home schooling

[kvgymnast]

i am a freshman in highschool and a level 10 gymnast. i really want to become elite which means that i need a lot more time in my day to train. right now i am attending a really nice private school but i get a lot of hard homework everynight, so there is no extra time in my day between school and gymnastics. i think the only other option would be homeschooling, but i don't know if i want to do that because i would miss my friends so much and just getting out of the house and living normally. but like i said i want to be elite. any suggestions? is there anyone who is in the same situation or is homeschooled and has some thoughts on it? thanks!

[Shawn]

Is there a way for you to attend school for fewer hours in the day? I've heard of some schools allowing high-level athletes take just their core classes and get out by noon or so. Another question would be is your mom (or dad) ready to home-school you? And another, would you be willing/ able to get your GED and get finished sooner? These might be some options to consider.

[kvgymnast]

first of all thanks for replying! my mom and i have been discussing this for a while and she is totally up to it. i know for a fact that at my school i would not be able to just take core classes and leave early. it is a school where they push you to do a lot extra in the arts and education, so they wouldn't allow it. there are not many other schooling options around except for public schools, but i would not want to attend the one that i would go to. i just wish that i could continue a social life while pursuing my dream!!

[gymmomntc2e6]

Perhaps if you home schooled you would be able to squeeze some social time into your schedule on Friday night or Sunday afternoon so you could hang with your friends then. It sounds like if they are from your school that they also have a lot of homework and activities that would keep them from doing social things during the week anyway. I know that you would no longer see them at school, but if you had time where you knew you would be with them and that you are following a dream that is important to you - it may be worth it.

I think in the end, if your parents support you either way, only you can make the decision.

Good Luck

[NYgymfan]

Hi Kayla! My school, which is a public school, won't allow people to come for less hours until you are 16. Once you are old enough to drop out, you can reduce your hours. But it sounds like your school won't let you do that. And I'm sure your parents probably don't want to pay private school tuition if you are only going for half a day anyway!

Life is a series of choices, at least thats what my mom always says. I don't think going to school less hours or having your parents homeschool you is a good idea unless you are really really sure you want to go elite, and that you will stick with gym through college and beyond. Because if you cut the amount of time you spend working on school work, you are relying more on gymnastics to get you into college then most people. And colleges probably won't be too happy if they see you spent less time on school work only to end up quitting gym.

But once you are sure your in gym for the long run, I think homeschooling is a great idea. The whole idea of school is to learn stuff. And if you learn stuff quickly without having to do a ton of HW, then that time that would would have spent on HW would be better spent on a subject that you find harder, or being in the gym practicing. In otherwords, your school work can be made to fit your needs and you can spend your time more wisely. But I'd talk it over with your parents and coaches to see what they think.

[kvgymnast]

thanks so much everyone!!

[jls1969]

I am so glad to see your post...we are trying to decide if changing my daughter's school is the right thing to do. Where we are, there is a school that accomodates athletes, actors and musicians. They would attend school for 2 1/2 hours each day and that allow enough time in the gym for extra training. Do you know of any schools like that in your area? Where do the elite gymnasts at your gym go to school? Is there a home-schooling co-op in your area? These might be some options to stay connected through school. I also think trying to maintain your current friends by hanging out on the weekends is a great idea. I think the decision to go elite needs to totally be yours---if you can deal with all of the changes and training, then go for it. You are doing a great thing by really weighing the options, I am impressed. Maybe you could talk to your school and explain what you are wanting to do... if it doesn't work out, then maybe they could let you have a place back in that school. Best of luck to you---keep us updated!

[kvgymnast]

thanks so much! i have actually been talking to TDiver and she was a forming gymnast training elite and homeschooled and she has really helped me with the pros and cons. i am leaning towards the homeschooling because my school doesn't allow partial days and i would most likely need to train at another gym anyway because my gym probably wouldn't be the greatest for the elite level...camps and other places is what i'm gonna look at. so thanks again and good luck with your daughter also!!

[Aussie_coach]

Homeschooling can have many benefits, even if you don't stick with your gymnastics in the long run it can still have a positive effect on your education. In home school you can go at your own pace, if you find work easier you can get through it quicker and save time, if you are struggling with something you can devote more time to it.

You will save a lot of time in your day when you homeschool as there is no need for a lot of the time wasting activities that go on in school Your schedule will be much more flexible and you will be able to work it around any of your gymnastics training hours. You can bring your school with you when you travel away to competitions and things. You wont have as many distractions as you would in the classroom.

Home school does take a lot of dedication, discipline and committment both on your part and on the part of your parents. But if you are a high level gymnasts then the odds are you already are a very dedicated, disciplined and committed person with and very supportive family.

You will need to look at the other benefits that attending a 'real' school provides you amd make sure those are still being found in your life in other ways. For example a social outlet, making sure you still find time to spend with people who are not members of your family or your gym. This helps to provide a healthy balance in your life.

[Jojogymgirl]

First off, I'm a freshman in HS and a level 10 as well. Now I'm taking some pretty tough classes and get a lot of homework too. My gym is about 1 hour away, and I know how you feel. I miss the last period of school everyday, which would be like my art (which I had to drop and change to study hall so that I could leave). I still take one elective, spanish 2, and all of my core classes. Plus, my school won't let me out of gym class (you have to be a junior or senior on a varsity sport...STUPID!) and people have taken it way out of control in the past. I would say, DON'T HOMESCHOOL!!! You need to have a family outside of the gym, like your friends. it seems like you go to a nice school, so you wouldn't be getting the same education as you would there. what if you got injured and could never do gymnastics again? you would want a counseler at school to tell you what classes to take, and most importantly, have the right education to get you into the college you want, without gymnastics. Plus, I've heard that you cannot get a scholarship from some colleges...maybe stanford?...if you are homeschooled, but don't quote me on that. going to a real school would mean doing other things than gymnastics, and that can make your gymnastics even better (you have other things to keep you occupied rather than stressing all of the time). AT MY GYM, THERE ARE 3 ELITES. NONE OF THEM HOMESCHOOL. 2 MADE IT TO VISA CHAMPIONSHIPS (2008) AND ONE LAST YEAR!!!!! THE OTHER IS A PRE-ELITE. FORMERLY, WE HAD A GYMNAST GO TO CHAMPIONSHIPS NUMEROUS TIMES AND GET A FULL-RIDE TO A GRRREAT SCHOOL! So, as you can see, you don't have to be homeschooled to be an elite. Take a look at Shawn Johnson and Shannon Miller. Whatever you do, make sure you put both school AND gym into the equation, b/c you'll never know what might happen!!!! hope this helped!