Why We Homeschool (and Why We Use Sonlight)

Landon had to write an auto-biography for admission to the Burnett Honors College at the University of Central Florida this past spring. He wrote about his education and the people involved in it who influenced the person he is today. When I read it, it summed up why we homeschool our children and why we've used Sonlight all these years. I asked him for permission to use his biography, so here it is:

To get a good understanding of my life and my experiences, it would be best to give a brief exposition of my education and the impact that had on my development and my view of the world. When making her decision to homeschool me and my siblings, my mother learned about various curricula and selected those she believed would be best for us. She poured her time and her effort into our education. Through the curriculum she used, particularly a literature-based history program, she instilled in me a great love of learning. History, largely through this program, was really my first love. I would devour every book I could find on the subject, carrying them around until they were literally falling to pieces. Whenever we traveled, my book bag was always the heaviest. I have always had a general love of reading, and to this day I very rarely go anywhere without a book. In addition to this, she schooled us well in math—which happens to be one of her own strengths—using another excellent program she discovered. Later, she encouraged me to study to take rigorous CLEP tests and then dual enroll in our local community college. Although I did not always enjoy what she assigned to me, I worked through it, and in the last few years, I have seen her hard work truly come to fruition.

My mother was not the only influence on the person I am now. My father also played an important role. All my life he has been willing to listen to me talk about all sorts of crazy ideas and discuss them with me. He has consistently challenged viewpoints or stereotypes I have picked up. He listened to me talk about history, politics, physics, chemistry, a book I was reading at the time, something on the news, or any other topic. He did not just put up with it—he encouraged it. I believe that had a very positive impact on my intellectual development, and his philosophies and outlook have been a huge influence on my own worldview. Discussing ideas is really one of my favorite pastimes. In addition, I have had numerous friends who have contributed in similar ways. One, in particular, I have known many years, and he is now working on his doctorate in Photonics Engineering at North Carolina State University. He has greatly encouraged, inspired, and advised me in matters relating to the fields of engineering and science. Recently, in my dual-enrollment classes, my teachers have also made an impact on me. My physics professor in particular has managed—along with the amazing material we have studied and various other circumstances—to convert me from an engineering major to a physics major. In conclusion, I think more than anything, it is the people in my life and how they have contributed to my outlook that have made me who I am today.

It's music to a homeschool mom's heart!