2025: Freedom to Wonder
Jun 01, 2025
Written by Felicity Frato, 2024 Home School Graduate
My family’s educational approach was to capture my attention by displaying beauty and virtue. This contrasts with mainstream education, bent on success for the sake of status and wealth. I was allowed to pursue my own interests, instead of having them decided for me. 1st grade science meant going to the library and leaving with an enormous stack of books about plants and animals. While I of course had a certain level of structure, it was paired with the freedom to wonder at the things I found wonderful. This freedom enabled me to enjoy life and love learning. I found beauty in so many things, which led me to a deeper knowledge and love of God.
Homeschooling made it possible to live a balanced life, with prayer, family, friends, school and work all in their proper place. With the time I saved, I made videos with my siblings, played in the backyard, explored parks, went to nature centers, and went on field trips with my friends. I cannot stress enough the liveliness and joy that freedom can put in a child.
Growing up, my mom put a large emphasis on reading as a family. We read many books including picture books, lives of the saints, Little House on the Prairie, and many more. Though I may not have realized at the time, this instilled in me a love of learning and inspired me to strive for the virtue I saw in these characters.
Homeschooling enabled me to do so much more good than I could have otherwise. I was able to develop my gift of music, and then share it with as many people as possible. I made beautiful friendships, with souls who love the beauty that I love. My senior year, I had the privilege of leading the Catholic Organization of Life, which was a crazy, beautiful, unforgettable experience.
We led a group of over 40 youth and chaperones to the National March for Life in Washington DC, which was incredibly challenging but worth every second.
I found the transition from homeschooling to college very easy. While many of my peers struggled with self-discipline and time management, I found it came naturally to me. My family is enrolled in Holy House Academy, a homeschool program that meets for classes twice a week, leaving the other three days to study at home. This model very closely replicates the structure of college life, and provided me with a seamless transition to college.
For students who are currently homeschooling, my advice would be to stay focused and pursue what you love. One of the best parts of homeschooling is the freedom to develop the skills and talents God has given you. You are not just another statistic, but a unique person with passions placed there by your Creator. Of course, take the necessary classes that you may not enjoy, but also use your time to fall in love with God’s goodness, truth, and beauty, in whatever way He reveals Himself to you.
Felicity is from Richmond, and is a student in the Integrated Studies Major, Concentrating on Classics, History, and Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas. She is the recipient of the VJ Guinan Presidential Scholarship and is in the Honors Program.
This article is republished from Volume 1 of the Annual Showcase Magazine "An Invitation to Wonder."
2025 Annual Theme | An Invitation to Wonder: A Culture of Learning at Home. Find more details on how to submit in the upcoming annual showcase magazine, more inspiration from the theme, and where to purchase a limited edition print copy of the 2025 magazine.
