Life Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone - Village Home - Classes and Community for Homeschooling Families

Introduction

When I look back on my time at Village, what stands out most is not just a class, project, or performance. It is the way Village helped me learn how to be myself.

As an alum, I think one of the most important things I learned was how to make friends, step outside my comfort zone, and understand that there is more than one way to learn. Village helped me build confidence, connect with people, and realize that I did not have to change who I was to belong.

Spark Curiosity

Village encouraged me to try new things, explore different ways of learning, and find out what worked for me.

Learn With Joy

Some of my most meaningful learning happened through friendships, theater, card games, community, and moments that were fun.

Grow Together

Village helped me grow through relationships with peers, adults, older learners, and the larger community.

How It Started

Before coming to Village, making friends did not always feel easy for me. I had friends before, but a lot of those friendships happened because someone lived across the street from me, not because I felt confident making new friends at school.

Village felt different.

For whatever reason, it was easier for me to get to know people there. Over time, I started to realize that people were fine with my personality. I did not have to be different. I could just be myself, and if people liked me, great. If they did not, they did not have to be my friend, and that was okay too.

That was a really important lesson for me.

I also appreciated the way Village was structured. I liked learning from adults who were connected to the community, but who were not my own parents. There was something easier about being taught by someone who was a parent of someone I knew, instead of just a random teacher or my own parent. It made learning feel more personal and more comfortable.

I also liked that older learners helped out in classes. Having older and younger learners mixed together made the community feel more connected and relatable.

How It's Going

Now, I carry a lot of those lessons with me into college and the rest of my life.

One of the biggest things I took from Village is the mentality of just showing up as myself. I try to go into new situations trusting that if people like me, they do, and if they do not, that is okay. I do not need to be friends with everybody.

Another idea that has stuck with me is “challenge by choice.” To me, that means stepping outside your comfort zone, but not forcing yourself to do things you truly do not want to do. I will probably never skydive, because I do not like the feeling of falling and it sounds terrifying. But I will try other things that are outside my comfort zone.

For example, over winter break I tried sushi for the first time. I had always been nervous about raw fish. I did not love the temperature or the flavor, and I still think I like cooked fish better, but I tried it. That was the point.

Theater was another big comfort-zone challenge for me. I remember my first Village theater production, All the Mythology in All of 99 Minutes or Less. At first, I was horrified by the idea of performing in front of people. But as the show went on, I realized it was also a really good way to make friends.

Theater helped me become more comfortable speaking in front of people. Now, when I have to give presentations, I can do it. I recently gave a presentation for a class and afterward thought, “That was finally a presentation that felt coherent.” I think theater helped with that, even though you do not have to be a huge theater person to benefit from it.

Try It Yourself

My advice to current learners is to try things that stretch you.

You do not have to do the scariest thing imaginable. You do not have to force yourself into something that feels completely wrong for you. But you can choose a challenge that pushes you a little bit beyond what feels familiar.

Join the show. Talk to someone new. Try a food you have been nervous about. Share an idea. Give something a chance.

I would definitely recommend participating in theater at Village. It is a great way to meet people, and a lot of the Village community is connected through theater. Even if you are not sure you are into performing, it can help with confidence, friendships, and speaking in front of others.

I would also tell learners that there is not just one way to do something. Just because a teacher teaches one method does not mean it is the only method. If you find a way that works better for you, that is okay.

Math is a good example for me. Sometimes I explain math to people in a way that skips steps or works differently from what they were taught. If it helps you understand, then it matters. Learning is not about doing everything exactly one way. It is about finding what works.

The biggest thing I keep coming back to is that growth happens when you are willing to try.

Village helped me learn that friendship, confidence, creativity, and academics are all connected. A theater production can help with public speaking. A math problem can teach you to trust your own thinking. A community can help you realize that who you are is enough.

One quote I really like is, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” I think that is true. If you always stay inside your comfort zone, you might miss out on new experiences, new friendships, and new parts of yourself.

Also, life is fun. Enjoy it and love it while you are here.

Keep Learning

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About the Author

My name is Devin Karschnik, and I am a Village alum. During my time at Village, I learned a lot about friendship, confidence, homeschooling, theater, and stepping outside my comfort zone. The lessons I learned there continue to shape how I show up in college and in life.