Michelle Zuo | The Chronicle
Mason High School (MHS) has always been a home to thousands of students. For most, the seven-bell schedule is the standard, but for MHS junior William Yeoh, school looks a little different.
Yeoh is homeschooled through a program called the Providence Extension Program (PEP) in Ohio. PEP includes resources for homeschooling and cooperative (co-op) programs with in-person instruction through group tutoring sessions. Through Mason City Schools’ part-time enrollment policies, Yeoh is allowed to take a maximum of two courses.
At MHS, Yeoh is enrolled in Chemistry and Advanced Placement (AP) United States Government. Outside the classroom, he explores other classes via homeschooling.
“You have a lot more creativity,” Yeoh said.”You have more time to explore your interests without any prerequisites or your counselor. So if you’re interested in ancient civilizations, you can take a course on that.”
The flexibility of homeschooling has also given Yeoh space to further explore his passions and interests as he prepares for his future.
“Some common stereotypes are that homeschooled kids don’t do anything and that they can be antisocial,” Yeoh said. “While those cases definitely exist in homeschooling, the majority of kids are homeschooled so that they can do other extracurriculars or [focus] on things that they are interested in.”
Yeoh began playing the cello at age four, a skill he continued to develop as he transitioned into homeschooling. He is a member of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra and a volunteer of the MYCincinnati program, which have been outlets for him.
“I can do other things during school hours,” Yeoh said. “[When I] need to have a lesson [or] practice, I have more time to do so. It’s especially beneficial for volunteering, as you can help out during hours of the day when you might be at school.”
As a first-year student at MHS, Yeoh said that the main difference between his co-op program and public school was the environment.
“You can do clubs and be with your friends for most of the day [at school],” Yeoh said. “You have camaraderie because you’re all part of the same school. I’m lucky to have had friends while I was homeschooling, but it’s definitely not like a friend group [and] it’d be very different if we went to a public school.”
Yeoh said that a major benefit of homeschooling is the freedom to structure his day, though it can also be a challenge. He said his experience at MHS has strengthened his productivity.
“Mason [has] forced me to wake up way earlier, which means my stuff is done a lot quicker,” Yeoh said. “There is a lot more room where you can waste time when you should be doing something more proactive [with homeschooling].”
Completing his schooling at home gives Yeoh more time to spend with his family. He said that it also offers benefits for expression and individuality.
“You don’t have to conform as much,” Yeoh said. “You get a lot of freedom, [and] you can be more of your own person. You don’t have to worry about what people think [about] what you’re studying, or what your interests are, because there’s no one to really judge you.”
With the combination of homeschooling, group tutoring lessons and public school, Yeoh has been able to meet new people and explore different types of learning. He said that he enjoys working with others outside of homeschooling, especially at MHS.
“An advantage for public school would be when you get to meet so many different people,” Yeoh said. “Especially in Mason, there’s so much diversity [and] everyone’s really nice.”
Looking to the future, Yeoh plans to continue taking classes at MHS his senior year alongside homeschooling and pursue the cello in college. He is considering AP Chemistry and AP United States History.
“I have really enjoyed the in-person instruction,” Yeoh said. “The flexibility which comes from taking classes at Mason, and the rest at home or a co-op [allows me to] focus on doing what I love the most.”
