Homeschool Scholarship Recipient Writes Letter of Thanks

March 7, 2008

Dear Bridgeway Academy and Fellow Classmates,

In September of 2002, while attending public school, I had a strong desire to be homeschooled. I was not happy and felt unsafe with the public school system. My brother had begun homeschooling about a month before, and I liked the schedule he had. He could work at his own pace and had many helpful options that he could use if he didn’t understand what he was working on.

As a result, my parents and I decided to remove me from public school and begin homeschooling. Bridgeway Academy helped tremendously through that transition. Their help and support is what allowed us to continue homeschooling from then to now, my senior year. Knowing that Bridgeway is an accredited school gave my family and I the peace of knowing that when it came time to apply to a college, my studies would be accredited.

In October of 2006, I was diagnosed with Rare Chiari Malformation. My Cerebellum had begun to press on my spinal cord. For the next seven months of my junior year of high school, I was dealing with various symptoms including pain in my head and spine, and weakness in my arms and legs. I went through many tests trying to rule out other possibilities of why I could be having these symptoms.

My parents and I hoped I did not have to have the surgery to decompress the Chiari. However, on May 30^th, 2007, I had surgery at Scottish Rite hospital in Atlanta Georgia. The Neurosurgeon had to shave off a small portion of bone at the base of my skull to allow room for my Cerebellum. I am extremely thankful to be homeschooled because I was able to rest and go to the doctor when I needed to and still keep up my studies.

For the three years prior to my diagnosis, I had been the captain of the Georgia Force home school high school Varsity cheerleading squad. Cheerleading was my passion. I have made lifetime friendships with several of my fellow cheerleaders and I was really looking forward to walking out on the football field my senior year for the senior player and cheerleader night.

I was heartbroken the day that my neurosurgeon told me that I would not be able to cheer during my senior year of high school. My mother encouraged me that God knew my heart and how much I loved cheerleading and that God would open a door for something even greater. Two weeks later, I was given the opportunity to be the head cheerleading coach for the Hebron Petite Hornets 3^rd and 4^th grade competition cheerleading squad. ?I enthusiastically accepted!

I was the volunteer head coach for the 2007-2008 competition season. I had twenty-four adorable cheerleaders. As head coach, I had to choreograph the cheer and competition routine, and mix my own music. It was a great challenge that I was able to accomplish. I never thought that I would be coaching a cheerleading squad; much less have the opportunity to make a difference in so many young girls’ lives. I loved to see the smiles on their faces when they accomplished something that they had been working really hard on.

Since I was fourteen I have wanted to become a nurse. Through my experience with having a Rare Chiari Malformation, I have a much stronger desire to become a nurse. I believe that God gave me the opportunity to work with those young girls. That experience coupled with my experience at the Scottish Rite Children’s hospital, has clarified for me that I am called to become a pediatric nurse.

I will be attending Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia this fall. With the help of Bridgeway Academy, I had no trouble gaining acceptance. They invited me to their Premier Scholarship competition where I had to write an essay and undergo an interview with two of their professors. They offered me a ten-thousand dollar scholarship per year to attend their school. Don’t ever think that being homeschooled could effect your college admission. Piedmont is the college I wanted to attend, and with Bridgeway’s help, that is where I will be attending.

My ambition of becoming a nurse has been greatly influenced by my experience of having a Rare Chiari Malformation and the opportunities that followed. I have realized that though we experience unpleasant things in our lives, it is through those times that we often gain the knowledge of how our life is to be. In my life, I hope to be a positive influence and an encourager to others because of the experiences in my life.

Thank you Bridgeway Academy for being there to support me through my home schooled years. My family and I have been blessed to have your help, since we knew nothing about homeschooling. Thank you again for all of the help and support. We could not have done this without you.

Sincerely,

Mary Hunter