Sara (Boon) Du Preez, class of 2007
During my last year in highschool, I took a summer crash-course in linguistics and loved it so much I went on to complete a bachelor’s-degree-worth of the stuff. Through one of my Dad’s old friend, I ended up becoming involved in language development in Nepal. There I had the great privilege of working with minority language speakers to document and preserve their own languages. (Often, before language communities realize, their langauge can die out because their kids go to school and work using the national langauge. It only takes one generation to doom a language, but it becomes a source of regret for all of the generations of that community). Most of the time I lived in the capital city, Kathmandu, but I also got to take some amazing hikes in the Himalayas.
After being in Nepal a while, I realized that my linguistic skills weren’t quite up to the challenge; there were still lots of things I didn’t know! I enrolled another linguistics program in Thailand, since that area also has many Tibeto-Burman languages (and the price of university is much cheaper!!) About 2 months before I left Nepal, however, there was a massive earthquake with many deadly aftershocks. Lots of foreigners scrambled to leave on any available flight and lots of relief workers came flooding into the country. I happened to meet a relief worker (a very charming one) at the immigration office when I went to renew my visa. As it turned out, he usually lived in the city I was leaving to in just 2 months! We kept in contact and he picked me up at the airport when I arrived in Thailand. We were married the next year, and now, 4 years later in Thailand, we are expecting our first baby. (I also finished my master’s degree in linguistics and work as an instructor in a communications department, but a little kiddo on the way is more exciting at the moment 😉)
Emily (Roetcisoender) Hepler, class of 2014
While in high school, I took classes at home, at Homeschool Connections, and at Cascade College through Running Start. Homeschooling allowed me the time to both study and explore a variety of interests (music, theater, and soccer, etc) giving me a more well-rounded education. I then attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan where I graduated with a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology. This was followed by a move back to Washington state where I accepted a job in Wenatchee as a Speech Language Pathologist. Before starting work, I fulfilled one of my travel dreams by touring six European countries in three weeks with my dad. Now I am at a sub-acute rehabilitation facility working with older adults who have dementia, suffered a stroke, and/or struggle with cognitive deficits, speech difficulties, and swallowing disorders. My job looks different every day and keeps me on my toes, challenging me to always keep learning.
Galen Carlson, class of 2011
After graduating from Connections, I attended the University of Washington and pursued a career in Architecture. With the balance it strikes between mathematical problem solving and creative expression, Architecture was the perfect fit for my love of logic and my penchant for creativity. After receiving a Bachelors of Arts in Architecture in 2014, I worked as a designer in Redmond, WA for a year before moving to Portland, OR to continue my studies in a graduate program at the University of Oregon. In 2017 I received a Masters of Architecture with a specialization in Urban Design.
Because the focus of my graduate studies was on Sustainable Design, I was highly interested in finding a position at a firm with an environmentally responsible mission to their work. Since 2017 I have been working as a Designer at McLennan Design, one of the world’s leading regenerative design firms, located on Bainbridge Island. Our work at McLennan Design covers many fields within the design industry – from architecture to product design to sustainable design consulting – and addresses projects of highly varied size and scope. Regardless of the project type, we strive to deliver the highest level of environmentally and ecologically responsible design. In 2006, our firm founder and CEO Jason F. McLennan founded the Living Building Challenge, the most rigorous set of building performance standards in the world, which endeavors to look at buildings holistically, equitably, and responsibly. Every project that comes through our doors at McLennan Design aspires to meet this Living Building Challenge, and we are constantly seeking new ways to promote innovation and sustainable strategies within the architecture, construction, and design industries.
Joshua Yamamoto, class of 2012
I first first felt called to seek a career in the US Marines at the end of my sophomore year in high school. While in college, I participated in the ROTC program for one and a half years. There, I gained valuable insight as to what a career in the Marines would entail, and the many paths available to becoming a Marine officer. In 2017, I graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Management of Information in 2017. After having completed Officer Candidate School, I was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marines.
Following my commission, I attended one year of training as a designated Communications officer. Currently I am stationed at Cherry Point in North Carolina with deployment possibilities to the Mediterranean.
Highlights include: achieving qualification as expert sharpshooter, participating in helocasting exercise—jumping out of helicopter above water and swimming to shore, riding in the president’s helicopter (without the president), working with the Ambassador of Yemen for the State department, and training with foreign officers from Great Britain, Gambia, Zambia, and Mexico.
Lucas Britsch, class of 2018
I am currently on my way to study at one of the best musical theatre schools in the country, College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, and it is mainly due to the fact that I homeschooled.
Homeschooling gave me the ability to experiment and spend my time on the things I was passionate about. It allowed me to move forward and progress rapidly. The amount of flexibility my parents and I had while crafting my education helped me grow in the areas I really wanted to grow in. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Emily, class of 2017
Our homeschooling journey included a lovely daughter with special needs. In fact, we homeschooled all seven of our children through high school and it was a powerful demonstration of God’s love and provision. Homeschool Connections was a vital component to our children’s education. At Connections, Emily was valued and appreciated just as every other student. She was “Super Star” in Raven Science and she found her “voice” in Praise Choir. Emily would say that her most meaningful experience was becoming a full-fledged actor in Aladdin, Much Ado About Nothing, and (who could imagine?) Les Miserables! Emily has continued her studies at the Alyssa Burnett Center where she takes cooking and baking classes, and of course drama.
David Wescott, class of 1998
My name is David Wescott, I was homeschooled from grade school through graduation. Today I own a national general contracting business called Transblue. We provide over 62 construction services to brands such as Costco, Starbucks, Walmart, REI, Safeway, Marriot, Pizza Hut, and Dunkin Donuts. Our business covers all 50 states and Canada, Mexico, Portico, and Guam. At any given time we have up to 7,500 subcontractors working on projects for us. We recently launched a franchise model of our business which has been widely successful. We are very proud of our Christian business and the services that we perform. Our business values are God, family, and then business. We believe in helping to spread the Gospel by giving to Christ-first organizations. Last year we helped support approximately 135 different mission groups around the world through nearly $450,000.00 in global giving. This year we launched a non-profit called M-Bridge, whose goal is to come along amazing ministries and connect them with champions who will help them reach their financial, administrative, and geographic goals. Truly every great thing we are able to help with is because of Gods amazing provision. We are so blessed by him. All the glory to God!
Being homeschooled allowed me to become a successful business man because my mind was not influenced by the values of the world. I was put into an environment that allowed my values to grow without hindrance. I learned to be a free thinker who thought out side of the box. I was able to take biology without the impact of evolution, which greatly influenced the way I think of creation and God’s impact in our world. I learned to work hard and focus on my goals. I do not believe I would have obtained these attributes in the public school system. I had amazing parents who helped me understand it was okay “not to be like the other kids in public school”. We are called to be a light to the world and homeschooling helped give me confidence to be that light. I believe in homeschooling so much that my wonderful wife Aimee and I are committed to homeschooling our Kids, and our four year old daughter Madalyn and two year old son Dave are attending Connections this year. I am so grateful for everything I was taught and learned at Connections! Enrolling your kids is truly investing in their future.
Tobin Schindler, class of 2009
After graduating from Homeschool Connections, I went on to study Cello Performance at Western Washington University where I graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree. While in undergrad, I had success within the music community, winning a local music competition my freshman year and the university’s concerto competition during my sophomore year. Following my graduation from Western, I moved to the Kitsap peninsula to teach music with the organization Homeschool Strings. During that same year, I applied to several schools to pursue a graduate degree in music and consequently accepted an offer to attend DePaul University in Chicago. Grad school gave me the opportunity to hone my skills in an encouraging environment that enabled me to focus solely on that which I went to study. I graduated with a Master of Music in Cello Performance and initially, I worked at Domino’s Pizza between gigs. Eventually, my network and my teaching studio grew and I am able to rely on music as my source of income. Since moving to Chicago, I have had the opportunity to play with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Skokie Valley Symphony, BoHo Theater, Innocenti Strings, and on the worship team at my church. I live and work around the Chicago area but I still visit my family in the Seattle area whenever I can.
Josiah Popp, class of 2015
The roots I grew in the Homeschool Connections community have anchored me to Christian principles in a turbulent world, without committing the error of stifling my curiosity. The structure of Connections gave me the flexibility to pursue my education in tandem with my other passions such as soccer, baseball, and competitive debate. As of 2019, I am a senior at Concordia University Irvine, where I have worked on several military research projects covering topics such as sixth century Byzantine naval operations, Orthodox Christian imperial political theory, and strategic assessments for modern-day weapon system deployments to South Korea. My latest and most intensive research project focuses on forecasting Russia’s future territorial targets beyond former Soviet states, which was recently awarded first place in CUI’s Presidential Academic Showcase and is currently under review by the DC-based think tank the American Enterprise Institute for a research grant. After college, I will attend the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School. The culture of Connections is imbued with the virtues of “harmony and affection” extolled by President Jefferson, without which, as he noted, “liberty and even life itself are but dreary things”. Indeed, without such social fabric and Christ-centric learning, even the highest of our academic pursuits doom us to emptiness.
Mary Pelton, class of 2004
I began attending Homeschool Connections in high school. Having been homeschooled my entire life, it was refreshing to take classes like chemistry and economics, which can really come alive in a classroom setting. It was equally wonderful to participate in classes like band, yearbook, and drama, which are much more fun (and much more possible…) in a group setting. I absolutely loved the years I was at Connections – the friendships that were formed and the education that I experienced with a new vibrancy were invaluable.
After (and during) high school, I attended Everett Community College, taking advantage of the Running Start program. While at EvCC, I became involved in student government, which culminated in becoming the ASB President in my final year. I transferred to Western Washington University, where I completed my B.A., then graduated with my M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology. I got married several weeks later, and then started a job as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the Everett School District (where I rode my very first school bus at the age of 25!). I worked for several years at the high school level and several years at the elementary level, which I loved, but ultimately I resigned so I could be with my family full-time once our third child was born.
Having experienced firsthand the advantages and opportunities available in homeschooling from an educational, interpersonal, and moral standpoint, I had always hoped to homeschool my own children as long as it worked for our family. We’ve been homeschooling for several years, and I am excited to now be back at Connections with my four children in this new capacity – formerly a student, now a parent!
If you have a student story you’d like to share, we’d love to hear it! You can contact us at president@connectionsnw.org.