Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Educator, Coach, Life Strategist

Are you good enough?

This morning, it happened again.  I dropped another one of my babies at the local high school to take the SAT.  This wasn’t the first time for this child.  It won’t be his last attempt either.

Pencils sharpened, calculator in hand, my child enters through the double doors.   I watch wistfully as dozens of other young men and women enter, too — so much like him, but nothing like him at all.  I remind myself his behavior this morning had only to do with getting up so early on a Saturday, and nothing to do with the test at all.  I know I have prepared him for the what-ifs, given him the homeschool “code” to bubble in and reminded him the penalty of guessing versus leaving items blank.

“I got it, mom.  I’m going in.” he says as he opens the car door.

This isn’t the first time for me, either.  Our family has performed this drill many times before.  No matter the number of times I do it, however, I always leave feeling the same way.

Are you good enough?

Have I been good enough?

I drive home deep in thought.  Have I been a good enough teacher?  Has he been a good enough student?  Have our lessons been good enough to prepare him for the test?  Will his experiences be good enough to earn a decent score?

I remember the courses he completed, and those yet to finish.  I imagine the areas where he’ll score high, and those I expect slightly lower scores {he hasn’t quite finished key courses that might have helped}.

I remember his heart.  How hard he works.  How many hours he puts in.  How much he tries.

I remember his remarks.  The ones about having to study things he doesn’t like nor will ever need, just to get into college to study the things he does like and will always need.

Have I been good enough?

I know the answer to this question.

I am raising my children well.  They are smart.  They have goals.  They are happy.

Our family is thriving.  We support one another.  We value our bond.

My children are winners.  They win science fairs.  They win scholarships.   They win compliments from friends and neighbors.

Still, I can’t help but wonder.

Have I been good enough?

Is there more I should have done?  Another prep course?  Another study guide?

Is there more I should have done?  A bigger breakfast?  Extra batteries for the calculator?

Is there more I should have done?

What more could I have done?

Have I failed this child in a way I do not know?

Have I been good enough?

I know my children.  I know who they are and what they’re capable of.  I know what they’re learning and I know I’ll know it when they’re ready to enter the world follow their own individual paths to their futures.

In fact, I think I already know this child’s SAT score without even seeing it.

So why am I so thoughtful this morning?

Have I been good enough?

I know I have.  My children know I have.

But even after years and years of doing this thing, it’s still hard not to worry, at least a tiny little bit.

I know the value of my child.  But I also understand the value of this test.

I write about letting children go, measuring their successes (and ours) and about wondering if we aren’t good enough at homeschooling.

Perhaps I’ll go back and read those blogs again myself.

 

Marie-Claire

 

 

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Homeschoolers and the SAT

As homeschooling parents approach the high school years, they may begin to wonder if their children should prepare in the same ways that other teens do.  For instance, should college-bound homeschoolers take the SAT, too?

Yes!

Just like other high schoolers, many homeschooled kids will be applying to colleges, too.  If a college requires the SAT (or ACT or other) examination, then homeschoolers must take it, too.

Today’s college applications process for homeschoolers is very much the same as for anyone else.  Homeschoolers complete applications, provide transcripts, apply for scholarships and financial aid, and everything else that other high schoolers do.

So, if your homeschooler’s college of choice requires that SAT (most still do), be sure to schedule it on time.  Ordinarily, teens take this test more than once, beginning in the 11th grade year.  Since there are deadlines for applying for the test and fees to pay, don’t wait until the last minute either.

For more information about the SAT or other college tests, visit The College Board and have your teen set up an account.  The account gives access to college information, test dates, plus can your teen with college readiness in other areas, too.