The Well-trained Mind - Tumblr Posts

I had a unique question posed to me the other day: where would I be if I hadn’t gone to gifted school?

I was homeschooled through 10th grade. Toward the end of that school year, my mom kept telling me how she couldn’t keep up with what I was learning. I was mostly teaching myself from the books at that point. Homeschooling was no longer a sustainable idea, unless I wanted to teach my mom instead of the other way around.

My dad decided it was time to put his plan into action. He’d said for years that I should go to public school for my last year or two, so this seemed like the perfect time to start. My parents called the local high school to see if I could be transferred in.

They said no. They’d never heard of my curriculum (The Well-Trained Mind, if you’re curious) and weren’t interested in approving it. My parents called multiple staff, the school board, everyone. No dice.

I would start school there in the ninth grade, they said, and test out of all my classes until I was at the level I needed to be. This testing would take a few weeks at the start of the year - which meant I’d already be behind! - and then, only then, could I continue in the 11th grade. Obviously this became a last-resort option at best.

The next option was to take the GED. It’s a high school education equivalency test USUALLY for people who didn’t pass high school, but it can be taken at any age (including early!). So I could take it and go straight to my local college. The problems with this were twofold: first, most employers don’t consider them equivalent, so I would have a hard time getting a job until I got a degree; second, my local college would not be enough of a challenge for me, but it would be the most viable option in terms of finances. Despite this, it was my favorite idea of the two.

My mom learned about the gifted school a few weeks later. I had to mull about the decision for a little while, actually. I was almost leaning toward the college, but let’s just say there was some spiritual intervention and leave it at that. I’m very glad I did go to gifted school; it was a wonderful, stressful blessing, but a blessing all the same.

But let’s say that didn’t happen. Let’s say I took the GED (because no way was I going back to ninth grade!). How much would be different?

I would be in my fourth year of college, barring any financial issues. I’d probably still be taking computer science, but not have learned nearly as much as I know now in my second year.

I would never have learned about Mari0, nor its community. I wouldn’t have made any of the bunches of mappacks or tilesets - or more importantly, friends - that I made.

Speaking of friends, my few friends would be a couple of years older than me. Right now I’m the eldest among most of my friends by at least a few months. (Except one, who’s 3 years older, but he’s new.)

Probably wouldn’t have started a blog, or if I had, it would have comprised mostly reblogs.

I wouldn’t be as efficient with the internet in general. Learning about xkcd, or Twitch, or Steam, or social media trends would have come very late, if at all... although I’d probably have an active Facebook account.

I would be quieter than I already am. I’d probably have a couple of friends, none from college. I wouldn’t be surprised if I had to deal with bullying.

Would have had my first job by now. My dad always talks about how he had his first job when he was 14, so he would have pressured me into it (or I’d need it to pay college fees). Probably would have been in the food service industry, making me quite miserable as that’s not my forte.

I’d complain about all the easy, busy work and not do any of it. (Wait, I did that anyway)

Definitely wouldn’t be as tolerant of opposing ideals. I consider that one of my best qualities, and I learned it at gifted school. I’d probably argue with everyone, all the time, forever.

May have transferred to another college due to lack of interest or that possibility of bullying.

I think I like where I’m at right now much better.