As May starts and spring comes, I have realized that… I am graduated! I had really kinda forgotten about it, because we didn’t do a huge party or anything when I graduated in October 2007, and my learning hasn’t really stopped.
It is amazing to me that I have been doing school for 13 years. I mean, it is just something that has always been a part of my life. It will be kinda weird to not have to worry about school work anymore, but then again, learning (which is what school is) will never be over for me. I may be getting a diploma to prove I have completed all the “requirements”, but learning will never be over.
That is something that homeschooling allows and promotes. Learning throughout your life. Everyday is a learning experience and just because you have a diploma doesn’t mean you have to stop learning.
I don’t plan on going to college to further my learning. I plan on staying home and living everyday life and maybe getting a textbook out.
I mean, I love getting out our Mystery of History out and reading through it because I love history. Recently I have decided to read through Foxe’s Book of Martyrs just to get a closer look at my faith and how it has thrived through centuries.
I am also going to be getting an advanced accounting book and maybe advanced geometry. Maybe do a little more science, although I can’t see that I will be using it too much.
I also plan to read some parts of homeschooling books too. Some of them include:
The Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola
Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn
elijah Company Resource Guide by Chris and Ellyn Davis
Home-spun Schools by Raymond and Dorothy Moore
The Organized Homeschooler by Vicki Caruana
What Your Child Needs To Know When by Robin Sampson
The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach by Robin Sampson
Those above books and also some of my favorite resources are books I plan on reading and getting for my homeschool.
I think I would also like to get more computer technology knowledge and maybe even apprentice to be a beautician. My grandma is a super fantastic beautician and seeing as we will probably be moving by her, I would be able to apprentice under her.
I hope to further my photography skills. I hope to be getting a Canon – PowerShot 8.0MP Digital Camera. As you can see that is a nice camera, so I am pretty excited about that.
Of course, I will continue my bible reading and studying. And my literature reading. Right now I just started The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne and will be starting Rosa of Linden Castle.
I will continue to write for HSBA. I will still be moderating the Super Secret Angels.
I am going to learn how to sew better and continue doing other household things. I also need to get working on an ebook that Mom has been wanting me to do for about a year. I will still be in charge of making the grocery list and menu and going grocery shopping.
One more thing that II will be doing is helping out with the Littles schooling too. Obviously I can help with that since I will have my schooling, right? 
So all in all, learning never stops, nor should it.
If you are a homeschool senior, what are your plans for after high school? College, staying home, apprenticeship, etc?
As a homeschooling parent, what are your thoughts or plans?
I would really like to know what you think and what you are looking forward to now that your homeschool high school days are over!
I am truly blessed to have been homeschooled. Homeschooling has afforded me so many opportunities and it has also protected me from many occurrences that could have been horrible for me.
©AmandaDixon2008
This article is featured in the Carnival of Homeschooling #123. Be sure to check out the other great entries!
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Tags: Chris Davis, college, elijah company, geometry, Graduate, Graduation, Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn, high school, Home-spun Schools, Homeschool, Homeschooled, homeschooling, HSBA, Karen Andreola, Mystery of History, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Raymond Moore, reading, resources, Robin Sampson, SuperSecretAngels, teaching, Teaching the Trivium, The Charlotte Mason Companion, The Heart Of Wisdom, The Organized Homeschooler, The Scarlet Letter, Vicki Cauana, What Your Child Needs To Know When
May 5th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
I am so excited for you about your post graduate plans!!! Honestly, you will retain so much more and have some valuable life skills that many college students don’t have the time (or inclination) to pursue.
Personally, I am learning so much more with my children than I did in all of my school years. Partly because I am not as distracted with pointless, busywork and mostly because I *want* to learn!
Let me know if you get your camera.
I am anxiously awaiting my new camera too (except it’s a Nikon).
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May 5th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
The Charlotte Mason Companion is one of my favorite resources too. My copy is highlighted and underlined throughout!
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May 5th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Howdy!
I was thinking about this earlier today, well, actually, I think about it every day, my graduation party is in about three weeks, and a couple of months ago, I thought that just beyone my graduation was kind of void. I don’t have any plans for college, and now-a-days the world says that college is pretty much the only choice. Now, however, I do have a plan for this fall. The only thing is is that it is ONLY for this fall, and not beyond that (at least as far as I can see!). I am going to stay with my great-aunt, and help her take care of her foster children. Not what I expected I would be doing!
Anyway, now that this coming fall has something, I am looking beyond that thinking, wow, another void empty space. There is nothing planned for after that, either. Who knows what the Lord has in store for me.
I do want to do like you said though, and get a couple of school books to work from, although, I would NOT choose accounting or geometry!
I would do something like foriegn language, or advanced literature studies. I also might take a couple of classes at our community college NEXT fall.
Yes, finding the time for scrapbooking is the hard part! Although, I must say, that a lot of times, I choose to do other things! I am sure that whoever you are making a scrapbook for will enjoy it.
In reply to your comment, I hope I didn’t make my comment on your post sound like you hadn’t explained very well, because you did. I think I meant more that how can we ever explain it enough? I don’t think that people really realize things like that until they come to a point when they discover it for themselves, or come to a crisis where they learn how true it really is.
I was also wondering if you had any more assignments for the HSB Seniors. We won’t be seniors much longer!
Sorry for the really long comment!
Have a very bright, very cheerful….night?!
Your friend
Eyebright
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May 5th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Oh, yes. I would like to work at a couple of my hobbies, too!
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May 6th, 2008 at 1:36 am
I so enjoy reading your blog, Amanda. I love how your heart for the Lord and your family just shines so brightly!
Not to knock college, but it is good to hear from some homeschoolers who AREN’T going, because I don’t know that either of my boys plan to go to college. Which is okay with me; I just want to encourage them in whatever journey God has for them.
How exciting to have this wide-open future, awaiting life and adventure with the Lord!
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:48 am
College isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, or at least I don’t think so….I never had the desire to go to college really, because I could never pinpoint what I wanted to do, besides be a Mom, and you don’t need a degree to do that!!!
At almost 29 I am just now entering college, and only to do my medical transcriptioning course. The only reason that I am doing that is so that I can work from home, so I can be with my girls full time again. I’m lucky too that medical stuff interests me as well.
Wonderful post Hon, and I wish you all the best in your life’s endevors!! I know that you will do well, in whatever you choose to do, because you have God, and a wonderful family on your side!!!
*HUGS*
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May 6th, 2008 at 9:10 am
I’m so glad that I’m not the only one who’s not going to college!
Congratulations on finishing 13 years of school!
Yeah, I didn’t have a big party when I graduated either… just a little one with my grandparents and Aunt and Uncle.
Have a great day!
Joy
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May 6th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Graduating already? I read this and thought, it’s been a year already since I graduated, wow! Time sure flies. So true, you never stop learning, not really. Everything can be a learning experience really, it’s all how you look it at. The world is a “classroom” ( if you want to equate learning with school that is). Good luck and early congrats. College is just 1 option, just 4 year colleges aren’t everything. There’s community colleges and trade schools, you can take just classes from local colleges. There’s apprenticeships/internships, some jobs will train you in a skill, you can try a civil service test, there’s so many options people i know dont even look at. Your post reminded me of that. Have a blessed day =)
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May 6th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I can honestly say that I am so looking forward to your being here, continuing your education, working side by side with your sisters and brothers and your Dad and me!
Unlike many parents nowadays, I will be very sad the day you leave to be married and no longer are in our home with us! I will savor every moment you are here, and rejoice when God brings you to that point, but I love you being here ’til that happens.
I suppose I don’t need to add in my two-cents about how college is usually more damaging than beneficial… especially considering all you can do online from your own home for classes and running a business these days.
And, I can say that, not just because statistics prove it, but from personal experience also!
(((HUGS))) my dear!
I need to order that accounting, don’t I? We need to get Dad to get his own email, so we can send him DixonHomestead alerts!
Accounting book and new laptop! … which you didn’t mention, btw… Don’t you think that is a HUGE gift?
Love, Mom
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May 6th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
How come your friends don’t care for college and Jocelyn’s are passionate about it? LOL!
Well, I’m going into midwifery this summer. I’m just about to start an introductory corespondence course and I’ll be meeting with someone next week to talk about apprenticeship. Yay!
My parents have decided to tell everyone I’m graduating this year just so we can say so. Our church will recognize grads but other than that I’m just going to lead a normal life.
Well, normal compared to my standards.
I’m glad you liked the expelled pictures!
Heather
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May 7th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Hey Amanda!
Oh, how exciting that you are graduating soon! You must be excited! I have to agree with you that learning never ends, whether you are finished with school or not.
I loved reading about what your goals are. That was really nice!
Yeah, she was totally surprised! Which is the way we wanted it but my sisters and I thought for sure that she would find out.
The weather has been beautiful! I hope it stays like that for a few more days. But we’ll soon be needing some rain.
Well, I hope you have a wonderfully blessed day!
lots of hugs,
Jordan Lee
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May 7th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
So… I’m glad you’re still blogging.
I’m not sure whether or not I want to go to college. (Though I have six years to decide that. 
) Have fun graduating!
In Christ,
Emily
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May 7th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Congrats Amanda! I know…it is weird to think that we’ve been learning for 13 years now! Wow!! And you are so right, learning should never stop. Thanks for that reminder!
I’ll be going to college next year, but I’ll be living at home (a fact for which I am extremely thankful!!).
Brianna
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May 8th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Congratuations on reaching that finish line. But as you yourself said, you never stop learning. Here I am a homeschooling mom, and I’m learning more than ever by preparing lessons and reading LOTS of books to get ready to teach. My kids aren’t graduating yet, but we’re getting close!
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May 12th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I am in awe of your writing. I read your article about getting your diploma and it is so inspiring to me. I homeschool my 1st grader and preschooler, and love to hear success stories like yours! It gives me hope. You are a lover of Christ and a great example to the homeschool community. I am proud of you (and I don’t even know you!). I’d love a comment on my blog from yesterday about Homeschool Diplomas, if you have time. Remember, I’m a rookie at this homeschooling thing…www.whitakerlegacy.blogspot.com. Thanks! Renee
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