Homeschooling has impacted my life in many ways. For one thing, I feel more empowered to choose what I enjoy doing because I have more flexible time. Not to mention traveling is much easier to manage when you can work ahead for the next day’s homework. I am sure that I am closer to my Mom, who is my teacher, and my siblings, who are instructed at home as well, than I would have been if I were enrolled in a full-time academy or public school. So, in one sentence, thank you to all my family and my homeschooling friends who encourage me (and I them) to graduate Middle and High School home educating!

Homeschooling has encouraged and enabled me to do more after-school type activities. If it weren’t for being at home most days, I would have dropped out of piano lessons by now because I couldn’t put in enough practice time. Also, in the past when I’ve been in plays, we made it part of our school day to practice my lines and go over my script. Practicing sports like softball and basketball has been more frequent and remember: you learn in a gym, but you improve by practicing in your driveway or backyard.

Traveling is made much more simple by being taught at home as well. Last year, my family and I went to Disney World in February. I can remember being home Friday evening and doing Monday’s work. I can also recall doing English pages in the car on the way. By the time we were there, we had the next week’s homework handled.
I am positive I am much closer to my family by homeschooling. We’re together a lot, which can occasionally lead to disagreements, but it helps being together in times of crisis-like when my Grandma was in the hospital late this February. My Dad pitched in and he became our teacher while my Mom was at the hospital visiting our grandmother. My sister, who is in second grade, and my brother, who goes to preschool three days a week, are homeschooled with me too. We’re together just about every day, and we get along much better than many siblings thanks to our way of education.

In conclusion, homeschooling has impacted my life far greater than my family or my friends know. It’s not just doing online typing programs, or learning Spanish, or writing an English essay; not just like being with your family on a Saturday either; but my family is my school: I consider it “the best of both worlds.” In my hobbies, sports, and school, my family is there to cheer me on, and I am grateful for it.