“I was homeschooled for grades 9 and 10. With strict and overprotective parents, the two years I was homeschooled I was isolated for most of it. I barely saw or talked to my school friends, I didn’t have a phone or laptop so I couldn’t message them to stay in touch online, and none of them really put in the effort to maintain a connection either.

I learned to be comfortable with myself and discovered the depths of my own identity. You learn a lot when you’re watching everyone else progress and move on with their lives while you sit at home feeling stuck and alone. It was like I was watching the world from a third-person perspective.

Since then I’ve grown and changed a lot as a person. I’ve discovered opportunities and social impacts that make a difference. I’ve made friends and memories that will last a lifetime. I’ve worked hard to combat and overcome my parents overprotective excuses. And I’ve tasted success.

But being in quarantine now has reminded me of those days when I was homeschooled. It’s bittersweet, the nostalgia of past memories but knowing the growth I’ve achieved since then. Quarantine hasn’t been easy. I’m still working from home and trying to juggle classes, exams, and assignments, along with my family responsibilities. But reading has always been my escape, and this book, in particular, has been very powerful. Anyone looking for a non-sugar coated route to happiness should give the book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson a chance.”

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