My name is Freya. I'm 14, but feel at least 18. I am from Scotland and from Ireland, but I live in Spain: I'm really not sure which country is more of a home to me...
I live in a small village in the middle of the mountains, where I go to a Comprahensive. It's 5 minutes walk away from my house, and I go with my friends, who - incidentally - like to talk about clothes and shoes and music and food. I would want to talk about the cold war, about the Ist and the IInd World Wars, about Isabela's decisions, about Petronilla, queen of Arag�n's family tree... I'd want to discuss Hitler's art collection... I'd want to analyse world politics. But I'm used to them just saying "oh, yes..." and asking questions, and knowing what to say, so I tend to just shut up and think about things and not share those thoughts with anyone my age. I get on best with people over thirty, and I always have done.
I've always felt un-like people my own age, and felt that they can't understand things to the same depth that I can - nor do they want to, as far as I can see. At school, I do all the same work as my classmates (although in greater depth, when I have time)I am basically unschooled and school has always been an extra, something on the side (in Spain, home education and unschooling are illegal and ths law is well-enforced where we live). However, rescently pressure and depression have got me down and severely affected my health.
So, now we realise a change is needed. Do I leave? Do I get accelerated? Do I battle on through with all the A's that bored me and I never tried to get?
I would very much appreciate hearing from anyone with experience (good or bad) of acceleration. How do YOU feel about it? Is it a plausable idea to boost motivation after five years a student giving less than they could to let the worse students have more room?
