WORDS OF WISDOM FROM A HOMESCHOOL GRADUATE

Each issue, we’ll be featuring a different homeschool graduate’s story. This time, we’ll hear from Anna Gravely, a 2017 homeschool graduate.

Sam was happiest outside adventuring with his older brothers for hours on end or hunting for eggs from their handful of free-range chickens. He found tremendous joy in a garden tomato or a huge watermelon he helped grow. When he was 8, he got his first turkeys for a 4-H state fair project. He was hooked.

When the world shut down in 2020, Sam was 13. He had already decided to get some laying hens that year, but

Starting a business at 13 years old with very little resources is especially challenging. “The expenses never end,” Michelle says, “…fencing, homemade chicken tractors, solar powered chargers, feed by the ton, pig processing fees, a trailer…it all costs money! With laying hens alone, it takes more than $20 per bird to get it to the point of laying a single egg. Multiply that by 350 and you can see that this is an expensive gig!”

But when you find what you love, by God’s grace, you find a way. Sam found work putting up hay for a farmer, taking care of his grandfather, cutting down trees for a neighbor, mowing lawns, and working for (and learning from) a local farm that farms sustainably. Michelle says “I wish I could say that 3 years in, he’s ahead of the game and has made enough to buy the old Ford truck he wants so badly. But, alas, he’s still in the building phase. He is learning perseverance, and making due with what he has (who knew that a 15-passenger family van with 320,000 miles could double as a farm truck?!).”

Sam is now a junior in high school, managing his farm, taking diesel mechanic classes, and changing oil at a local mechanic shop. Michelle has no doubt that he will find exactly what God wants him to do in this and every other step in his life as he works hard and seeks the Lord.

Isn’t that what we all want as homeschool parents? An environment that allows our kids to explore their giftings and passions so that they can learn and grow, fail and succeed with the proper perspective? Not everyone will be a lawyer, or doctor, or engineer, or businessman. Not every kid needs to go to college. Some are meant to start their own businesses... to be electricians, plumbers, soldiers, police officers… all for the glory of God!

Michelle is thankful that homeschooling has allowed them the opportunity to pass on their faith in the Lord and give each child space to figure out God’s plan for them and guidance to help them navigate the steps to get there. And one day, we have not doubt that Sam will get that old Ford truck. n

Do you know of a teen entrepreneur that we can feature in our next issue? If so, send us an email at info@cnchomeschool.com.

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By Anna Gravely

The idea of college can sometimes be absolutely terrifying. It was for me, at least. Being a freshly graduated homeschooler, the daunting task of college sent shivers down my spine. Unaccustomed to the conventional yardsticks of GPA comparisons and class load evaluations, I realized I truly had no idea of how I “measured up” against my contemporaries. Of course, I knew I was capable, I had passed all of my classes, had done well in my co-op, worked part-time jobs throughout high school, and had even successfully completed a few college courses. Even so, nothing could stop those nagging thoughts; Was I organized enough? Was I prepared to actually physically go to a class every day? Was I even smart enough for this next step? Despite the extremely pessimistic notions, I took the plunge.

I started my freshman year at Campbell University, double majoring in graphic design and studio art with a minor in marketing, and those first weeks away were hard, but so is any adjustment period. I also quickly began to grow in confidence. After a few weeks, I realized homeschooling actually gave me the tools to excel in this new stage, rather than the doom and gloom I was manifesting before. I was doing well in my classes, watching my traditional school peers struggle with time management and learning not to be in class for 8 hours a day. I realized before the next co-op day. The intrinsic nature of homeschooling actually prepared me better than the traditional route ever could have. what they were struggling to adjust to was my normal. I was already used to having a class for an hour and then doing the work at home, mostly alone. I knew how to check my textbook for help before going to the professor with a thousand questions. My time management skills were already fine-tuned because, in high school, I was responsible for getting my math homework done or paper written

I eventually transferred from Campbell with the confidence to find my true passion. I attended Coastal Alabama Community College where I graduated in 2019 with an Associate of Science after a wonderful year with great friends and professors, who encouraged me to climb to new heights. My experience at Campbell and Coastal, after I realized how helpful my homeschooling years were, prepared and gave me the confidence to apply to Mississippi State University’s School of Architecture, where I was accepted in 2019 and graduated with a Professional Bachelor of Architecture in 2023. I now work as an Associate Architectural Designer and can look back on my educational experiences and be thankful for the skills homeschooling taught me. This experience was exactly the plan that was laid out for me, and homeschooling was part of that path. Homeschooling was a pivotal part of my educational journey, laying a solid foundation for my college experience and beyond. The ability to customize my education, develop self-discipline, and explore my passions have all been invaluable. Looking back, I’m grateful for the unique learning experiences homeschooling provided, and I credit it as a significant contributor to my personal and academic growth. n