Closing the Feedback Loops

Austin has expressed some concern, this week, about his future. He said that he's afraid he may have wasted too much time, just sitting around playing Lego, when he should have been "in school." He's worried that he is now too far behind his age-peers in what they have been learning all these years. He described one of his fears as himself, "slobbering" around high schools in his 20s and 30s. 


He said that he's happy to be doing some advanced math, but worries that he doesn't understand fractions unless he has something he can touch, and he can't subtract decimals. He knows those are math topics that were taught in grades 4 & 5. He says that he isn't "really" studying chemistry - he's not actually "doing" chemistry - he's just been watching videos on the Khan Academy website.

He's worried about his health, as well. He's self-conscious of his teeth, which are not very white. He's worried about his weight (particularly around his middle) and fat on his legs.

Austin is highly competitive. He likes to do things early, and he likes to do things well - he's most comfortable being "the best." However, he's become acutely aware, recently, of the aspect of his personality that steers him away from things that are difficult. He's worried that he has steered away, now, from too many things. He seems to have hit a bit of a plateau on the Khan website, with the math exercises. Perhaps, if Skye and/or I sit with him through some of those exercises to reinforce the learning, it will become easier? He needs to be ready for that, though, because I tried to sit with him on a couple questions using radians and degrees, and since I had to work through the answers, myself (I didn't just "know" the answer), he was impatient and decided just to skip it.

Austin expressed concern, even, about the possibility of going to university. While he would be interested in becoming a paleontologist, he wants to hang out with people who would rather discuss the subjects they are studying, than party. He's nervous about interacting socially. He doesn't have the same interests as many people his own age, and he doesn't want to just go out and party. I think he may feel differently if he met more people who shared his interests. I was wondering if he would qualify for joining the gifted program in the North Van school district, or if he would have to be registered in a public school in the district? Self Design operates by BC Ministry of Education guidelines, so maybe he could be considered, even though he is in a DL program of studies? He does have a G/LD (Gifted/Learning Disability) designation, with the disability being diagnosed as "dysgraphia."

I think Austin wants to know where he stands, as compared with his age-peers. While he's hoping that he might be ahead in some areas, he is well aware that he is "behind" in many. I told him that the BC Grade 7 curriculum is available on the internet, so I could show him that whenever he wants to see it. He seemed interested. Also, I guess he can choose to write the FSA for grade 7 this year. For his sake, if he does want to write it, I'd like to be able to help him prepare, somehow, if there's any preparation suitable.

He told me that he's worried that he won't be able to get a good enough job, that pays well enough for him to be able to live in an area he loves, and buy the things he wants to buy.