Beware the Aides of March
While everyone is getting excited about St. Patrick's Day, I choose to acknowledge the Aides of March. For those of you who don't know, the Aides of March is March 15th, the day Brutus stabbed Julius Caesar to death for the "good of Rome." Supposedly, Caesar's wife had a dream the previous night, warning him to "beware the Aides of March." But of course, like most men, he didn't listen to his woman and went about his day as usual and was accordingly killed. Yes, I was homeschooled.
Speaking of which, I am actually super grateful for my status as a past home grown student. My family is very conservative and religious as well as academically intelligent, so for moral and educational priority they decided to homeschool my three younger siblings and me. I graduated high school without ever attending a single day in regular school. As an adult, some people are shocked that I was homeschooled, where others feel like it makes perfect sense. I think it's a little bit of both. On one hand, I am a very liberal person, the character of which typically seems to contrast with the conservative homeschool stereotype. However, I am also very academically inclined and possess a wide variety of somewhat nerdy interests which also fit the typical homeschooler bill.
I feel like this combination factors actually symbolizes the ideal goals of homeschooling in a somewhat ironic manner. The very fact that I was homeschooled represented the fact that my parents chose to make a stand for what they felt was important, even if it went against the common grain of society. I, on the other hand, chose to disagree with the common grain of the uptight way I was raised. Instead, I chose to follow a path of my own. Even though this past is quite different from the one I was taught to walk, I hope my parents can some day find some sort of consolation in the fact that I am not afraid to live my life in an independent manner. I have gained a lot of knowledge and opportunity by being homeschool to which I am ever so grateful. Growing up, my schedule permitted me to pursue a plethora of different activities that a regular education would have not allowed. I started selling handcrafted jewelry at consignment stores and art fairs when I was in my early teens, and by the time I was sixteen I was writing a weekly fashion column for the local newspaper. I graduated high school early and ended up reporting on Fashion Week while I was eighteen while juggling online college classes. I then started working full time and opened my Etsy shop when I was nineteen and a sophomore in college. Hopefully these accomplishments do not seem like I am bragging. I am not attempting to boast (there many more homeschoolers who have gone a lot farther than I have!), but simply demonstrate how an intense conservative upbringing can still have a positive affect on the life of someone with a different belief system and possibly give hope and encouragement to those who are in a similar position.
In an attempt to transition from standing on my royal soapbox, I would like to thank Kelly Ann Shuler Photography for collaborating with me on these photographs. I been working with Kelly since I was in high school and it was exciting for us to both experience our new and improved artistic abilities when we shot these pictures this past winter. Please be sure to check out both her website and her Facebook page. The legendary Morgan le Fey was the inspiration for these photographs. I was also inspired by Stevie Nicks, which turned out beautifully because I ended up doing a rendition of "Gold Dust Woman" later on at karaoke that evening in this ensemble. And yes, I was freezing during the shoot.
Solemnly swearing I am up to no good,
~Hope Adela
Photo: Kelly Ann Shuler Photography Wardrobe: Pink Champagne Vintage
Vintage dress, cape and jewelry.
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
Speaking of which, I am actually super grateful for my status as a past home grown student. My family is very conservative and religious as well as academically intelligent, so for moral and educational priority they decided to homeschool my three younger siblings and me. I graduated high school without ever attending a single day in regular school. As an adult, some people are shocked that I was homeschooled, where others feel like it makes perfect sense. I think it's a little bit of both. On one hand, I am a very liberal person, the character of which typically seems to contrast with the conservative homeschool stereotype. However, I am also very academically inclined and possess a wide variety of somewhat nerdy interests which also fit the typical homeschooler bill.
I feel like this combination factors actually symbolizes the ideal goals of homeschooling in a somewhat ironic manner. The very fact that I was homeschooled represented the fact that my parents chose to make a stand for what they felt was important, even if it went against the common grain of society. I, on the other hand, chose to disagree with the common grain of the uptight way I was raised. Instead, I chose to follow a path of my own. Even though this past is quite different from the one I was taught to walk, I hope my parents can some day find some sort of consolation in the fact that I am not afraid to live my life in an independent manner. I have gained a lot of knowledge and opportunity by being homeschool to which I am ever so grateful. Growing up, my schedule permitted me to pursue a plethora of different activities that a regular education would have not allowed. I started selling handcrafted jewelry at consignment stores and art fairs when I was in my early teens, and by the time I was sixteen I was writing a weekly fashion column for the local newspaper. I graduated high school early and ended up reporting on Fashion Week while I was eighteen while juggling online college classes. I then started working full time and opened my Etsy shop when I was nineteen and a sophomore in college. Hopefully these accomplishments do not seem like I am bragging. I am not attempting to boast (there many more homeschoolers who have gone a lot farther than I have!), but simply demonstrate how an intense conservative upbringing can still have a positive affect on the life of someone with a different belief system and possibly give hope and encouragement to those who are in a similar position.
In an attempt to transition from standing on my royal soapbox, I would like to thank Kelly Ann Shuler Photography for collaborating with me on these photographs. I been working with Kelly since I was in high school and it was exciting for us to both experience our new and improved artistic abilities when we shot these pictures this past winter. Please be sure to check out both her website and her Facebook page. The legendary Morgan le Fey was the inspiration for these photographs. I was also inspired by Stevie Nicks, which turned out beautifully because I ended up doing a rendition of "Gold Dust Woman" later on at karaoke that evening in this ensemble. And yes, I was freezing during the shoot.
Solemnly swearing I am up to no good,
~Hope Adela
Photo: Kelly Ann Shuler Photography Wardrobe: Pink Champagne Vintage
Vintage dress, cape and jewelry.
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
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