The World of Famous...

One thing I heard from several people during my time here at Erskine is: "I didn't know you were homeschooled!" Some say this in the same tone they might use to say "I didn't know you were from Mars!" I always find it amusing when people seem to assume that to be homeschooled is to be strange, antisocial and walk around in clothing much like the Amish wear. Think I'm exaggerating? Not much.


Don't get me wrong, there is something different about the homeschooling experience. I was an only child until I was 7 years old. What does a 6 year old girl who doesn't have any siblings or go to a conventional school do to entertain herself? The possibilities are endless. I could be Pippi Longstocking one day, and Nancy Drew the next. I could be Harriet Tubman saving the slaves, or I could be Joan of Arc, risking my live to lead an army. One thing I had perhaps more of than the average child, was imagination. I even had my own imaginary world. I called it "The World of Famous" why? I'm not really sure, but I think it had something to do with hearing the terms "World of Disney" and "Hall of Fame" many times and combining them...
I was the benevolent ruler of the World of Famous, (whose inhabitants were my many stuffed animals and dolls) and I enjoyed creating scenarios and acting them out with the good people of the land.

Books were always a huge delight of mine. Since I was 4 years old I could read, and I haven't slowed down since. In books you can be anything, when you sprinkle in imagination. The biggest inspirations for my scenarios were things from books. I loved acting out the scenes and often putting myself in the starring role :) Books are a release I hope to never take for granted. That's part of the reason I spent some time tutoring children to help with their reading; I think everyone should learn!

I also never let things stay what they appeared to be. An umbrella and a towel, became the makings of a beach in the living room. My mother's scarf tied to a broomstick, became the sack I carried over my shoulder whenever I "ran away from home" just like the kids in the cartoons. A chair tied to a toy horse and toy truck (Both fairly large toys) with some jump ropes became Santa's sleigh at Christmastime. Like I said, the possibilities of what I could do with my imagination and resourcefulness were endless :)

Imagination is a tool every child is born with, and like any tool, it would be a shame to let it dull with age. I guess you could say in some ways, I've never quite "Grown up", and frankly, why would I want to?