Although Taylor Swift is a global phenomenon today, with multi-platinum albums and massive concert tours, many people don’t know that she was homeschooled for most of her earlier school years. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the reasons why Taylor Swift chose homeschooling and how it shaped her life.
Early Life
Taylor Swift was born in 1989 in Reading, Pennsylvania and was raised in the nearby towns of Wyomissing and Wyndmoor. She was always musically talented, writing and performing her own songs as early as 5 years old.
She started to develop her ambitions to pursue a career in music at a very young age.
Opportunities In Music
Taylor Swift was just 10 years old when she began to take advantage of the country music scene in Nashville. Her parents drove hours each weekend for her to attend writing sessions and perform at festivals, often staying up all night to help her practice for the various talent shows.
Every opportunity to get her music out to the public was taken and she soon started to gain a lot of attention from the music industry.
Trigger For Homeschooling
Around 2003, when Taylor Swift was 14 years old, her music was beginning to take off. She was becoming widely known as a talented singer and songwriter, and gaining a lot of fans at a very young age.
The pressure of being in the spotlight, as well as the draining of trying to juggle a budding music career and schoolwork became too much for her to continue attending a normal school. In addition, she had been bullied by her classmates, causing further complications. Regardless, Taylor Swift and her parents opted to homeschool her.
The Benefits of Homeschooling
Homeschooling allowed Taylor Swift to focus more on her music career than on attending a public or private school. She had more time to develop her songwriting skills, perform at various venues, and take vocal training.
She didn’t have to worry about dealing with bullies or unfair judgement from her peers. Homeschooling also provided a more flexible schedule and allowed her to take on different job opportunities to help finance her music career.
The Structure Of Taylor Swift’s Homeschooling
Taylor Swift’s homeschooling education incorporated the same courses she would have taken at a traditional school setting, such as English, Mathematics, Sciences, etc. , however these were taught online or at home.
Taylor Swift continued to occasionally attend public events, so she was able to make some friends and stay in touch with her peers in a more casual setting. Her parents strictly supervised her studies, to make sure she would be able to receive a proper education, and promote a balance between her music career and homeschooling.
Homeschooling More Valuable Than Schoolwork
Though Taylor Swift was homeschooled, she was more concerned about pursuing her music career than worrying about passing assessments or exams. She realized that the experiences she was gaining by performing at different venues and honing her craft were much more valuable to her than passing schoolwork tests.
Privacy For The Swift Family
Homeschooling allowed the Swift family to keep their personal life out of the spotlight and under the radar. Taylor Swift was able to focus on her music in a more private manner, avoiding media scrutiny and paparazzi that she would have faced in a traditional school setting.
Focus On Perfection In Music
Unlike attending a traditional school, homeschooling allowed Taylor Swift to focus more on honing her craft. She had more time to practice and build her skills, without worrying about the pressure of school deadlines and exams. This allowed her to find more time for networking and developing connections in the music industry.
Mentorship From Industry Experts
Due to her flexibility, Taylor Swift was able to take advantage of the free time she had while homeschooling to network and build relationships with music producers and record labels. She actively sought out mentorship from experienced industry experts to help her develop her career and craft.
This allowed her to build a lot of key relationships and gain a great deal of industry knowledge.
Socialization
Though Taylor Swift largely homeschooled, she still was able to take advantage of some social situations. She attended some public events such as award shows, galas, and concerts, and was able to meet some of the biggest celebrities in the music industry. Through those experiences, she was able to advance her career, make connections, and ultimately promote her music.
Conclusion
Taylor Swift’s decision to homeschool was a pivotal moment in her journey to stardom. It allowed her to focus more on her music, network with influential industry figures, and promote her work in a more secluded and private manner.
Although Taylor Swift made it out as a major star in the music world, her story of homeschooling is an important reminder that even with the most difficult of circumstances, anything can be achieved with hard work and dedication.