尼尔Norby
Hometown: Cerillos, New Mexico
The choice made by 尼尔Norby’s parents to homeschool him 和 his brother was probably borne out of necessity as much as philosophy, 根据尼尔的说法. He describes the location of his childhood home as “off the road 和 up a hill” 和 recalls needing to be watchful for rattlesnakes during games of hide-和-seek in the yard.
尼尔很小的时候, he says the homeschooling experience was predominately directed by his family. He was given a lot of latitude in picking the books he wanted to read, 和 he was able to dedicate himself to playing the violin.
As he advanced into his teens, Neil used 在线 curricula 和 a tutor to meet the academic requirements for his GED. He also joined a youth orchestra in nearby Santa Fe, which enabled him to not only pursue his passion for music but also socialize with peers.
Neil says it was his mother who suggested he look at L和mark College, 和 after making a visit to the Putney, 佛蒙特大学, he thought it would be a good 下一个 step. “I wanted to try out something that people without learning differences do. But [L和mark College] specializes in educating people with learning differences. So, it seemed like a great compromise,” Neil explained.
Going to class with a group of students was definitely a new experience for Neil. “The thing I had the most trouble with while transitioning from being homeschooled to being in college was remaining focused 和 doing things on time rather than getting sidetracked,他说. He credits his relationship with his academic advisor 和 “liberal amounts” of help from the Drake Center for 学术支持 (DCAS) with helping him successfully make the adjustment.
Neil is enjoying the opportunity to be more social in the college setting. He’s been part of the jazz b和 here at L和mark College, 和 plans to join the chamber ensemble. “我很高兴我选择了L和mark, because if I’d chosen a more traditional college I don’t think I would do as well,尼尔说。.
When asked what advice he might give other homeschooled students, Neil recommended they “find one that meshes with how they were homeschooled or one that could adapt to their needs.”