Sophie Elwell, being home-schooled her whole life, begins her first year of public school as a fifth grader at Ilalko Elementary.

“I have always been homeschooled,” Sophie said, ‘I was very nervous at the thought of switching to public school.”

Sophie gives up what she has been used to all of her life as a student to beginning a new chapter of her life by going to public school.

“I had never had to experience moving away, or any other change this big before,” she said.

Sophie Elwell had to consider a lot when she decided to switch from home school to public school. Thoughts of fear, and change ran through her head.

“At first, I was worried, but I thought about all of the great things that could change for the better,” Sophie said.

Although the transition was tough for Sophie, she had her brother to help her through these tough times. He had switched to public school three years before her, giving him lots of experience and words of wisdom available to give to Sophie.

“It made it a little easier cause [her brother] was there to give me advice,” she said.

The risks of switching from what you have been used to your whole life, to starting public school as a fifth grader must sound scary. Most of the people in your grade have been in public school for most, if not all of their career as a student and are used to this by now. It must have been hard to find any benefits in the risks she had to take.

“I’ve made a lot of friends, and met new people,” said Sophie Elwell, “A lot of things have changed mostly for the better, some for the worse, but mostly better.

Taking such a big risk really helped shape the person that Sophie is today. It has provided her life with new experiences and opportunities.

“A lot of the friends I have made so far have been nothing but positive influences to me, I have also had a lot of great teachers that have taught me good habits,” she said.

Luckily, Sophie faced her fears and switched to public school. Now most of her risks have turned out for the better.