor skills. Cognitively I am extremely capable. I can read, write, memorize and do most of the things that I was expected to do in a traditional school setting, well. I crave routine and repetition . I thrived in school, as most of us know it. Application of my gained knowledge in an ever-moving, changing and evolving world, was and is a an entirely different and often separate issue.
Eventually through lots of hard work, self-acceptance and meeting some incredibly influential individuals I was able to come to terms with my reality of gifts and deficits. Here I am, giving it my all in an environment that offers opportunity for success.
I want different for my son. I want to incorporate his struggles so that they lead him to find his strengths, in real time. I want him to have the option to feel successful in the ways that he IS successful, already. I cannot help but think, he would and will agree, when he can understand his options. I want him to learn how to learn and apply simultaneously.
School was my life, for twelve years. My wish for him is that life be his school, for as long as his forever is.
