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| Vol. 19, No. 1 | Sept. 2, 1999 |
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| Vol. 19, No. 1 | Sept. 2, 1999 |
Karen and Julie Brown, mother and daughter, are both full-time freshmen this fall.
Starting in September, Julie Brown and her mother, Karen, will have more in common than similar mannerisms and the same address. Both are freshman members of the Class of 2003.
But, the Browns aren't like any other mother-daughter team, because Julie is only 15 years old. Things that may be taken for granted by other students, such as driving to campus or registering for classes, have to be organized in advance so that both Karen and Julie can take the courses they need and Karen can fulfill her family responsibilities.
"Julie has a permit, but no license yet," Karen said of her daughter, who will be commuting to the University from home with her mother.
Julie is not concerned with her transportation. She is worried about what concerns every other freshman in the Class of 2003-passing.
Julie's success in the University's larger classes weighs heavier on her mind than most other freshmen, because Julie has never been in a classroom with more that one student. Karen home-schooled her only child since Julie was 3 years old.
"I took a driver's education class last year," Julie said, "and it was the first time I had ever been in a classroom situation. I guess that's what I am worried about, my ability to do the work in a larger setting and to meet the teachers' requirements."
Since asking her mother to teach her how to read, Julie and Karen have been going through the learning process together.
"I'd have to teach myself certain subjects," Karen said, "and then teach Julie, because I hadn't had a lot of the new class topics when I was in school."
While Julie was always excited to begin new subjects, home- schooling required different approaches and presented diverse challenges.
"You have to remember that in home-schooling," Karen explained, "you don't have all of the seat work, and teachers don't have to deal with large numbers of students. So, it's conceivable that a student can get a six-hour day's worth of learning in only three hours." This, she said, is how Julie was able to finish her schooling before other children her age.
At summer orienation, the mother-daughter team learned that the one-on-one situation of their home-school had a parallel with the larger classes at UD.
"The dean of the College of Arts and Science got up and said to the students, 'You know all of those kids who kept your curve? Well, they're not here'," Karen explained.
"But I never had a curve," Julie interjected.
"Yeah, that's true, you either made it or you didn't," Karen answered.
Karen's concerns extend beyond those of her daughter's success. She's also focused on her own college experience and balancing her existing family responsibilities.
"I felt like I was going to be the only older person in the freshman class, but at the orientation for returning adult students, there was a 76 year old man," she said. "I thought, 'This is good. I'm not going to be the oldest person in school.'"
Karen's personal choice to go back to school was supported by her daughter's acceptance into the University at such a young age.
Their decision process was a little more involved that of most 18 year olds entering college.
"We were undecided whether to let her apply to college at her age, so we let her take the SATs and figured then we'd decide," Karen said. "After she took them, Julie started getting the mail that the colleges send to students. We decided that if she got accepted, we could always decline the offer. When she got accepted into UD, they acted like they were excited for her to come."
"Yeah, and then I got excited," Julie added.
With mostly academic hobbies, learning is definitely something that interests Julie, and she said she "likes to learn."
"Right now I am studying early English history," Julie said. "I pick something, and it becomes my hobby for that year."
Both Julie and Karen said they are looking forward to the objective classroom setting, since they found the home-school atmosphere a little difficult at times.
"It is hard from both sides," Karen said. "From her side, she can't come home and complain about the teacher. The teacher is Mom. But on the flip side of that, you always have to be the disciplinarian all the time. You are the teacher and you are the mom, so you can't commiserate with your daughter about this lousy teacher, because it's you. You really have to have a relationship that works."
The Browns obviously do. At an age where daughters normally want nothing to do with their parents, Julie said she is very pleased that her mother will be treading through college life with her.
"The fact that my mom will be going through the same things will make college a lot easier," Julie said. 
-Laura Overturf
Photo by Jack Buxbaum
