SUBJECT: Submit Your Grad Photo

Submit your photo to the Homeschool Graduating Class of 2009 Photo Gallery 2009-05-19 via About.com Homeschooling

Submit your graduating senior's photo and profile to be included in the Homeschool Graduating Class of 2009 Photo Gallery. I appreciate your help in building a Class of 2009 Photo Gallery that we can be proud of.

SUBJECT: SENIOR - MISS CAITY

Hey Y'all!

I'm Caity Spencer from the Land of Enchantment (I've lived around the thriving metropolis of Albuquerque, New Mexico all of my 18 ½ years). I have brown eyes (tiny bits of green, but not enough to make them hazel), curly blonde-brown hair, and I am 5'8 1/2" tall. I was born to two wonderful Southern Baptist parents. Over the more recent years during numerous lectures, discussions, sermons, articles, talks, and books, my whole family and I have really changed, and in the same directions (which is such a blessing). We now attend a Presbyterian church and absolutely love the systematic order of worship, sound biblical teaching, and fellowship with like-minded believers.

For 16 years Curtis, Marissa, and I were the only Spencer kids. I played, talked, argued, loved, tolerated, and laughed with them, but it was not until the past few years that I have come to really appreciate them and value the time that I have with them. They are now two of my best friends. I acknowledged my need of a Savior, professed that I believed that Christ is the Son of God and that He died for me when I was 7. All three of us were baptized on the same Sunday morning a few years afterwards.

Almost two years ago, my family adopted three little boys. Not only have they added a totally new dimension to our lives, but they have challenged me in so many ways. I have found that when I am responsible for correcting, instructing, and training others, my faults reflect back so glaringly that it’s hard to get onto the boys because they do what I do all the time. It has also given me a deeper appreciation for the few quite minutes that I can find for a quite time with God. Along with my immediate family I have many dear friends and cousins who are always holding me accountable for my speech and actions. I continue to strive to become the young lady that God has called me to be. One of my favorite quotes is by John Newton:

“I am a great sinner, but Christ is a great Savior.”

My family started homeschooling right away. I love homeschooling. The fact that I can be home with my family, my younger sister can be my best friend, I can (at least somewhat) choose what I want to study, and have the freedom to take breaks when my brother comes home from college, not to mention the fact that Mommy can mentor me by spending time with me and selecting the books that I work through, make HS the best!


This year I am taking:

Human Anatomy and Physiology

Old and New Testament History

Medieval History

Classic Literature

Also, on the side I swim, help a very busy mother in my church, and various other projects.

"What are you you going to do after Highschool?" Is every senior bombarded with this question? I certainly am. Because I am not going away for college, at least right now, my answer is always a bit lengthy and a bit hard to explain to those who aren't coming from the same worldview I am. So far I plan on staying home helping with my little brothers, pursing liberal arts by reading and discussing classics, and refining my skills. I would love to find a way to go to cosmetology /beauty school, but so far I haven't found one with an atmosphere/lifestyle that I am willing to be a part of. If any of you have ideas for me please let me know.

As to what I like to do; where do I start? Swimming is certainly a passion. I love it, love it, love it. Right now I am swimming for a local highschool (the laws concerning homeschoolers participating in public school sports just changed last year, enabling me to swim both my jr. and sr. years). I also swim during the summer. This summer will be my 8th. On the topic of sports...I like to play just about anything...except for baseball, ultimate frisbee and soccer are at the top of my list. You can almost always find me with a pencil, paper, and eraser; I draw all the time. Portraits are definitely the most interesting and easy for me, but I am learning to portray the whole figure. I'm not too great with getting a quick sketch to look like the subject (unless the subject is in my head, which it most of the time is). Over the last couple years I have started to learn to really enjoy learning. BTW, if any of you are looking for a great, inspiring, quick-read, pick up a copy of A Thomas Jefferson Education. It's a fantastic book. So i love to read, mostly historical fiction and mysteries and informative books. I also knit, crochet, bead, sew, quilt, bake, photograph and come up with other creative ways to express myself.

I would enjoy getting to know those of you who have time. My email address is: senoritasmiles@msn.com.

~caity

spencerhomenews.blogspot.com/
xanga.com/doodlebug829

SUBJECT: SENIOR - MISS KATIE

Hello everyone, my name is Katie.

I live in rural Western Kentucky with three siblings, two llamas, three horses, one squirrel, and various other animals. I'm in Tennessee so much that could be called a "Tuckassean". I attend a PCA church in Tennessee.

Music has always been a large interest for me. Currently I'm taking piano lessons--something that I really enjoy. But music isn't everything.

I can't keep my head out of books! I read almost everything. Some of my favorite authors are Lewis, Tolkien, Dickens, Austen, Twain, and Sienkiewicz, My parents always encouraged reading, and homeschooling gave me time for it (not to mention the blessing of not being perceived as "weird" and shunned for being "dorky".

I've been homeschooled K-12, and it's been pretty good. I am, however, very glad to be graduating. I love learning, but I can't wait to finish the online classes I'm taking this year with Memoria Press. They are:

Classical Rhetoric

Political Philosophy

Latin

For English, I am also learning writing under the direction of a writing mentor from Patrick Henry College.

Since I'm the oldest child, my parents are very excited about me graduating. I might be attending Covenant College in the fall, where I will take advantage of any "study abroad" programs. Some day, I would love to travel to Ireland.

~Katie
everandexcelsior.blogspot.com/
rebelutionaries.blogspot.com/

SUBJECT: SENIOR - MISS EMILY

Howdy, fellow homeschoolers! I'm Emily (known as Earthling in the blog world!). I'm a seventeen (almost eighteen) year old homeschooler from Maryland.

I live with my parents and three younger siblings, Stephen (15), Lila (11), and Seth (8). I also have an older sister, Lauren, who is 29. Like a lot of homeschoolers, most of my time is spent with my family. I pretty much can guarantee when I have free time I'm playing dollhouse or Trouble with Lila, or helping Seth with one of his inventions, or playing football with Stephen. When I'm not busy with my family though, I'm an avid reader--I usually end up reading about ten books (mostly classics!) a month. C.S. Lewis, Tennyson, Byron, Wilde, Hardy--they are some of my best friends. Naturally, I enjoy writing as well. I've written a variety of articles, written for a Narnia website, oh, and of course blogging. One of my big hobbies is movie-watching--I love all kinds of movies, especially older ones--if C.S. Lewis is my literary friend, then Cary Grant and Marlon Brando are my film ones! I played soccer for eight years, and was sad to finish my last season this year. I've enjoyed serving as an assistant swim coach for Special Olympics. Oh, and I almost forgot--I love my summer job as a teacher at a local preschool.

I have been homeschooled since kindergarten. My parents debated homeschooling my oldest sister, because she did not have a good public school experience. However, by that time she was almost done with school, so she stayed in. When I came along to school age, though, they decided to try it out with me. I guess it worked, because even though my dad thought homeschooling was "weird" back then, twelve years later I'm still at it!

I've always enjoyed it, though. I never wanted to go to "normal" school. I've mostly appreciated the academic freedom. I always said academics were my hobby. It is true. And I like being able to choose around what I want to do, what curriculum I want to use, what classes I want to take--and not be limited to what my school offers. I can do anything! How many kids can say that? I love the flexibility as well--from being able to run to the library in the middle of the morning, or being able to take three weeks off to go to California with dad, or getting to take online college classes while still in high school!

Right now I'm in the not-so-nice process of waiting to hear back from colleges. I've applied to four (and already accepted into two). Once I hear back from the others I will make a final decision. My hope is at any of the schools I will study English/literature and education. This is really important to me--not only do I love teaching and literature, but I feel like this would be useful for me. I could teach at a public school, private school--even at a home school tutorial! But even more important, I want to do this to prepare myself to home school my kids one day. Although I think anyone can home school, who knows what the laws will be like by the time I have kids (as we know by the recent fiasco in California)! Having a teacher's certificate could prove to be a very helpful thing if I have children of my own someday. Anyway, hopefully this time next year I will be in the college world. It is very exciting for me.

This year, I am taking (or took last semester!)

Calculus (under much protest!)

Physics

Spanish 2

Speech

Apologetics

Government

Economics

Western literature

So that's about all! Looking forward to "meeting" the rest of the Homeschool Class of 2009!

~Emily
homeschoolblogger.com/earthling

SUBJECT: SENIOR - MISS ELISABETH

Hi! My name is Elisabeth and I am a 17 yr. old homeschool senior (guess the senior part is a given!) I have seven other family members besides myself including my parents, my twin, Erin (who is nine minutes older and doesn't let me forget it! LOL), three younger brothers, and one younger sister. Yep, kind of like a Southern "Brady Bunch". :)

We reside just outside of a small rural town that has one caution light (think Mayberry, but much smaller) and live in a remodeled re-settlement farmhouse. Our pets consist of two cuddly cats and nine not-so-cuddly chickens. For folks living on a farm, we do not have a lot of "livestock". :)

Some activities and hobbies I enjoy are art, cake decorating, sewing, and baby-sitting. Right now, sewing is my number 1 pastime and interest. I love creating, drawing, and sewing my own patterns, so I suppose my art plays into that most of all. Cake decorating is also another favorite as I love to decorate cakes for my siblings' birthdays. Since there are four of them (not counting Erin), I get a lot of practice!

Our family first began homeschooling twelve years ago when Erin and I were six years old. We had been attending a small private school up until then when Dad (who is a pastor) was called to serve a church in Alabama. Mom and Dad searched for another school until, after much prayer, decided that homeschooling was the best choice for our then small family. We have been lovin' it ever since! This year, my subjects include:

Saxon Advanced Math

Apologia Chemistry

Winter Promise: Royals and Revolutionaries

Lightning Literature

Alpha Omega Spanish

SAT Online Prep Course

Hands on Essay Course

Various Electives

This fall, Erin and I plan on attending a small local college where my major will be interior design...a combination of my love of art and sewing. I then hope and pray that "Prince Charming" will come along, we'll be married and have a bunch of youngsters, and begin the homeschool process all over again! :)

All in all, I am very excited (and a little sad) about being a Homeschool 09' Senior. Excited about graduating this May, but also just a little sad because homeschooling has been such a wonderful experience!

~Elisabeth
elisabeth-dixiedoodles.blogspot.com

SUBJECT: SENIOR - MISS ALEXANDRA

Hello! My name is Alexandra. I am 15 years old (turning 16 in February). We are a military family and, currently, live in southeast, coastal North Carolina. I have the most wonderful parents, 3 precious younger siblings (ages 10, 6, 5), and a fluffy dog.

This is our 10th year of homeschooling, after spending one year in the public school system. I'm very thankful the Lord opened my parent's eyes to the worldly influence, the 'dumbing down', etc... of the public school system and decided that homeschooling was the Lord's will and way of life for us. It's been such a blessing to me to be sheltered from the ungodly influence of public school and that I've been able to pursue subjects I was interested in and wanted to learn about. The Lord is able to teach me many lessons through homeschooling that I think I would not have, necessarily, listened to or learned being distracted otherwise.

Studies this year include:

Apologia Advanced Biology

BJU Economics

Notgrass American Government

IEW Literature

Rosetta Stone Modern Greek

Personal Bible Reading/Studies

miscellaneous electives

My, overall, favorite subject to take was Chemistry. I have taken a first course Chemistry and an Advanced Chemistry (10th & 11th grade), and enjoy borrowing books on Chemistry (especially Nuclear Chemistry). For this year, however, I am enjoying Economics the most!

Aside from "schoolwork", I spend a lot of my time playing instruments (piano, violin, guitar, banjo, organ), singing with my 2 pet birds, crocheting, sewing, taking photos, bird-watching, cooking, and spending time with and growing closer to my Beloved Savior. I also, began an orchestra at church (playing my violin), sing in choir, and teach piano.

When I was 12 years old, the Lord really placed a burden in my heart for missions and I, truly, feel Him calling me there. That same year, He was really dealing with my heart about how I should use my youth for Him and He convicted me greatly about courting and guy/girl relationships. So when I was 12, I made a commitment not to date, to remain physically and emotionally pure until marriage and, also, to not get married until I was 20, so I could spend my teen years completely focused on Him. I, also, surrendered to His calling me to be a wife and mother on the foreign mission field. He's laid Greece on my heart most often but also central Africa, Russia, and other places.

At grade 9, my parents and I started seeking out what God would have me do after graduating. The Lord is not calling me to go to college, the workforce, or out of the home. I feel He's led me to stay at home, serving Him and my family and furthering my homemaking skills and preparing, as I am able, for life on the mission field. I am considering the possibility to begin making and selling items I crochet after graduation. I, also, hope to continue teaching piano and learning to play a few more instruments. :) In addition, I enjoy keeping a blog where I write about my days, new projects, what the Lord's teaching me, etc...

~ Alexandra
http://hskubesgal.blogspot.com
http://wheniconsider.blogspot.com

SUBJECT: SENIOR - MISS CAIT

Good day! I'm Cait, 17 and another homeschooler graduating this year. I live with my family in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, though originally from Seattle and Detroit. We have been here for two and a half years, previously living in the States, and many years ago in Jordan. Dubai is very much home for now, though I have no idea where I'll end up living! As part of my senior year I was in Oman, a neighboring country, for 4 weeks, teaching and nannying for another family.

Daddy being a pilot, I have grown up traveling (one of the photos was taken at San Marco Plaza, Venice), which was a factor in our homeschooling. However, the primary reasons were my parents' priorities of time with us, and a solid, Biblical and classical education and worldview.

I am the eldest of four children, ages 7, 10, and 15. Currently my primary hobby is voice, and I have played the bagpipes for six years. I am also greatly interested in art, and have begun a small home business with my drawing and painting (largely whimsical, strange, and swirly!), and enjoy making things in general. I love literature, such as Poe and Shakespeare, and the timeless, insightful work of C.S. Lewis. I also love anything red or pink, chocolate, travel, my cat Sunny, tea, and everything related to Lewis Carroll or Disney!

This year I am studying:

Dutch

Worldview (Understanding the Times, by Summit Ministries)

Literature/Writing

History

Economics

Earlier this year I took a correspondence course in Counseling.

One of homeschooling's greatest benefits for me has been the flexibility in subjects and the quality of teaching, in addition to time with my family. It's also challenged my thinking - there is little of political correctness in this young lady!

After graduation, I intend to remain at home, studying with and helping my father in whatever way possible, and preparing to be a keeper at home in my own house, Lord willing. I have no desire for a career, and would love to someday be a wife and mother, serving as a family. Art and music I do not plan on leaving behind though! They will always be relevant. In whatever way possible, I want my in-between years to be efficient, effective, and fruitful.

Much love in Christ,
Cait
www.dancetheroad.wordpress.com (general site)
www.incompanywithsparkles.blogspot.com (art and craft blog)