Was I Really the Dumbest Person in the Room? Growing Up Homeschooled

This week on the pod, I sit down with long-time friend Hannah to unpack her deeply personal journey through homeschooling, neurodivergence, and self-discovery. Growing up in a chaotic Christian homeschool environment with six siblings, Hannah reflects on what worked, what didn’t, and how a lack of structure and support shaped her sense of self-worth. She opens up about entering adulthood feeling unprepared, navigating community college with massive anxiety, and later discovering she’s neurodivergent, a revelation that reframed her entire childhood. Now working in education and pursuing behavioral-tech certification, Hannah shares how therapy, understanding, and self-compassion have helped her rebuild confidence and reclaim her love of learning. This conversation is raw, insightful, and incredibly validating for anyone who felt “behind” growing up homeschooled. Key Points Big family life, AWANA memories, and mime team culture How chaos, parental conflict, and lack of structure shaped her education Feeling “behind” and “dumb” the long-term effects of educational neglect Navigating college without foundational skills Discovering she’s neurodivergent at 30 & how therapy reframed everything Sensory issues, coping strategies, overstimulation, and emotional regulation Homeschooling today vs. “the bubble” we grew up in Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Ex Homeschoolers Club 00:32 Childhood Memories and AWANA Days 07:39 Homeschooling and Family Dynamics 12:10 Struggles with Education and Self-Worth 16:23 College Challenges and Career Choices 20:39 Discovering Neurodivergence and Therapy 29:42 Managing Overstimulation 30:30 Dealing with Everyday Frustrations 33:10 Understanding Neurodivergence 37:06 Homeschooling Reflections 43:29 Big Family Dynamics 46:39 Advice for Future Homeschoolers 49:48 Pursuing New Learning Opportunities 53:20 Homeschool Memories 55:45 Final Thoughts and Encouragement If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who might benefit from hearing this story. Follow Ex-Homeschoolers Club on Instagram and TikTok for updates, and send us a message – we’d love to hear from you!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclubEmail me at [email protected]