I’ve done both: public school and homeschooling.
The first six years of my education I attended public school. At the ends of summers I had the classic back-to-school change of routine. It meant getting out of bed earlier, breakfast, get ready and out the door with you.
I’m going to be honest: I didn’t like the change of routine at the end of summer, and I wasn’t a big fan of school.
I loved learning, but at school I never was challenged how I needed to be. There weren’t opportunities to grow my fullest potential.
That is why I waved goodbye to the public school at the end of the sixth grade and entered the world of homeschooling together with my four siblings.
I remember the countless hours my mom spent reading and researching to prepare school work for her kids, grades one to seven.
We were actually excited to go back to school, for once. The day finally came. We were so proud of our new books and pretty teacher that we actually looked forward to the end of summer.
What I didn’t know is this would be my last time where I would have a “official” start of a new school term. From then on, us kids wouldn’t leave our books untouched for long on those school breaks. We loved studying and we were, and still are, all very curious. Who cared about a school break then!
Through homeschooling, our mom taught us a new way of learning. We together decided what we would study the next day. We had the chance to learn by teaching each other, as well.
When I was 13-years-old I decided I wanted to be a pastor. My interest in religion courses became stronger. I wanted to share this passion with my siblings and asked my mom if I could take over the teaching for this subject.
After my own studies I would prepare the class for the next day, reading books and researching. Taking an active role in mine and my siblings’ education was meaningful to me.
Our mom challenged us. This let us grow and develop into the people we are today. Learning is a constant process of life, and to have my mom as a main part of that is special to me.
Last year I graduated and my mom did the last thing that there was for her to do: hand me my certificate. Graduation wasn’t my achievement; we had reached it together.
I am now a young woman, a part of the working world — I am a travel agent.
As the summer comes to an end, I reflect on my first day as a homeschooler, which for me marked the day of a wonderful beginning of a new chapter.
Thank you, Mom, for all your love and patience – now as much as then.
