Sydney participated in the 2011 FPEA Statewide Graduation Ceremony along with some 250 fellow Florida homeschoolers (this year’s event will be held on Sunday, May 27, as part of the FPEA Florida Homeschool Convention). The Broward College student takes a brief look back at what homeschooling meant to her.
“But all my friends in REGULAR school don’t have to do this much work!” It is almost guaranteed that a homeschool child has said this at one point. This was a very common line I used throughout my seven years of homeschooling. I probably used this little complaint at least twice a week, or so I like to believe (it was probably a lot more often).
At the beginning of my sixth grade year, my sacrificial mother pulled my three younger sisters and me out of so-called “regular” school. That is how we referred to all the kids our age who went to a school in which suffering while sitting at a desk all day was a requirement.
I am not one to lie — homeschool was a challenge. At the time I was sure my mother believed that every waking hour of my life should be filled with assignments, tests, projects and experiments. I would gripe and grumble about the neverending papers I was assigned and chapters I was required to read. At the time, though, I did not appreciate the extraordinary opportunity my mother had provided for my sisters and I.
Today I am a college sophomore because through dual enrollment at Broward College, I was fortunate enough to acquire enough credits throughout my high school years to be a year ahead of everyone my age. I am commonly asked if I wished I could have gone to “regular” school throughout my high school years. Although while I was homeschooled I used to complain, the truth is I would not trade my homeschooled days for the world. Not only am I ahead of my peers, but I have also been fortunate enough to spend very valuable time with my mother and grow closer with my siblings. “Life lessons” were very common throughout the day, which gave my mother a chance to teach things that would be essential in the years to come.
Daily, as I walk around campus, I cannot help but think to myself that I was truly one of the most fortunate kids alive to have the opportunity to be taught at home. Although I commonly groaned about my assignments, I am now exceedingly thankful for all my mother went through to assist me in getting where I am today.
