The Servant's Quarters

Yesterday was a milestone in our 12 year homeschooling journey.

Isaac had a long anticipated interview with an admissions counselor at Schoolcraft College. Although he's still in high school, we know that he's going to have to have some accomplishments that make him stand out when he applies for college in a couple of years. College course work was something that we thought would serve him well, not only from the standpoint of admission to a university but also from getting practical experience in a classroom setting. That's something of which he's had almost nothing.

I didn't attend the meeting. My job was to sit at my desk and pray.

According to Rita and Isaac, the interview was quick. They were pleased that the counselor seemed equipped and used to dealing with homeschooled students. He asked if we had any transcripts or standardized tests. No, we didn't have any of those. (I am about to begin work on generating transcripts for our high school students. I'm behind the curve as far as Isaac is concerned. We have never done standardized tests. Rita and I just haven't worried about them. Our high and mighty homeschool philosophy has always been that we didn't need them. Our kids were getting educated in what WE thought was important. Who cares what other people think they should know? Gulp. Time to come down from the clouds and be more practical.) Isaac was told that he would have to take a placement test before his admission would be considered. The test would take about 1.5 hours to complete. Isaac has never taken this type of a test before. It's a diffent experience doing your science quiz at home sitting on your bed and listening to your iPod. The counselor was generous and offered to let Isaac come back on a later day to take the test. He seemed a little nervous but said that he might as well get it over with.

Rita called me while he was taking the exam. She was relaxed about it. If he did well, it was validation and a big achievement. If he did poorly, well then...... he should have listened to us when we warned him about not being serious with his studies. I wasn't so nonchalant about it. This was a big deal. The first real test of how we were homeschooling. Many of our friends have youth who are either wrapping up or have finished their high school years. For the most part, they are excellent students with promising futures. Will Isaac fare as well? What if he doesn't? No college? Is he going to live in my basement for the rest of his life? YIKES!!!!

I got the call a few hours later. Isaac had done very well on his placement exam. He killed on Reading Comprehension and Language, placing at the college level in those areas. He did not do as well at Math, placing below his grade level. (Not surprising since this is one of his struggle areas. He and I are going to be working on his algebra together this summer. He also told me later that many of the questions on the test used mathematical notation that he wasn't used to and didn't understand. Later in the exam, he figured out what they were trying to ask him, but he had already gotten many of the problems wrong.) However, his placement test results were good enough for the counselor to offer him admission to Schoolcraft on the spot.

Isaac selected two classes to take this Fall - a beginning computer programming class and an English composition class.

We are so proud, so relieved, so happy. Congratulations, Isaac. Well done! I'm also very happy for Rita, who after years of sacrifice and effort, has produced a college student. Excellent!!!

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