Always the New Kid: Yasmina’s Honest Take on Adapting While Worldschooling

This week, we interview Yasmina, now 26 years old, whose childhood was filled with frequent moves across countries and cultures. Each new place brought unique challenges and opportunities in her education. In this interview, Yasmina shares her journey through traditional schools and homeschooling, offering insights into how these experiences have shaped her perspective and resilience today.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what your schooling journey looked like growing up?

From the age of six months to eight years old, my family moved frequently. My dad worked as a chef for hotels and often liked to transfer to new locations. We typically stayed between six months to a year and a half in any given destination. I attended regular school from pre-K to fifth grade, was homeschooled from sixth to eleventh grade, and then finished twelfth grade at a regular school.

Yasmina as a little bee in Cuba

What kinds of schools did you go to, and where in the world were you living during those times?

I'm not sure of the exact order before first grade, but I remember going to school in Cuba and the Dominican Republic (briefly). I spent half of first grade in Spain and the other half in Antigua & Barbuda. From second to fourth grade, I attended Punta Cana International School, which I really enjoyed. For fifth grade, we switched to a semi-private school for financial reasons, but I didn’t like it there—the program wasn’t great, the environment was different from what I was used to, and there were no English classes or quality teachers. From sixth to eleventh grade, I was homeschooled at a teacher’s house. I completed twelfth grade at a private Dominican school.

What was it like switching between regular schools and being homeschooled? Was that a tough adjustment?

When homeschooling first started, I was actually happy because I didn’t like my last school and wanted to go back to the international school where my friends were and where I enjoyed learning. Homeschooling was the next best thing. All my classes were in English, which I was used to, and I was glad to be back in an organized program where I felt like I was learning again. I didn’t find the adjustment tough at first. After the first year, I did ask my parents to switch back to regular school, but that wasn’t an option they considered. They saw the benefits of a good education and didn’t want to change. After a while, I just wanted to be done with school—I would space out during classes and study for tests just to pass, not to learn. I’m not sure if I would have felt the same way elsewhere or if that’s just something some teenagers go through.

When you were homeschooled, what did a typical day look like? Who helped you learn, and how did you decide what to study?

I would go to a teacher’s home—she was the one who brought the program into the country and introduced it to parents. I had a desk with a TV and headphones to watch my lessons. Every subject had its own set of CDs with lessons for the year, along with books, quizzes, and test booklets. The program was called Abeka Academy. I watched videotaped classes from an actual classroom, where you could see the teacher and students going about their day. The teacher was available if I had questions or needed to take a quiz or test, but for the most part, I worked independently. We made a schedule to organize which subjects to watch each day; some were daily, others were not.

What were some of the best parts about moving around and learning in different ways?

I’ve always been curious and eager to explore. I was an only child for some years, so school was a fun way to connect with other kids. But as I became more aware, I didn’t always look forward to moving—I would feel sad to leave my friends or anxious about being the new kid.

Were there any downsides or things you found really challenging about changing schools or being homeschooled?

Punta Cana

Changing schools mid-year wasn’t fun. I was either leaving friends behind or showing up as the new kid. After a few moves like that, I stopped trying to make friends and became more shy. Homeschooling was boring—there were other kids doing the program at the teacher’s house, but most were younger than me. I didn’t have many people to relate to or socialize with.

How did all the moving and different school setups affect your friendships and social life?

Looking back, I think I became a bit more guarded when meeting people because I was afraid of leaving again. I didn’t like leaving my friends behind and often felt out of place in a new country or school. It’s not something I remember my parents discussing or helping me navigate.

Looking back, is there anything you wish you could have changed about your schooling or how things were done?

I think some stability during those formative years would have been nice to help solidify my personality and interests. I feel like I was always trying to adapt to new environments instead of figuring out what I liked. There also wasn’t much communication at home—not about feelings, moves, or interests.

What kinds of things did you do outside of school—any hobbies, sports, or activities that were important to you?

While living in Cuba, I took swimming classes, which I loved—I was probably four or five years old. At the international school, I tried soccer and taekwondo but didn’t really enjoy them. Around age eleven, I got into track and running, which I liked. After age twelve, when I started homeschooling, there were no extracurricular activities.

Where are you at now in life, and do you think your unique schooling helped shape who you are today? Any advice for others thinking about a similar path?

I’m a good learner—I can learn by reading, listening, or watching a video. Moving around and starting over so often made me quite resilient; even when things weren’t ideal, I figured it out and never gave up. If you’re considering moving frequently or homeschooling your kids, make sure to check in with them, prepare them for what’s coming, and give them opportunities to relate to and spend time with other kids.