Growing up I’ve had unusual interaction with the outside world. I participated in Boy Scouts and Tai Chi groups, but I missed the social time people normally get from a public school. I was in public from K-2nd grade then I began homeschool clear until college while I stopped visiting my other social groups. I’ve never regretted the decisions made because I had been brought into a new light that not many truly get to see. I witnessed the socialization of my friends from a third person perspective, in a sense. I discovered that “who” we are, is at least in part, defined by the company we keep and our surroundings.

My education was unique, my views became unique, and my opinions are my own. They may not all be right but they are mine regardless. Having not grown up through the public school system I self educated myself in the ways of society through my friends and the internet. Such a learning style comes with downsides of course, but I believe I gained some interesting views through my way of life and most importantly I became a constant critical thinker. Which is something probably not focused on enough in schools today.

One would think that living in this kind of isolation, albeit slight, would make someone not as prepared for the big world. Interacting with people I found was actually surprisingly easy when I arrived at college with minimal adjusting necessary. Following in the footsteps of my early peers I was able to dress for respect rather than souly impression, with minimal fear of social repercussions. If it were even vaguely close to the social norm I’d wear my cosplay tail way more often, but even I consider some limits set by society.

The biggest difference I notice is I was able to avoid adapting the stereotypes of race, gender, and other groups from public schools. The downside was I had minimal experience interacting with other clicks and ethnicities, which lead to minor problems communicating, which I have been trying to overcome with time. Still, I was able to freely and truthfully speak to everyone I met with the same attitude not having to hide any discrimination against the other.

Though my view of the world seems to be different than others I interact with; I have been adapting to social life while retaining my “self” very well. My unique interaction with socialized friends and the internet seems to have had a beneficial effect on my socialization which is now combining with my new experiences to offer me viewpoints and a way of life I’m not sure I would have received otherwise.