The following is the speech I delivered on 5/19/12 at my homeschool graduation ceremony:  

“Thank you everybody for coming. I’ve been extremely encouraged over the past several weeks as so many of you have offered your prayers and words of encouragement as I enter this new and exciting chapter of my life.

I remember starting school 13 years ago and thinking of this day as if it was an eternity away. Things like driving a car, having a job, and standing here today receiving my high school diploma were all things I looked forward to, but I could hardly imagine what life would be like without my daily studies and summer vacation. Life has changed drastically for me over the past twelve months, and I realize this trend will only continue over the next several years. Yet unlike many graduates, I don’t fear what lies ahead; instead, I am excited to learn what blessings God has in store for me as an adult and trust His promise in Jeremiah 29:11 applies to me: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end.”

In 1 Corinthians 13:11, Paul wrote “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” As I’ve prepared for this day and new season of my life, this is one verse God has reminded me of time and time again. I understand that many of the things I’ve become accustomed to throughout my school years will no longer apply to me as an adult, such as the privilege of having an answer book to explain everything I don’t understand. Life will no doubt present me with many challenging situations throughout my future, but I resolve today to trust God in those times to fulfill His promise in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths.

Of course the accomplishment of my graduation would not even be a reality without the patience and determination of my mother over these past 13 years. She has taught me everything from learning how to read to learning how to tie my shoelace, and she deserves all of the credit for making this day a reality. I can’t begin to describe how much I appreciate her faithfulness to me and to the calling God has placed on her life to homeschool me and my sister.

I would also like to thank my sister, Bethany, for being a great sister and classmate; my aunt Shelley for coordinating so many great homeschool events with our local homeschool group; the Homeschool Foundation; and our state government for acknowledging the right of parents to educate their children at home.

Again, you’ll never know what your prayers have meant to me over these past several months and what it means to me to know I can count on your prayers in my future. I pray and trust that the days ahead will be as blessed as days gone by, and I thank God for the assurance that He will be with me every step of the way.”