Self-Discipline and Flexibility

Emma Nicholas' Experience of TTUISD

by Lucy Worley

February 27, 2017

Emma Nicholas not only runs her own business, but is also a model and a full time student – and she hasn't even started high school.

“In public school I was always waiting on my class to quiet down or pay attention. I just felt my time was often getting wasted. So I thought the idea of being homeschooled sounded like something I wanted to try,” said Emma.

Emma's mother Wendy didn't disagree with her daughter but was somewhat overwhelmed at the idea of becoming Emma's full-time teacher. In their search for an online program that had certified instructors, they found TTUISD.

Wendy said, “We had heard nightmare stories from friends who had tried the whole homeschool thing on their own and when their kids went back to public school, they were not testing into their current grade level and many classes they had taken were not being accepted by the school. So realizing TTUISD was Texas Education Agency (TEA) accredited and would keep Emma's transcript up-to-date was a big deal.”

Emma enrolled in TTUISD at the beginning of sixth grade and is now finishing up her eighth grade year. Emma said, “The first whole semester of sixth grade was hard because I was needing to find the discipline to create my own schedule.”

Now approaching high school, Emma is a pro at structuring her own education. With a well-tuned schedule, she has been able to carve out time for other interests.

“I started a dog-walking business two years ago because I wanted extra money to spend. I have ended up really liking it and because of the experience, I want to get a business degree when I go to college,” said Emma.

Starting out with only a few dogs, Emma's business has grown tremendously in the years since. There are over 300 apartments in her midrise, many of which need a dog-walker. From advertising and making her own business cards, to managing a schedule that fluctuates heavily throughout the week, Emma is learning a lot about creating and maintaining a business plan.

Dog walking is not the only thing Emma has made time for though.

“One of the dogs I walk belongs to an owner who is a photographer. One day she asked me if I would be interested in modeling for a shoot she was doing,” said Emma. It was not long after that initial shoot that Emma started landing more modeling gigs.

“Recently, we found out that Emma was featured in a two page spread in Bevie Magazine,” said Wendy. The online fashion magazine highlights local Texas talent such as artists, writers, models and photographers. Emma said, “I really enjoy modeling, and even though I want to pursue business in college, I could see myself modeling on the side because it is a lot of fun.”

Wendy said, “All of this has fallen in Emma's lap, in a way. The time she saves being able to work at her own pace in school has opened doors for her to explore other parts of life. With this set-up, Emma is getting a superior education and more life experience than if she had stayed in public school.”

While Wendy and Emma may be pleased with their TTUISD experience, they pointed out they still encounter confusion and skepticism about online learning from some people.

“We live near the Houston Galleria Mall, so we get a lot of people who say ‘oh, so since Emma is homeschooled, you must get to go to the mall everyday!' Then other people assume that Emma's curriculum must be easier since she stays home. However, we have found that TTUISD is actually more challenging. Emma learns better because there is more responsibility on her to make sure she understands the material. There is more of an expectation for her to take the initiative to reach out if she needs help,” said Wendy.

Emma added, “My friends think I am learning something different than what they are learning in school. So I always tell them that my curriculum is approved by the state of Texas and it is keeping me on track with what everyone else learns. I tell people that I love online school because it has made me a more mature person and has taught me so much about self‑discipline.”

Speaking of self‑discipline…

“I wake up at 6:00 a.m. every morning and take care of any dogs on my list that day. Then I log onto school and work on my classes until lunchtime, then walk more dogs. In the afternoon I work on school for a few hours, except on Tuesday and Thursdays I'll finish school in the evening because I go to tennis those afternoons,” said Emma. She told us that she joined her tennis club as a way to get in some physical activity and as a social outlet.

Whether it is creating free time for modeling or tennis throughout the week, Emma and Wendy have a lifestyle in which they can say ‘yes' to opportunities that come their way.

“Being a TTUISD student, I have been able to do so many things I would have never had the time to do if I had stayed in public school,” said Emma. Her mother added, “We recently took a trip to visit the Alamo at the same time Emma was studying Texas History. Having the flexibility to do things that add value to Emma's education is amazing.”

“TTUISD lets you be yourself and try new things while still providing you with a first class education,” Wendy and Emma agreed.