Joyce Suh Choi

(English and Homeschool Advisor of HSA)

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"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott.

“I wanted freedom, open air, adventure.  I found it on the sea.” – Alain Gerbault

The world is a big place.  Everyone is both a student of life and the captain of their own ship.  We are from various origins and are headed to different destinations.  Paths may cross, but we must navigate our own course.   Learning how to sail our own ship is a good analogy for taking control of our life’s decisions so we can be well prepared to face storms and help others along the way.  

Although our educational journey started in a traditional school, we charted our own course when we started homeschooling 4 years ago.  Choosing this path was tough and it didn’t promise smooth sailing, but it did offer a sense of freedom and adventure. 

Which of us hasn’t imagined our own version of freedom?

The concept of freedom is universal and personal.  In the context of homeschooling, the allure was being able to command our time and resources in ways that were tailored to our boys.  Even in my class of two, each child had drastically different needs, interests and abilities.  Thanks to the friendship of experienced educators, we experimented with so many  pedagogies.  The true beauty of education is the ability to share what you have learned in the hopes of igniting another mind; a collaboration.  Even this very book is a powerful collaboration in the dialogue of education.  

Alongside our pursuit of academic knowledge, homeschooling has allowed us the freedom to break away from traditional roles;  countless times, my children had become my teacher. We also gave ourselves the grace to fail as many times as was needed, transmuting failure into a stepping stone towards understanding.  We used plenty of time to reflect on our weaknesses, equal time evaluating our strengths, and carved out space to develop self awareness around our burgeoning values.

We were greatly encouraged by other homeschool educators,  who charted their own course, generously shared their knowledge with us, and threw us lifelines when the way became dark.  When we faced societal pressures and uncertainties about the future, we looked inward; we began a discovery about ourselves.   All families will have unique experiences to share; as long as we remain open hearted, we can enrich discussions and broaden perspectives for everyone.  We started this journey as a family in Hong Kong.  Over time, it has been a privilege to build true friendships across many different schools and countries.         

A personal goal of mine is to lead my children to feel empowered by self-education and equip them with the confidence to continue on when the way is not paved.  The S.A.I.L.S framework has continually helped us grow and  build our confidence on our journey.

S.A.I.L.S. 

Set a Course: Exploring who we are; our likes and dislikes, defining goals and directions, discovering new horizons and possibilities.

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Adjust the Sails: Adapting to circumstances and challenges, growing our skill set, developing situational awareness.

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Interpret the Winds: Staying aware of opportunities and threats.

LeaderShip: Taking control of our actions and decisions, responsibility for our choices.

Secure the Anchor: Knowing when to pause and reflect, reaching out for help when needed, gaining confidence and independence.

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In addition to all this, we have to remember to celebrate the wins; big and small.  Being able to honour everyone’s uniqueness creates a rich and diverse learning environment.  What unique lesson have you learned from others?  What insights have you gained from our own journey that you would like to share?