Meet Emily Stewart, homeschool alum and part of our school’s first graduating class. Emily returned this past fall, not as a student this time, but as a staff member. Taking on the role of Social Media and Communications Specialist, Emily is the newest addition to our schoolwide Marketing and Communications Team.

“Dreamy” is the word Emily uses to describe her early elementary years. Growing up on a small farm in Orangevale with her parents and older brother, surrounded by chickens and open space, Emily always had plenty of room to run. Passionate about education and a little “crunchy-granola,” Emily’s mom adopted a natural approach to learning that emphasized movement, hands-on activities, use of organic materials, and independence. 

As a young child, Emily attended a Montessori-inspired school and did well academically. She was a strong reader who thrived when learning was active and purposeful, and from a young age, Emily always needed to know why—not out of defiance, but out of a deep and persistent curiosity. 

After time however, it was that curiosity that made being a student in a traditional classroom complicated, especially as expectations increased, structures tightened, and school became less about learning.

A few weeks ago, I sat down with Emily to talk about her experiences, the moments that shaped her, and what it means to return to the community that helped set her on this path.

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Let’s talk a little bit about your education. What did that look like? How did you end up being homeschooled? 

I always like to joke that I hate school, but I love learning. Up until sixth grade, I attended a Montessori school, but that year, my family moved to Folsom, and I decided I needed a change, so I tried the local public middle school. It didn’t go very well for me at all. I lacked necessary social awareness, had some serious focus and sensory issues, and sadly became the target of bullying.

Around this same time my mom decided to take some time off and she started homeschooling me. A couple of years later, she was hired as a Homeschool Teacher (HST) with our school and had space on her roster. Immediately I was like, please, please, please. I was begging for her to add me. I was kind of miserable, and it felt like this amazing opportunity to be enrolled in a school, but also have my mom there to help.

Can you share a little bit more about your mom and how she supported you through your learning journey?

The opportunity to have my mom as my teacher completely changed my life. Like she was able to actually sit down with me, watch me work, and really see where things weren’t clicking. Because she had a background in education, she could tell right away that it wasn’t that I wasn’t capable. Things just weren’t being taught in a way that worked for me.

From there she started trying different approaches and figuring things out alongside me. I have dyscalculia, which we didn’t know at the time, but she noticed that I was flipping numbers around. So we used different colored pencils and pens for each line of math, and I was given extra time.

I also had ADHD and struggled with attention, and putting more on my plate actually helped me stay engaged. It became like a checklist, and I still use that system today. Being able to work at my own pace made such a difference. It wasn’t about rushing. It was about understanding how I learned.

At that time in my life, I fully thought I was stupid. I had horrible test anxiety and struggled to pay attention, to answer questions in the classroom, and to show what I actually knew. But because things shifted at home, I went from feeling like I couldn’t do school at all to excelling. 

One of the benefits of being with the charter school was I could use materials that worked best for me. We adopted a classical education approach which was really intense because there is a crazy emphasis on literature and philosophy. But I ended up doing two years of schoolwork in one year, skipped two grades, and graduated at sixteen. It turns out I wasn’t stupid — I just needed a different method.

So my mom is really the hero of the story. She took the time to really understand me, and that changed everything.

I always like to joke that I hate school, but I love learning.

You mentioned a few tools and systems that helped you with schoolwork. What kinds of things were you able to do while learning at home that just weren’t possible in a traditional classroom?

One big thing was time. I have time blindness, so I genuinely can’t perceive the passage of time. I either take way too long on something or completely lose track of it. At home, I was able to use tools like timers. When I was younger, I even had a little timer necklace, and it became kind of a game. 

Sensory things were huge for me, too. I could sip on bubbly water, chew mint gum, or listen to instrumental music while working. Cross-sensory stimulation like this helped my brain stay regulated so I could actually focus on the task instead of fighting against my environment.

I also had a lot more freedom to move and take breaks. Instead of forcing myself to sit still, I could go for a walk, spend time outside, or break up my work in a way that felt natural. That made learning feel sustainable instead of overwhelming. And I was still allowed to be a kid. I could have my artwork nearby, focus on creative projects, or even have my bird with me while I worked. That sense of comfort and safety mattered more than I realized at the time.

It’s funny because I still use many of the same tools today.

You graduated at 16. What went into that decision, and how did it feel to step away from school so early?

That was a really big decision, and it was something I talked about a lot with my parents. I was able to graduate early, but they were understandably nervous. I was young, and they weren’t sure if I was ready or if it made more sense to keep me enrolled longer. For me, though, I was ready to be done, and it felt like freedom. I was excited to feel a little more grown up and to start figuring out what came next on my own terms.

After you graduated, what did that next phase look like?

I tried going to a junior college because it felt like a good way to stay close to home and kind of dip my toes into the real world. During that phase I ended up going back and forth a LOT. I was one of those kids who would start junior college, then take a break, then go back, then take another break. I didn’t like the format. Classrooms were still really difficult for me, and test anxiety was huge. It didn’t matter how simple the test was. If you put a piece of paper in front of me and there was a timer on it, my mind would just go blank. 

I also had a hard time choosing what I wanted to do. My mom makes frequent jokes about how I "somehow got away with never deciding" because I ended up finding a career that catered to nearly ALL of my interests.

When junior college didn’t work, I went to work instead. I started at Chick-fil-A in Folsom, then later worked at a café. Being able to work so young, and to focus solely on that instead of trying to balance work and school, helped a lot. It built my confidence in social interactions and made me feel less anxious, less weird, and more capable. It also helped with work ethic and just learning how to function in a real-world setting.

A lot of that connected back to how I was homeschooled, too. Even for things like math, my mom had me run a hypothetical household budget. When we went to the grocery store, I was literally in charge of the budget. Those practical, real-life skills mattered. Working gave me a way to use them and build on them, and that made a big difference for me.

At that time in my life, I fully thought I was stupid. But because things shifted at home, I went from feeling like I couldn’t do school at all to excelling.

You eventually decided to go to college and earned your Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Humboldt. What made that step feel possible for you, especially after such a nontraditional path?

Going to Humboldt was my big grown-up move. It felt intense and honestly a little crazy. I had been kind of teetering for a while thinking about whether a four-year university even made sense for me. I genuinely didn’t think I would ever be a college graduate.

In a strange way, COVID actually helped. I couldn’t work anymore, and I don’t do well just sitting around doing nothing, so I started taking online courses through College of the Redwoods. Even though everything was asynchronous, it worked really, really well for me. I realized pretty quickly that not having to be in a classroom, with all the lights, noise, and distractions, made a huge difference. 

My brother had already gone to Humboldt, so it was a known place, and I’m a nature person. I love the Redwoods. Environmentally, it felt like the right fit. And once I started taking classes and interacting with instructors, I noticed how different the culture felt. It was more humanistic. The classes were smaller, the professors were more intentional, and there was a lot more grace. They were genuinely kind and supportive, and they got excited when I showed interest or curiosity. That was huge for me.

Between the asynchronous format and the way the community approached education, I started to think, okay, I can do this. I can get into this university. I can earn a degree. By the time I was accepted into Humboldt, everything was still online because of COVID, and I was able to perform really well. I became a straight-A student from that point on.

Even in college I found myself loving learning but hating school — that’s something that never changed. But Humboldt gave me an environment where learning finally worked the way it needed to for me, and that made all the difference.

When you think about your role now, helping tell the stories of homeschooled students and families, what does it feel like to be “on the other side of things”?

It’s definitely interesting being on the other side of things. Having the opportunity to return to the school as a staff member feels deeply personal. I’ve experienced the power of flex-based, personalized learning firsthand. I believe in this model, and I am passionate about telling the stories of students who are finding their own way through learning.

I take this responsibility seriously. So whether I’m writing a post, capturing a moment at a park day, or crafting a personal profile or narrative I approach it with intention and care. When a young person is trusted to help guide their own learning — that’s powerful. For me, it’s more than just sharing highlights. It’s about honoring real people and real experiences. When someone trusts me with their story, how I tell it matters.

Spending this time and learning so much about you has been a delight. Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to add. Maybe something we didn’t cover but you know want to make sure everyone hears?

Oh my goodness, yes! Homeschooling can be a daunting process. BLESS you and my mother and all the great homeschool parents out there, I cannot imagine what a wild ride raising stubborn neurodivergent children must be! Having kids “make their own way” has got to be such an act of faith every second. I am grateful for the space our school (and homeschooling) creates for students. Education is a personal journey and it’s incredible how students have the opportunity to navigate their own paths.

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I’ve spent the past several weeks reflecting on my conversation with Emily, and the past few months working alongside her on our MarCom Team, and I can assure you that she is every bit as passionate, creative, and spirited as she was when she was young. Still full of insatiable curiosity, still observing and still asking questions, she is the perfect person for this role—because who better to tell the stories of the students at our school than someone who lived it?