Apples of Gold Home School News

     One of my adult children recently made the realization that you have to put in the time to get your education one way or another. While some kids may balk at going on to school for 4, 6, or even 8 years and more after high school, and prefer to join the work force rather than invest that time in further schooling, others are quick to head off to college the moment they graduate from high school. Either way, they'll both likely find themselves heading into an educational experience. Anyone who joins the work force usually starts out at the bottom and spends a length of time climbing the company ladder, or going from job to job, enhancing skills along the way until they are finally qualified for some higher level in the employment structure. This can take months or years. In the same way, someone who goes to college to gain a degree must put in the years and work. So, there's a price to pay, either through on the job training, in the school, online, or through life experience.

     Helping our teens understand this truth is one thing that we, as parents, can do to encourage them as they seek out the best path before them.

     The second thing we can do to encourage them, is to help them realize that none of the time spent is likely to be wasted. For example, my young adult has already gotten a two-year certificate in a chosen field and has gone on to work for over three years in that field. Now, however, he's reached a point that he's considering a career change. Whether he decides to do that or not, none of the past five years have been wasted. He will be able to apply not only his past education, but his life experience well into whatever he chooses to do. He's gained valuable experience, knowledge, insight, and skill which will continue to serve him well. He can look at the previous years as part of the journey to whatever future God has planned for him.

     I, myself, chose to discontinue college when my husband and I began to raise a family. Learning didn't cease, however. My education has become a life-long adventure, as has yours, simply by pursuing dreams, goals, part time jobs, and being involved in church roles, in community action, and with family. And especially through homeschooling.

     It's been unfortunate that society has taken so long to begin recognizing the various means in which people are educated and can qualify for jobs. For generations, it seems that the only measurement of qualification has been the brick and mortar college degree. I think that now, however, that is beginning to change. While attending college is still the important and right choice for many, acheivements via other avenues are beginning to become more recognized. Through a resurgence in apprenticeship (thank you, very much, homeschoolers!), to online courses, community classes, documenting life experience, on the job training, military experience, and so on, education happens. And sometimes the more diverse that education is, the more interesting the resume grows.

    Students or parents: here's a cool resource to help you pursue higher education. This site offers FREE online classes in a wide number of disciplines. Most courses are taught at college level. http://www.free-ed.net   Also: keep on eye on Apples of Gold News for future updates on a new site which plans to offer FREE courses and encouragements for the homeschooled student who loves (or maybe doesn't love) to write. This new site is still in the works, but will be hosted by 8 writers from around the United States who also happen to be home school advocates.