Well, this is it. I have completed high school and received my diploma. It sure is a wonderful feeling. Last week I posted my plans. So, I will not repeat them.

The graduation ceremonies were both very nice. The one on Friday night was kind of like a baccalaureate service. The fathers of the graduates gave their sons a charge. (A charge is a challenge and admonishment to walk in the fear of the Lord (among other cautions).) My dad gave an excellent charge taken entirely from scripture. He was in full-time ministry for 9 years and he knows his Bible well. His charge was as follows.

Character and Doctrine
I Timothy 4:12
Erik, Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity….

Watch your life and your doctrine closely…For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus who gave Himself a ransom for all

We strongly urge you, lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and all reverence.
Be a faithful man of God, be a man after God’s own heart. We encourage you to be blameless, temperate, sober minded, of good behavior, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous….

(read entire charge here)

On Saturday night we had an event with our home school group. I had the opportunity to deliver a speech toward the end of the commencement service. The speech was as follows.

Graduation Speech

Well I don’t have the Alf mask with me today but… …then again, I don’t need a hair cut.

I have had the unique experience to have been home schooled all the way up through high school. My parents made the choice to home school and I have been taught at home from kindergarten through twelfth grade. I know they made the right choice for me. The home is the training ground and launching pad for the future. Any success I may have in the future will be due, in part, to the guidance and education I received in the home.

The home school learning experience ranges far beyond just book work. Yes, we have our books of math, physics, language, etc. But, many crucial lessons in life can not be learned from the “books.” Work ethic, diligence, thoroughness, and integrity can not be instilled through classical arts. Over the years the boys in our family have been able to spend time working with Dad. The older ones have spent the most time working with him. However, the younger ones have always looked forward to the days when they get to, “go to work with Dad.” I can not stress enough the benefit it has been to learn by working alongside Dad. Especially when the job was hard!

Besides running the home and managing the everyday tasks, Mom is a great encourager. When we run into something new and hard, Mom is right there encouraging us and telling us to press on. You know, it’s easy to loose sight of the objectives and just get bogged down in the mundane, but she really helps me see the goal that’s ahead and get an all important fresh perspective.

Last year our family received the tenth addition as far as children goes. I am often asked, “What’s it like to live in such a big family?” Perhaps it is best described by sharing what it is like around our home. Obviously, there is a lot of work to do and it is only done when we do our share and more. The more comes from the younger ones who can’t yet do their share. Yes, there are challenges that are unique to a big family. Like you might not get your shower until nine or ten at night and you might be out of hot water. (And if you take too long in the shower you might be in hot water.) But, with the work and responsibilities, there are also unique pleasures and joys growing up in a big family. For example, we don’t have to call the neighbors over when we want to play volley-ball. Most importantly, however, the home school learning experience has enabled me to build deeper relationships with my siblings (relationships which I will value for the rest of my life).

Finally, I would like to encourage all the students and teachers who are schooling at home. Parents, I know it is a sacrifice to choose to home school, but the benefits and end results far outweigh the costs. Students, I just encourage you all to stick with it. Work hard, apply yourselves to your studies, and you will reap the benefits. In a time when the main institutions of education are often failing, I am firmly convinced that home schooling is the better option.

Erik Brown June 7, 2008

Congratulations to all the senior graduates who may be reading this. God Bless.

Erik Brown