[w1]

+1 to this. I was homeschooled K-8, and the loneliness I experienced then puts a significant strain on my relationship with my parents to this day.

I think I agree with the parent comment when I say that homeschooling seems to be looking for pennies of potential academic advantage in front of the steamroller of serious maladjustment.

[marttt]

Do you think you have also gained something from that loneliness? Better abilities for introspection, for example, or some particular thinking patterns that other people seem to lack?

[w1]

Great question. I think the most noticeable impact on my personality is a strong fear of being alone, which has led to me sometimes prioritizing my relationships over personal achievements. I regretted this impulse when I was younger, but I have come to appreciate it now.

This also gave me a “growth mindset” at an early age. I realized in ~9th grade that I had no idea how to hold a conversation with someone, which forced me to view my social skills as something dynamic which could be improved. People are now very surprised to hear I was homeschooled, so I think my efforts to improve my communication skills have born fruit.

I can only speculate on how much the rest of my current personality was influenced by that experience; either directly, or from secondary effects like reading a lot (in place of socializing) at an early age.