INTERVIEW WITH DEANNA

 

Registered Student from 2002 to 2013.

Attended the River Valley Public School from kindergarten till the end of grade 2.

A traditional home education student with Families Learning Together September 2005 till June 2013.

I interviewed Deanna on June 13, 2013 using the graduation interview format shared by Wes Beach at his website - http://www2.cruzio.com/~beachhi/graduation.html.

“There is no graduation from education.” ~Greg Denning

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1. Why do you want to be done with high school? Why do you think you will be successful even though you haven't done all the usual courses associated with high school learning?

   I want to be done with school because realistically I know what I need and when I need to know more, I will learn it then (referencing book / academic learning).

   It is my belief that all the classes a person is suppose to take in high school are BS, and one does not need them unless the person wants to become a scientist or a doctor or whatever. I don't need the book learning that is required in public school for everyday life.

2. What are your plans for the next few years? You don't have to have everything planned out; just tell me what plans you do have, even if they are very vague.

   I plan to move out, maybe move to Red Deer. I want to get married and have kids... be a stay at home mom. I want to get into breeding dogs as a hobby. I would like to get a pig again. And I plan to get piercings and tattoos.

3. Do you feel you know your own capabilities well? Are you confident in yourself? Are you reasonably certain you can follow through with the plans you talked about in the previous question?

   I think I know my capabilities pretty well. At work I am confident and with my group of friends I am confident, although I do still have a shy side. I also aware that in new situations that I get very nervous but with time and experience become comfortable and confident. I am the type of person who knows what I want and I have the gusto to follow and pursue what I want.

4. Why do you think you deserve a diploma? What do you think your diploma should be based on?

   I do not care about getting a diploma. To me a diploma is a “shiny” piece of paper , but in the end it is still just a piece of paper.

5. Tell me about your past educational experiences.

   I went to public school, finishing grade 2. Then I was home schooled. I have done some other learning experiences including – a week long art course at Red Deer College, work experience at the vet's office, dog training and experience with Liz at the Red Deer dog show.

5a. What are some of your favorite home school experiences / moments?

When we took the writing classes with author Sigmund Brouwer. The themed fair's that Lori Desrosiers hosted every fall – I loved making the boards for them. And that time you played classical music to help us with math but instead we made up great stories to match the music.

6. What skills do you think you possess? Of course there is the typical math and reading. But what about researching necessary information, dealing with people, setting up opportunities for yourself? Tell me about any special skills you have.

   I like to research things. Like the other day I wanted to know more about Rottweilers and Auntie Tracy gave me questions to figure out the answers to. It was fun.

   I think I am a nurturing person. I like to stand up for people – root for the underdog.

   I am good at communicating via writing but not that great in conversation.

   I am a good listener.

   I am computer literate.

   I am good at multitasking.

   I am great at remembering numbers.

   I like working through conflict, not ignoring it and hoping it will go away like some people I know.

   I love planning and organizing.

   I am pretty good at problem solving.

   I am okay working in small groups but find that too many people overwhelm me.

   I am not good at being flexible with plans. I like plans to be set in stone or to follow a predictable pattern.

7. What are some of your passions?

I have been told I am a passionate person but that I hide that part of myself in large social situations but that in a more personal setting, it is very obvious.

I am very interested in animals, poetry, writing, kids (I hope to adopt one day), and self expression (using clothes and make up to make a statement).

8. List any life experiences that have enabled you to grow into a more mature, wiser and accomplished person.

   My whole life has been an experience that has made me grow into the person that I am. My crappy life and relationship experiences these past 2 years have changed me. I find that my opinions have changed a lot in this same time period, due to new people in my life. I now find myself being openly different where as the previous version of myself felt different from everyone else but I didn't express it openly. And because of my journey to this point in my life, I find that I am more accepting of different viewpoints (like those who are emo, punk, Scientologists, gay, etc), those people who are considered outside the cultural norm.

Anything else you would like to include?

~ I love to do paperwork. I think I would like to do some kind of desk job.

~ If I had been in public school, I think I would have like 2 classes the most – English and Social Studies, because you get to read things and then express your opinion in written form.

~ I find that I am different than a lot of other teens because of my experience of home education. I find that I have better work ethic and a better grasp of life knowledge.

~ I have thought enviously about what it could have been like if I had lived in the city and gone to public school --- I would have been able to see my friends daily and could have went to parties and such. But I also realize and appreciate how I was raised and the life I do have.

~ I crave social interaction. In my dream world, I would like to be able to have lots of money so that I could have the social life that I want for the next year and a half instead of feeling the need and the pressure to step into an adult role sooner than I want to or feel that I should have to.

** Who do you look up to (people you know in person and people you may not know but admire because of their work in life, etc)?

~ I look up to my friend Caralyn because even though her life is hell, that when life pushes and she pushes back! I envy how she is not scared to go after what she wants and that she is not shy.

~ A person that I look up to that I don't know personally is Onision. I like him because he is not afraid to share his opinion and doesn't care what others think about him or his opinion. I like that he is making a life outside all of the BS. (http://www.youtube.com/speaks ) (http://youtube.wikia.com/wiki/Onision )

~ I look up to and envy my brother Jordan. Life does not seem hard for him. I realize that this is only my perception of him. I like how he has his life together and how he has accepted adulthood. I like what he has done and accomplished at his age and I hope to do the same in my own life.