Blog: Mind Your Own Education

Ok this is addicting! The best way to explain sodaconstructor is that it is a web-based program where you can create models with simulated physical properties in a simulated environment. You can give them more muscle power, change the environment and drag and throw them around to see how they react. In short, it's a fun way to learn a little about physics! Click here to learn more about how it works.

According to UCR News, "In November, as applications start pouring into the University of California system, UC Riverside will become the first UC campus to specifically recruit homeschooled and other nontraditionally educated students."

I am glad to see homeschooling becoming more and more accepted as an alternative to traditional education. The fact that a public university now actively recruits homeschooled students shows that the benefits of homeschooling are becoming well known. Most homeschooled students are very mature, intelligent and very focused on specific goals for their education.

TakeingITGlobal.org has a great section on making your own media. It has some good resources on understanding current issues and starting your own "zine".

I remember as a high school student (at home of course) I was interested in creating web sites. Now it is my business! For a school project I created a web site on the history of Washington State. It was a lot of fun doing research on my topic and learning how to code HTML.

I like to encourage students to start making their own media (whatever form it may be). I am a firm believer in being a producer, not just a consumer. We all have something to say. There are many forms of media. Find one you like and use it as a platform to share your thoughts and ideas. Here are a few forms of media:

1. Write lyrics and make music. Share your music with your friends and family and if you are bold, share it with the public at an open mic event.

2. Zines

3. Create a web site

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This week I have been having fun playing with this amazing (and free because it's open source) graphics program called Inkscape. It's main purpose is to create graphics in the Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format. I am excited about this because I believe that SVG has a big future on the Web! The next version of Firefox (1.5) will display Scalable Vector Graphics. Check it out and have fun with it!

"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."
- Benjamin Franklin

The reason I named this blog "Mind Your Own Education" is because of this quote above. People talk a lot about minding your own business, and you should, but I believe that first you must mind your own education. Take time to invest in your education and you will see a high ROI.

Knowledge can be gained in many ways. Going to a school is only one of many ways to pursue an education. As a formerly homeschooled student, I learned to teach myself and not rely on someone else to teach me. The reason I pulled out my math book every day was because I wanted to. I wanted to get into architecture and engineering and I knew I needed a strong foundation in math in order to do that. Even though I may not have liked every subject, I did my best to learn because I knew it would pay off later. I attribute my determination to learn to encouragement from mentors in my life. People I trusted would help me cast vision for the future based on my interests.

In closing I'll leave you with a couple of questions. What are you interested in? How can you use your interests to invest in your education?

Visiting the Grand Canyon has been on my list of destinations to visit someday. People who have been there always tell me how HUGE it is. Well I got a preview of it the other day with Google Earth! I flew in from space and explored the canyon's features. I understand that no software can do justice to something as grand as the Grand Canyon, but my interest in it has grown to something enormous. I am addicted to Google Earth and my list of "places to visit someday" has grown. Here are a few destinations that I recommend you visit in Google Earth:

- The Grand Canyon
- Mt Saint Helens
- Any major US city (turn on 3d buildings)
- See if you can find two military jets taking off at an airport in Thailand!

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