21 Dec 2016
Posted by etcetera 
Matthew Espinosa. Photo by James Hartley/The Et Cetera
By JAMES HARTLEY
@JamesHartleyETC
Matthew Espinosa is 15 years old and a student at Eastfield College.
Espinosa takes part in the dual credit program offered by Eastfield. As a homeschooled student, Espinosa is getting both high school credit and college credit for taking classes at the college.
Matthew Espinosa, a 15-year-old dual credit student at Eastfield College, studies for his history class at the arboretum. Espinosa’s mother, Ruthie Espinosa, homeschools her three children still in school. Photo by James Hartley/The Et Cetera
Click any photo below to view a gallery:
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- Espinosa took two classes in Fall 2016 at Eastfield through the dual credit program, and does the rest of his class load through his homeschooling and his homeschool co-op. James Hartley/The Et Cetera
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- Espinosa took a speech and a government class this semester. By taking the classes at Eastfield, they count toward his high school and college education at the same time. James Hartley/The Et Cetera
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- Espinosa, right, orders food from the lunch bar at his homeschool co-op.
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- Espinosa’s co-op, one of the largest in Texas, meets on Friday at Lakeshore Church in Rockwall. Espinosa has the opportunity to take regular classes like algebra, history and science through the co-op, as well as elective classes like theater. Between classes, the co-op students gather in the cafeteria to hang out. James Hartley/The Et Cetera
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- Just like in any high school, students at the co-op rush out of doors at the end of class periods, flooding the halls as they move to their next class. Photo by James Hartley/The Et Cetera
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- Espinosa waits in the Pit between classes at Eastfield. Photo by James Hartley/The Et Cetera
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- Matthew Espinosa and his sisters, Kaitlyn Espinosa and Lauren Espinosa, look at different soils at the Dallas Arboretum. “Everything can be a learning opportunity for a homeschooler,” Ruthie Espinosa said. Matthew Espinosa and his sisters, Kaitlyn and Lauren, take advantage of every learning opportunity, like a personal tour through the history of climate change and tectonic plate movement at the Dallas Arboretum. James Hartley/The Et Cetera
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- Espinosa’s schedule is typically packed with events, classes and study time. Wednesday nights are one of the times he gets to spend time with friends. His church’s youth group meets Wednesday nights and often times goes out to eat. James Hartley/The Et Cetera
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- Espinosa gets a pie in his face from his friend, Elijah, at a church halloween party. Espinosa was also dunked in a dunk tank that night. He says parties like these are a good time to forget about school and just enjoy being with friends. James Hartley/The Et Cetera
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- Espinosa relaxes during down time at his co-op. The busy schedule he keeps can wear him down at times, but Espinosa describes himself as a spontaneous, typically energetic, AD/HD person. James Hartley/The Et Cetera
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- Every Sunday, Espinosa and his family start off their week with church and a family meal. “We’re like what a family should be,” Espinosa said. “We spend as much time together as we can, eat as many meals together as we can.” James Hartley/The Et Cetera
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- Espinosa plans to major in physical therapy and follow in the footsteps of his father, Martin Espinosa, once he’s out of high school. For now, he keeps himself busy with his family, school work and church activities. James Hartley/The Et Cetera
