April 16, 2025 – What Do Homeschool Graduates Look Like?

Stephanie Morrison

Instilling Excellent Character

I recently helped put together a magazine which shares various perspectives on high school and postsecondary education. The Canadian-based publication is called the College & Career Guide for Homeschoolers, but the focus is on the greater goal of preparing our children for excellence in adulthood. Excellence isn’t about the best educational program or striving for a high-paying career. As we guide each of our children in what’s in their best interest, we discover what is most excellent for them. 

There is a quote attributed to Martin Luther King Jr. that made it into the College & Career Guide. This gave me just the right words for what I want my homeschool graduates to achieve: 

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” 

As we move our children along in their childhood and prepare them for adulthood, our goal is to equip them to be able to equip themselves with whatever they need as they move along in life. This isn’t done by filling their heads with facts and functions. Instead, the intention should be to instill in them an honorable character that is built on the strong foundation of faith in God and supported by a lifelong love of learning. 

Yes, our kids should have a wide array of knowledge to be well-equipped as they launch into adulthood, but more important is their ability to be resilient, problem-solving, integrity-focused men and women of God. 

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About the author

Pursuing her calling to help parents enjoy the responsibility of educating their children, Steph works with select clients in the home education industry and helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses from home. She and her family are perfectly placed in the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada. She loves being a homebody and building up her permaculture property. Learn more about Steph at: www.CreatingWorkandPlay.com.

What Do Homeschool Graduates Look Like?

Like climbers reaching a hard-earned summit, homeschool graduates stand with a unique perspective. They’ve developed character through daily responsibilities—not just by completing homework, but through other opportunities in and out of the home. They navigate interactions with people of all ages comfortably.

These graduates often exhibit a refreshing relationship with achievement. Whether purchasing their first car from money earned by taking on early morning shifts or buying gifts for family from summer earnings, they understand that meaningful accomplishments require sacrifice.

In a world selling instant gratification, homeschooled young people often experience a different relationship with wants versus needs. These everyday lessons foster patience, discipline, and genuine appreciation for what they have.

Those raised in a home of faith where the Bible is a priority learn that God and His Word guide them. These young adults develop a personal relationship with their Creator rather than simply inheriting their parents’ beliefs. They witness faith lived out daily even within their imperfect family. This foundation gives them stability in an uncertain world.

Homeschool graduates often enter higher education with advantages. The self-discipline they’ve developed translates to strong study habits, while their experience managing their own education fosters adaptability and academic independence. Many colleges actively recruit these students, recognizing their proven ability to learn resourcefully and take responsibility for their education. They stand as evidence that the path less traveled leads to destinations worth the journey.

About the Author:

Lenora Trembath, a retired homeschool mom, authored the award-winning “The Wisdom Answer: Equipping Teens Living in a Culture of Deception,” an interactive journal through Proverbs 1-9.

For details: https://a.co/d/eKXFjuX.

COMING SOON: “Beyond the Surface: From Empty to Purpose” – an 8-week devotional journey through Ecclesiastes for teens and young adults.

Contact: thewisdomanswer@gmail.com | Instagram: @lenoratrembath | FB: The Wisdom Answer

Todd Wilson

Familyman Ministries

They Do Brave Things

What do homeschool graduates look like? To the rest of the world, they look brave. Homeschoolers have been trained outside the box and when they graduate they want to live outside the box. This can be scary . . . at least to their parents.

While others say, “Wow, that kid is brave and mature,” the parent who homeschooled them outside the box says, “Get back in the box. Do the normal thing . . . the accepted thing. Go to college, get a degree, try to be like everyone else.” That’s scary.

In churches all across the country, high school graduates stand up on graduation Sunday and tell of their lofty plans. The inside-the-boxers say, “I’m going to college with a double major in world peace and bio‑nuclear medicine.” The outside-the-boxers (aka—homeschoolers) say, “I’m not going to college . . . I want to get on with my life and do something crazy.” They don’t say it like that. Instead, they say, “I’m working at a job” or a church secretary changes the word to “undecided” to spare them ridicule and shame.

Makes me mad.

So homeschool graduates are outside-the-boxers. They do brave things, have families, and raise the next generation of outside-the-boxers who love God and family.

From my vantage point, that’s pretty amazing. But be prepared . . . it’s scary.

Be real,
Todd

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About the author

Todd Wilson is a dad, granddad, writer, conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd’s humor and down to earth realness have made him a favorite speaker at homeschool conventions, retreats, and churches across the country. As founder of Familyman Ministries and the Smiling Homeschooler, his passion and mission are to remind dads and moms of what’s most important through weekly e-mails, podcasts (The Familyman Show & The Smiling Homeschooler), seminars, and books and products that encourage parents. Todd, and his wife Debbie, still homeschool two of their eight children (six have graduated with four married) in northern Indiana. You can read more at www.familymanweb.com.

Apply today for Bible School at Capernwray Harbour to discover Jesus Christ, and experience the transforming power of His indwelling Life. More info at capernwray.ca

Roger Smith

Where’s Waldo? And Homeschool Graduates?

Some things are hidden in plain sight. Just like Waldo, in his red and white striped shirt amongst a group of “normal” people, homeschool graduates are often undetectable.

But what do we know about graduates?

1. Colleges like them! Admissions departments across the U.S. are recruiting them like crazy because they make good college students who finish their degrees.
2. Business owners like them! They typically have a good work ethic, and solve problems independently.
3. Politicians like them! They get involved in what they believe in, regardless of their persuasion.

In reality, we don’t know as much about what homeschool graduates look like as we want to know. That is why I have assembled a team of researchers to gather fresh data on homeschool graduates, so we will have a better estimate of how homeschooling is turning out for the masses. So, stay turned for more information from my nonprofit, InvestigateImpact.com.

Personally, I encounter many impressive homeschool graduates regularly who are attorneys, business owners, flight attendants, authors, legislators, moms, educators, podcasters, lobbyists, engineers. And the list continues with masses who are also doing blue-collar jobs with excellence!

My anecdotal opinion is homeschool graduates are awesome! (Not weird, like Waldo.)

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About the author

Dr. Roger Smith is a family doctor in rural Louisiana, where he and his wife, Jan, raised four adventurous children who are all grown, making their own mark in the world. He speaks and writes on parenting issues and produces brief videos that can be found on Facebook @ParentingMattersNow.

Stacy Farrell

HomeschoolAdventure.com

When Families Do Life Together

Because there are an estimated 1.5 million homeschool graduates in America today, I’m not sure it’s possible to concisely answer the question, What do homeschool graduates look like?  

But, as the homeschool mom of two homeschool graduates who are now in their mid-to-late twenties, I can briefly answer the question, “What do my homeschool graduates look like?”

Early in our homeschooling journey, the Lord impressed upon me 1 Chronicles 12:32—to raise my sons to be men who understand the times and know what to do. Today, thanks be to God, they look like:

• Men of Character
• Critical Thinkers
• Serious Christ Followers

Shared Values

As parents, it is both our privilege and our responsibility to impart our values to our children. As Christians, it is our duty to help our children develop and defend a Biblical worldview. 

That said, free will is both wonderful and terrible depending upon how it is exercised. Despite our best efforts, there is no guarantee our children will adopt our values once they become adults. As my husband once pointed out to me, God is a perfect father and yet His children rebelled.

However, we can be encouraged by the principle (not promise) stated in Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” 

16,380 hours

It takes time to build deep and lasting friendships.

Have you seen the meme that says, “Homeschooling from kindergarten to 12th grade gives you back an average of 16,380 hours with your child!”? Because we homeschooled K-12, my sons and I lived those 16,000+ hours together. Today, we are good friends. 

Our homeschool journey was guided by a vision expressed in Scripture: What do you want your homeschool graduates to look like?

His love,
Stacy 

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About the author

Surprised by Jesus, Stacy went from an unmarried, childless, thirty-something career woman to a Christ-following wife of more than thirty years with two sons she homeschooled K-12. Author of more than twenty books—including the award-winning Philosophy Adventure and Food Prep Guide: A Plan for Money-Saving, Self-Sustaining Abundance in Hard Times—she loves to equip and encourage homeschool families. Visit her at HomeschoolAdventure.com and at FoodPrepGuide.com.

What do homeschool graduates look like? Confident, capable, and career-ready! Whether your high schooler is applying for a summer job or stepping into the workforce, How to Write a Resume on SchoolhouseTeachers.com provides the tools he needs to stand out. Through these lessons, students will master resume structure, formatting, and customization—ensuring they make a great first impression. Homeschoolers aren’t just educated; they’re prepared for real-world success!