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Dr. Chris Baker, a 32-year old former home schooler talks about self-reliance, leadership, and getting into college.
Chris Baker started home schooling before you were born. That is, if you were born after 1972, the year Virginia Baker took Chris and his two sisters out of school. In the 21 years since then Chris graduated from high school at home, went on to Texas A &M, where he received his bachelor's and master's degree, then to Virginia Tech, where he received his Ph.D., and finally to Texas Chiropractic College where he graduated in '91- Now he's "Dr. Baker" and has his own practice. He's also getting married this year. New Attitude met up with this home, school veteran in Houston…
New Attitude: How did you feel about home schooling when you were younger? Did you see the advantages and appreciate it ?
I never appreciated what my mother and father did for me until I was in college- At the time when they pulled us out of school it was a lot different than it is now; there was still a lot of hiding and secrecy going on. I didn't understand why they were doing it. I didn't understand why they were such "weirdos" and we were being labeled as "weirdos".
But when I got to college, it took probably 3 weeks for me to realize that I had something that the other students didn't—I didn't have to be reliant on someone else to teach me- When something came up that I didn't understand, I had the tools to research and learn it for myself. My parents, through the grace of God, instilled that in us four kids. I'll never forget when I went home for break and saw mom- I gave her a hug, and I told her "Thank you." My parents taught me how to be an independent learner, and it's some' thing that I think has been the back-bone to help me succeed in the many things I've been able to do
NA: How do you think this self-reliance will benefit
home schoolers after college ?
My personal belief is that home schoolers are going to be the ones running the country someday. I really do. Because we're taught how to be leaders, we're motivated; we are trendsetters, and our peers are not like that.
So many times, from a personal standpoint, I feel bad when I have an idea because I feel like I'm the only one with these ideas. How come no one else is standing up and wanting to lead? I don't want the reputation of being a "boss hog" because I'm always the one leading. But I have to say "Go for it!" If God has given you the ability to do it, do it! Be a trendsetter; and when you have an idea, go for it.
NA: From your experience, what does a home schooler
need to get into college?
The three things they look for are your SAT score, your GPA (so you have to a transcript starting with 9th grade), and you have to have your class placement. When you apply, I would encourage you to go and visit personally with the admissions director. One on one is much better than going through the mail. You don't want to be tagged as a weirdo; you want to visually show them how adept you are at learning, your vocabulary, your attitude, and your actions. And if they tell you "no" just wipe it off the table and keep going.
A home-school family called me a couple of years ago. Their son had been through the 12th grade and was graduating. He was Spanish, bi-lingual, and just brilliant. He took the SA T, and he scored almost a perfect score. He had everything going for him. I made my contacts with the people I still know at A&M. He had an interview, filled out the application, went all the way, and then the admissions director said “No”. The reason given was that he was coming from something that wasn't recognized in the state of Texas. To make along story short, we got a Senator and two congressmen involved in this, because I encouraged him not to take "no" for an answer. When it was done, he was accepted at the Air Force Academy and at A&M on a presidential $25,000 scholarship. So I encourage you to keep after it.