I was home-schooled until eighth grade and for a semester of my junior year of high school. It wasn't until college that I was really able to understand the gift my parents had given me. As a little kid, I always wanted to go to a school other than my house. Here's the thing, if we are being perfectly honest, I am really glad I went to a high school. I really liked being around other people and having several teachers, but that doesn't change the fact that I am very grateful for the way I was educated, especially as an elementary aged student, and here's why:
1. I got to learn as I was ready.
I was reading by age 5 and doing all the math I could ever want. My mom was able to take more time to teach me to write, because for whatever reason, I really struggled with that. I was also a very active and hyper kid. Like wash-the-bathroom-with-shampoo-and-conditioner-while-your-parents-are-in-the-NICU-with-your-brand-new-sister-kind of kid. My mom calmed me down by teaching me to read. Also, if misbehaved, she'd take my math book away.
2. I got to be a big sister.
I am the oldest of 10 kids, and it was great to be able to be home and learn how to take care of kids. (Before you make a bunch of assumptions, I graduated high school after taking Calculus and Physics.) The point is, I got to spend a lot of time with my younger siblings while simultaneously getting a great education. To top it off, helping your younger siblings with schoolwork is a great way to learn.
3. I got to learn how to cook, and didn't have to eat cafeteria food.
By the time we were 7 and 9, my brother and I could make a decent breakfast. We're talking eggs and sausage — the works! We also got to make pannini sandwiches for lunch, and it was then that I realized my passion for creating salads.
4. We didn't have to stay in desks all day.
I did have a desk, but I was also outside feeding sheep and biking down the cow trails in the field behind our house.
5. I got to know my neighbors really well.
My siblings and I got to make a wonderfully awful tree house with our fellow home-schooled neighbor kids. One day, we found a couple of dead trees that protruded from our hill. Two years later, we had two stories. We'd built it all by ourselves. It looked really bad, so when we moved, we had to burn it down. We also spent countless evenings listening to our neighbor across the street talk to our dad about politics and lawn mowers. To top it off, the smell of his cigars lingered throughout the neighborhood. Below is a picture of my brother and me with one of our first neighbors.
6. I avoided peer pressure.
Though I was a very headstrong kid, I never had to experience a lot of negative peer pressure. I wasn't bullied, and I never felt like I had to do something that I didn't want to do. That's a great way to grow up. Instead of worrying about the latest and greatest, or about how I should dress, I got to do fun stuff like shoot bows and arrows in my back yard.
7. I had qualified teachers.
My mom has an education degree, and my dad is a medical doctor with an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering. They make a great team. My dad was able to tutor me in advanced math and science, and my mom taught me all the fundamentals.
8. Life was pretty chill.
We got things done. My parents made sure we had a good education, but the pace at which we went wasn't super intense. We were able to learn naturally. When it comes to the high school years, and even middle school, I personally think structure is key. However, when you're a little kid, just sit back and read that Clara Barton biography.
9. We had Evanwood pride.
We were very proud of being home schooled. Our parents always reiterated that we did go to school. We went to "school" in the living room, or at our desk, or on the nature trail, or in the hay loft, or at the gates of Buckingham palace, or at the National Mint, or in the back of our Ford E-350 van. That might sound crazy or unrealistic, but it worked. My brother and I are the two college-aged kids in the family right now, and we both have academic scholarships. If you're still doubting this method of education, he's majoring in chemical engineering. Below, you'll see the school picture of Evanwood from around 2002.
10. Instead of sports, we spent a lot of time with performing arts.
Some of my siblings and I are really lacking when it comes to sports. We try really hard, but that ball is just not going over the net. What we are more talented in is music and theater. From singing in our amazing county wide home-school choir, to acting in musicals, to singing for church, we have found our niche. Being comically bad at any sport except for swimming or skiing, I will be forever thankful for our trusty grand piano.
11. I was able to go through middle school privately.
Middle school is tough on anyone. Like most people, I think that I had a rougher time. I am very grateful that only my siblings saw those awkward years. See Exhibit A:
12. I had a high-quality education
Call me a nerd, but I was exposed to the classics from a young age. I didn't sit through diluted and biased history classes. Instead, we read biographies of famous people and visited the homes of famous individuals from Daniel Boone to Winston Churchill. I wasn't put on the advanced math track. Instead, I just focused on what I could do. It wasn't until I was older that I knew I was above grade level. Instead of boring grammar books, we used Mad Libs. For "science class," I helped deliver a lamb. For P.E., we went skiing every Saturday. It was pretty great. By the time I went to high school, I had a pretty darn good foundation. Also, I am graduating from college in less than a year... so, yep, if done right, homeschooling works.
