Natalie Marie Nyquist
Graduated: June 9, 2002
A Love of Learning
by Natalie Marie Nyquist, 2004
As I rose to leave the office of my advisor/theology professor he spoke a sentence that summed up one of the greatest blessings homeschooling has given me. “I am so glad that your parents brought you up with a love of learning. You are a hard worker and you study hard and it shows. You really enjoy learning and that is going to pay off later in life.” I smiled at him in thanks as I left, his closing words echoing in my mind as I started down the hallway. “It is encouraging to see students who truly love to learn. That is a rare gift.”
What could I say? I love to learn. When a subject catches my interest I will search out as much as I can about it and have a blast doing so. This summer I am going to East Asia as an English teacher and on top of my regular coursework I have been giving myself a crash course on the culture I will be visiting. History, modern trends, Christianity’s influence, food and the arts…I cannot learn enough about this country. Such work is pleasure to me.
Many other homeschoolers feel the same way, I’m sure. Blessed by God with parents who took the responsibility for our education seriously enough to make sacrifices of themselves for our benefit, raised to live life responsibly and actively, we homeschoolers are gifted with tremendous potential for our future work. In my opinion, those with a wonderful homeschooled childhood have been given the ideal training ground for a life of effective ministry unto the Lord.
Back in the late 80’s there were not many homeschoolers where we lived, but after I attended a public school for kindergarten my mother began to seriously consider homeschooling. Some homeschooling moms with experience were mentors to her (a responsibility and privilege she now carries for many other young moms just beginning the journey!) and at the end of my first grade year I asked Mom to homeschool me just as all the pieces fell into place. I never wanted to return to “real school” as we called traditional institutions—I absolutely loved and thrived in my new environment. Now one of the things I most look forward to in my future is the joy of teaching my own children and rediscovering the adventure of learning with each of them.
I graduated from high school in June of 2002 and by working through the summers am now about to be a senior in college, planning to graduate with my Bachelors in Advanced Biblical Studies in May of 2005. Though I always appreciated being homeschooled, since entering college I have been more grateful than ever. Several friends who had attended a public school would once in a while marvel at me because I had a self-assurance and innocence that they were unused to. They said it was clear that I had been homeschooled and quickly added that this was a compliment. 
While I do not know all the reasons they appreciated this, I am grateful for the sheltering I received from the filth of the world. There is a time and place to be exposed and learn to combat such, but as a young child I was sheltered and able to grow strong without being constantly attacked by unnecessary evil in the forms of TV, movies, music, and peer activities. Also interesting to me is how I naturally was drawn to certain friends at every college I’ve attended, and it was not until I had bonded and begun to grow close to those people that we realized that we had both been homeschooled. When this phenomenon occurred recently for about the dozenth time I just had to shake my head and say, “I should have known.”
Not only was this parental protection during childhood healthy, but I also was given freedom to experience things I never could have otherwise. Personally I never grieved over “missing out” on social events like prom, football games, or even choir or sports. I’ve attended a few formals in college and they are fun but I can think of much more wonderful things I enjoyed in high school (like a fancy dinner date with my dad or the awards banquet for our homeschool group). Our church provides all the extracurricular activities I could ever desire, and my brothers play on a sports team that is top-notch. We missed out on nothing and gained so much more.
Like the chance to do ministry from a young age alongside our parents. I was blessed with the opportunity to visit Switzerland and Morocco with my parents the summer before my sophomore year in high school and have been on fire about overseas missions ever since. My other brothers have visited Switzerland and Argentina, and we all do ministry right here that is training us for a lifetime of service. Taking care of missionary kids while their parents are in training, or working in the church kitchen or teaching Sunday School: these activities have eternal significance because they are done for God’s glory! These are things you cannot learn in a traditional classroom setting.
My two years since finishing high school have been full, but the transition was a smooth one—for the most part. First I spent a year in Chicago at Moody Bible Institute, but in the spring of 2003 I came home and have been happily with my family ever since. I fully intend to live with my family until I am married, and am very thankful to be finishing my bachelor’s degree (I am currently attending Calvary Bible College while living at home.)–a requirement before I could get married. That incentive along with my natural drive and love for learning has made the classes mostly fun for me. I get excited when I register for new classes and enjoy opening new textbooks. It is a wonderful feeling to complete a major research project and look over your work, realizing how much you have accomplished.
Even more sweet is the fulfillment of having a close relationship with my parents (to whom I feel free to tell any and everything) and three brothers (who are about my favorite people to be with). Some of my ministries are teaching Sunday school, photography work for our church, informal counseling with teenage girls, and writing for various ministries. I work as a nanny to a couple adorable neighbor children, I taught ballet to high school girls, and I write/edit constantly. Life is good. Did homeschooling prepare me for a profitable and excellent life? You’d better believe it.
The Nyquist family in 1992 dressed up for a Medieval Feast their homeschool group held at church. They played games, saw a broad-sword battle, and were visited by knights in armor!
Family holds preeminence; homeschooling provides wonderful opportunity to build your closest friendships within your family. Natalie (20) with her homeschooled cousins Elissa (left) and Erin (right) on Christmas 2003.
One of the benefits of homeschooling was the freedom to develop talents and interests and use those hobbies for ministry. Natalie shot hundreds of pictures for her brothers’ homeschool basketball team, including this one of her 16-year-old brother Carson on the court at Calvary Bible College, where she now attends. Siblings of the players flock to support the team, which was coached that day by another homeschool graduate.
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