by Julianna Dotten

I can’t imagine what life would have looked like if my mom hadn’t told my dad, “I won’t marry you unless we homeschool.” A few years into it and couple of CHEC conferences later, both of my parents were on fire for the vision not merely of educating their children at home, but being intentional about discipleship.

To them, education wasn’t about completing the textbooks (there were several in high school I never finished … gasp!); it was about learning to live life in the fear of God. Along the way, though, we found that the academics did come easier simply because we were in an environment that encouraged us to pursue our interests and gifts without having to fit into the box of an ideal school child.

Just the other day, someone asked me if I had a favorite teacher. I’ve had numerous college professors, co-op teachers, and tutors, but there was no question about it: my mom. It wasn’t merely her teaching skills that made my homeschool experience memorable, though she is an excellent teacher.

It was her life.

Day in and day out, we studied, explored, talked, and did life together. She was the kind of teacher who was willing to dig down and get her hands dirty. She worked out Algebra I with me problem by problem. She read my writing, even those early attempts that were … well, atrociously bad.

My parents’ commitment to discipleship didn’t end after we finished high school. I cannot imagine riding the bumpy years after graduation without their counsel. Even when others questioned this dedication to shepherd their children even after graduation, they stayed firm in what they believed God’s will was for our family.

I’m not the only one who came out of homeschooling forever grateful for the experience. Below are just a few testimonies from other homeschool grads:

Thoughts

“I loved the flexibility that we had in our schooling; if we didn’t always get book work done, it was because we were expanding our learning in other ways by seeing and experiencing real life.  It also made it possible for our parents to disciple us in the ways of the Lord, which included teaching principles about character both during school and in the rest of life, and protecting us from bad influences such as culture and too many peers during those formative years.” – KW

“There were so many aspects I appreciated about homeschooling! I was super blessed to have my mom as a teacher! She felt free to correct/critique my work, but ALWAYS made an effort to encourage me towards future possibilities. I also really benefited from the flexibility to use  different curriculum for various subjects! It’s critically important that we, as students, can truly grasp what we are being taught. Last, but not least, I was totally blessed to study these deep subjects from a Christian perspective! Jesus Christ means more than anything in the world to me, and I’m grateful for the ‘stepping stones’ of homeschooling, that led me to His feet.” – MC

To all you homeschool grads, we’d love to hear from you! Comment below and share your experience with others!

About the Author: Julianna Dotten

Julianna (far right) feels very blessed to have been homeschooled and discipled by godly parents. She currently works as the CHEC marketing assistant and enjoys serving her family and church. Most of all, her desire is to seek the Lord wherever He has put her.