I'm Homeschooled: What Will My Public Schooled Peers Think?

"You homeshoolers have it way easier than we do!"
"What makes you think so?"
"You don't have to sit in class all day with like 30 other students."
"No, but school itself isn't much easier."
"Your teachers aren't as strict as ours."
"No, my teacher isn't strict, but we still have to do schoolwork."
"Why do parents even homeschool their kids?"

And the debate went on and on and on for several minutes. 

That was an excerpt from a recent minor debate at my church's youth group between a public schooled student and a homeschooled one.  It's not word for word, but very similar to what was being said.  I was not involved in this debate, rather just a bystander.  But I was listening in as I wanted to hear what kind of criticism we homeschoolers would continue to receive.  There are at least ten homeschooled teenagers in my youth group, and I wanted to hear what was being said about us.  The last thing I heard from the debate was, "Why do parents even homeschool their kids?"  Let me tell you how that jolted me right back into reality.  I would've definitely spoken up, but then one of the youth group leaders came and announced that we were heading to another building on our campus.  But if we had stayed there a minute later, yes, I would have said my piece.

There are many benefits and advantages a homeschooled student gets with their education.  For instance, school doesn't necessarily start at 7am, recesses or breaks can be longer, students have their teacher's undivided attention, and just get to stay home and relax.  But, there's sometimes a disadvantage: if you're homeschooled but some of your peers and friends aren't.  

I've been homeschooled since I started school in 2006; I'm now in 10th grade.  I've had no experience in the public school at all, except sitting in the hallway several years back when my sister used to go for speech therapy.  I've been homeschooled since day one.  Had it been different, I don't think I would have ever conquered my difficulties in certain subjects, and my life would be totally different.  I am grateful and will forever be that I am able to be taught by my mother, in a clean environment, free of all the bullying, drinking, etc. that happens in public school.  With the temperaments I have I don't think I'd last long being taught away from my home.  I recall on December 14, 2012 I was especially glad to be homeschooled, as a murderer shot 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.  Had I been a survivor of that incident, I don't think I'd want to go back to school, ever, because I'm sure the experience was traumatizing and still is for the survivors.  I would not like waking up, getting ready and going to school each morning knowing that something like that may happen.  With the world we're living in, you just never know.  

I'm also grateful to be homeschooled because of my beliefs.  I'm a Christian, and if I was public schooled I would probably be a target of bullying or the other evils that go on in public schools, just to test my belief.  That's what happens these days, from what I hear.  

So, if you happen to be homeschooled and your peers or friends are making fun of you or questioning your family's decision, just remember that it's what your family has chosen and that's the method of schooling you'll be sticking to.  Now, who can question that?