I attended the Homeschool Graduation this morning. It was held in a large church auditorium, and Dr. Marvin Olasky, journalism professor and editor of WORLD magazine gave the commencement address. The graduates walked across the stage one by one, and the parents who invested so much time in their education gave out the diplomas.

Actually, I attended one of many homeschool graduation ceremonies in Houston this morning, and I didn’t exactly just attend. Engineer Husband and I presented one of the diplomas. Congratulations, Computer Guru Son!

Attendees at our particular homeschool graduation ceremony recognized over 100 homeschooled high school graduates from all over the city of Houston. By my count, there were 52 young ladies and 54 young men. I’d estimate that a good third of the graduates say that they plan to attend Texas A&M. Aggies and homeschoolers must have something in common; I’m just not sure what that “something” is.

The graduates have big plans.
Richard and Alyssa want an MBA, and Hannah will study marketing. Courtney is specifically interested in fashion marketing. Luke, too, wants to study business, and so do Jennifer and Elizabeth and Andrew and Dana
Stephanie wants to prepare for law school. Paige is looking at real estate law.
Myron and Darrell and Brandon hope to work with youth Darrell also wants to be a history professor.
Natalie is studying nursing and “preparing to one day become a wife and mother.” Chelsea’s interested in combining nursing and missions.
Christin wants to become a dietitian and personal trainer.
Charles wants to be a CPA and “help individuals and businesses apply sound Biblical principles in the area of finances.”
Molly and Devon and Sarah and Emily and Terra are all studying education, maybe preparing to homeschool the next generation? Or perhaps they’ll revolutionize public or private schools.
John wants to major in Global Security and Intelligence Studies. I hope he’s good at it; we could use some intelligent and principled intelligence agents.
Rachel loves science and plans to become a forensic investigator. Elizabeth has a similar goal. Sam’s going to study criminal justice.
Joshua will be an officer in the Army after college.
Collin’s going to be an officer in the Marine Corps; we could use a few good men there, too.
Michelle and Thomas and Jared and Julie are taking a year to learn a bit more or serve or volunteer or just work before they go to college. Not a bad idea and one I hope catches on more and more as homeschoolers show everyone that we don’t have to be enslaved to the traditional school schedules and timelines.
Lots of the kids are interested in and want to study music: Thomas and Taylor and Silem and Jonathan and Christine and Hannah and Julia and Carlee and Collins and Laura and Andrew. Homeschoolers are big into music; most of the biographies mentioned some kind of musical involvement, usually through the church.
Craig wants to start a Christian radio station for teens.
Joseph wants to combine his passions for film and music. Eric will be pursuing film making. Stuart plans to become a film writer. These guys should get together.
Alana and Sarah want to study literature, a not-so-lucrative field, but one that is full of riches nevertheless. Alison wants to teach high school English. I wish them all the best. The world needs some literary types, too.
Joel is planning to become an aerospace engineer; Hunter a chemical engineer; Aaron is studying engineering, and Ben is looking toward studying electrical and computer engineering. Trey wants to study engineering and eventually go to law school.
Matthew is headed for medical school, and so is Paige. Faith Ann plans to become a trauma surgeon. Natalie wants to be a pediatrician. Amber and Natalie might want to talk since Amber’s ambition is to become a pediatric nurse.
Ben wants a degree in architecture. Nathan might be an architect or an engineer.
Ryan’s getting a Journeyman’s license in Utilities.
Whitney plans to study Graphic Design, and Christina wants to major in Photography and Digital Media.
Susan’s goal is to become a speech pathologist in order to “serve others.”
Amy wants a triple major: mathematics, chemistry and physics. Ruthie plans to become a ballerina. Mary’s interested in interior decorating.
Alisa wants to be a missionary. Darren wants to start a skateboard ministry. Tara wants to focus on ministry and journalism. Of course, all these kids, all of them who are committed to the Lord Jesus, will be missionaries in the places and callings and jobs where God leads them to be a witness. I’m excited to see them going out to be salt in so many areas of life.

Some of these guys will achieve their goals, and others will change direction, find something even better—or worse. Some will fail, pick themselves up, and start again. They don’t mention marriage and family in their career goals, but they’re thinking about it and for most of them family will become the focus of their lives under the Lordship of Christ. It’s an inspiring thing to see young, ambitious adults who are at the same time aware of their dependence upon and need for family, friends, and God.

Pray for the graduates of 2006. They will be our leaders and our workers and our future. Those who are Christians will be His ambassadors in a needy world. I think they’ll do OK.