At fourteen, I mapped out a self-directed course in microeconomics, statistics, and behavioral
finance because I wanted to understand how financial markets performed, and why. I did it to
satiate my unwavering curiosity and to dive deep into a complex topic.
That moment captures what homeschooling gave me: genuine ownership of my education.
Without defined schedules or next steps, I learned early to seek rigor and build structure.
When I struggled with a calculus problem or rewrote an essay three times because it still
didn’t click, there was support and a voice in my head asking how badly I wanted to
understand something- was I willing to do the work?
That question reshaped everything. Gaps became problems to solve, and I enjoyed devoting
my curiosity and interests to serving others. In Search and Rescue, I taught myself how to
code drone mapping software because search teams needed every tool possible to help save
the lives of those lost in the wilderness. When I founded a financial literacy nonprofit, I built
the curriculum, partnerships, and operational systems without a template because I wanted to
design financial education tools that could be customized for each audience. As a result, my
initiative has reached over 205,000 people in more than 90 countries. I’ve also served as a
Legislative Delegate, representing the voices of over 1.1 million youth statewide, and as a US
delegate to the United Nations, where I advocated for youth issues, education, and poverty
reduction.
Having flexibility gave me freedom to seek mentors, pursue college coursework, and work on
challenges beyond what I thought was possible. I became better at advocating for myself and
pursuing my ambition and curiosity everywhere it led me.
Homeschooling also demanded accountability that was impossible to sidestep. Flexible hours
mean nothing without the discipline to fill them purposefully. I learned to plan carefully,
balance long athletic training sessions and international rowing competitions against
academic deadlines, and manage ongoing projects without external reminders. When I
misjudged my time, I felt the consequences immediately and adjusted.
The most lasting shift has been getting comfortable not knowing the answer yet. I learned to
ask more insightful questions, be okay with uncertainty, and treat confusion as a starting
point. That has taken time to develop, and I continue to grow and learn.
Homeschooling didn’t give me a path. It gave me the ability to create one- and I know how to
figure out what I need, how to start before I have all the answers, and how to keep going
when things get unclear.
Empowering Homeschool Parents