Spring 2018

SPRING 2018

HOMESCHOOL IOWA 13

High Flyer

Anderson Sebastian Ott shares a sense of humor and honesty

when asked about his life. “My father’s two grandmothers’maid-

en names were Anderson and Sebastian, but you can call me

Andy,” clarifies Ott. “I can juggle. I am a pilot. I play piano and

viola. I’m a passionate believer in cryptocurrencies and their po-

tential to change the way finance works in the world. If you, dear

Homeschool Magazine Reader, haven’t heard of Bitcoin, please

go and look it up.”

Ott claims he makes a perfect cup of hot chocolate and will win

all nap championships. He and Mackenzie, his wife, are raising

their young children in Wisconsin. “I work a 24.5-hour shift every

third day as an Airport Operations Coordinator at the La Crosse

Regional Airport. I perform FAA and TSA-required inspections on

my shift. I am also the firefighter on the field.”

Following his homeschool graduation in Iowa, Ott enrolled at

Calvin College in Michigan to major in physics. “I realized that

I didn’t want to continue with that major, because most of the

physics-related careers were either teaching, researching, or be-

coming an engineer. None of those interestedme. I dropped out

during what would have been my sophomore year and worked

full time at Village Creek Bible Camp. My junior and senior years

of college were at the University of Dubuque. I graduated from

UD in May of 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Man-

agement. I chose UD because I had always been interested in

aviation and because it was in my hometown, which meant I

could live with my parents and not pay rent. (My parents did

offer up a few complaints about me returning home, but on the

whole, I don’t think they minded having me around).”

Faith filled Ott’s home and as well as his educational years. “My

parents were my primary spiritual teachers. I fully reject the pub-

lic opinion that homeschooling creates socially inept people.

Most of my friends in high school were homeschooled, simply

because they were the people I had the most interaction with

on the cross-country team, the theater groups, dances, and

spring senior banquet. I was also in the Dubuque Youth Sym-

phony and volunteered in community theater over the years. A

favorite memory from high school was my two-year study for

English using the Lord of the Rings book series.”

“I took a year off college to do some soul-searching, but the

coursework I com-

pleted at the com-

munity college while

in high school was

credited. My parents

did a really great job

getting me the prop-

er social contact with

all sorts of people as

they supervised my

education.”

Future Decision Maker

MeetDavidKing, homeschooled

from third grade through his

high school graduation, is a self-

described hiker and traveler. “I

work as an Admissions Advisor

at the University of Wisconsin-

Platteville. My job requires me

to be on the road visiting high

schools and community colleg-

es in eastern Iowa and western

Illinois meeting with students

who may be interested in at-

tending UW-Platteville. I enjoy

my job and the territory I cover.”

King’s

educational

background is as di-

verse as his job. The

traditions and expe-

riences his parents

provided formed the framework that has guided him to other

countries and back to Iowa.

“My mom used unit studies for our schooling and added things

she thought would enhance our education. We compared vol-

canic activity in Yellowstone and Iceland. The homeschooling

group made and ate Icelandic food, studied its history and cul-

ture, and studied the geology. Another year we made a working

shark target and sent it to a research facility in Florida. I remem-

ber using a stylus that we carved to do math in the Mesopota-

mian tradition.”

These early international studies ignited David’s desire to travel.

“I was born in a suburb of Chicago. And each time our family

moved, it was to own more land. Our family finally ended up

with a 30-acre hobby farm in northern Illinois. We had horses,

cattle, llamas, goats, and chickens. I learned the value of chal-

lenging work and the responsibility that comes from caring

for livestock. I showed cattle at the World Beef Expo and won

several Grand Championships. I met with national and state

leaders to discuss importing and exporting beef. Those years

of traveling and geography lessons sparked my interest to visit

the world. After high school, I choose North Central College in

Naperville, Illinois, because of their highly- rated international

studies program. Studying in China and Japan provided oppor-

tunities to meet friends that I still have today. We had 12 interna-

tional friends over for Thanksgiving Dinner last fall.”

Students don’t live in a vacuum. “My home education included

biblical character development. We did a lot of group activities

for 4-H and other social groups. My friends come from all walks

of life. My family helped shape my faith as a child. My Christian

worldview is based on living a Christ-like life, knowing it is im-

possible to do, but I must try. I will never have all the answers,

but my journey is one of growth.”

Mr. King earned a Master’s degree in Adult Education from the

University of Wisconsin-Platteville and offers these words to

homeschoolers, “I encourage any student to reach outside their

comfort zone and explore areas of interests they may not be fa-

miliar with. Gain confidence in acquiring new skills. Reach out

and meet new people. Everyone has a purpose. Find yours.”

CONTINUED PG 25

Beyond The Homeschool Years

CONTINUED FROM PG 9

AIRPORT OPERATIONS

C O O R D I N A T O R

Andy tt

ADMISSIONS ADVISOR

David King