Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Do you ever wonder how homeschool graduates view their high-school-at-home experience? Find out today on Home School Heartbeat, with Home School Legal Defense Association President Mike Smith.

Mike Smith:


With me today is Marybeth Clemmer, who was homeschooled through high school and now attends Patrick Henry College. Marybeth, now that you're a college student, is there anything you would have done differently, or liked to have done differently, during your high school years to prepare you for college?


Marybeth Clemmer:


Well, I guess the short answer to that question is no. I know my high school education wasn't perfect, but I really felt like it did prepare me for the academic environment I would face in college. I think there were some areas we could have strengthened, though, in our homeschool curriculum. For instance, I never really read ancient classics, things like Homer and Aristotle and Dante. And I felt like I also could have been more prepared to research on a very narrow topic when writing a research paper, rather than a broad topic like a biography of someone's life.


But I think some of the things my parents did that really helped me feel ready for college were making me feel a sense of responsibility for my education. I knew that if I was going to actually learn something, it was up to me to make sure that happened, as much as they gave me oversight and helped me pick out curriculum and stuff. But mostly they gave me a lot of support and they let me know that no matter what decisions I made for my future, whether I was going to go to college or what college I was going to go to, they would support me. They'd let me make that decision, but they would give me their support. And I knew that if I ever failed at something, their support would be just as undying then. So that helps me even today in college.


Mike:


Well, thank you, Marybeth. That is a very helpful perspective. And until next time, I'm Mike Smith.