Bronson Bast is an 18-year-old home-schooled high school senior attending IU Southeast for dual credit. He also recently became a senator for the Student Government Association.

Bast said those who are home-schooled are often stereotyped.

“People have a general perception that since your mom is teaching you and all your classes are at home that you have no social life,” Bast said. “That is true in some cases, but for me, the experience has been different. I’ve had the opportunity to take classes outside of the home setting, whether it is college courses or my friend’s mom teaching a class or two.”

Bast and his twin brother, Derek, have been home-schooled their entire lives. When they were 3 years old, they were taken to a speech therapist.

“We had our own twin talk and didn’t talk well to others,” Bronson Bast said. “During the therapy, my brother wouldn’t sit still, and my mom was told he had ADHD. He didn’t. It was speech therapy — and we were three — so he just got bored. My mom decided to take education into her own hands.”

He said his mother got in contact with some home-schooling organizations and went from there.

His brother Derek Bast said he does not regret being home-schooled.

“Personally, I have enjoyed being homeschooled,” Derek Bast said. “I am a very hands-on learner, so it has helped me to be able to learn in the way that suits me best and not have to follow the protocol set up for the whole classroom. My mom has always made sure we were in a lot of outside activities. So, we actually do have friends, and I don’t think we turned out to be reclusive nerds.”

Derek Bast said — with them both being the same age — the home schooling experience was easier.

“We could be competition for each other and help each other with the material we were going over,” Derek Bast said. “All-in-all, I think it’s been a great experience, and — if I could go back and choose — I think I would choose to be home-schooled.”

Bronson Bast will receive his high school diploma in April 2011.

Although he has not made a final decision, attending IU Southeast as a freshman in the fall is a definite possibility.

“I have looked at other options,” Bronson Bast said. “If I get a full-ride somewhere else, then I will do that. IUS is in driving distance, and it’s a good school.”

He said he’s interested in business and economics.

“I like them both, especially economics,” Bronson Bast said. “I haven’t narrowed down what I want to major in yet.”

Sarah Yeager, accounting junior, said Bronson Bast has a great sense of humor.

“He is one of those people who will make fun of you all day long, but — if he seriously told you to jump off a cliff — you would do it because you trust him,” Yeager said. “His involvement on campus during his first semester here demonstrates his motivation, and I know he will be a great asset to the IUS community.”

Bronson Bast became a full senator for the SGA Sept. 30.

“It’s a funny story why I decided to join the SGA,” Bronson Bast said. “I was in the library doing research, and I just thought I should check out student government. I searched the SGA online, and the meeting was in 30 minutes.”

Bronson Bast said the SGA will be more involved once the semester moves ahead.

“We talk about important issues — things that have to be done on campus,” Bronson Bast said. “I’d like us to discuss more issues that impact the students. We need more input and involvement from the students.”

Derek Bast said he thought his brother wouldn’t be wasting his time by joining the SGA.

“As it turns out, he has expressed a lot of interest in attending IUS next year, so I think the connections he makes at SGA and the things he learns about the campus should be valuable to him in the coming years,” Derek Bast said.

In his spare time, Bronson Bast practices Taekwondo at the YMCA and coaches a speech and debate team, the Truth Advocates.

“Since home-schooled people obviously can’t represent schools, we form clubs so we can compete with each other,” Bronson Bast said. “Truth Advocates represents the Louisville and Southern Indiana area.”

Derek Bast said his brother enjoys researching so much that — when he has a reason to — he spends hours on it.

“He insists on knowing everything that is going on and not just what it is but why,” Derek Bast said.

By KRISTINA BLEUEL

Staff

kcbleuel@umail.iu.edu