A gift your children and community will never forget.

Not long ago, a friend and fellow Acton owner asked me a question that has stayed with me.

"How much would it be worth for your child to get an education?"

I imagine we would all answer that differently.

Then he paused and asked a second question: "But how much would it be worth for your child to discover a calling?"

In that moment, he captured the heart of my journey, and what ultimately led us to Acton.

On paper, I had been a "successful" student. But looking back, what I remember most is something else entirely: despite success by external measures, I finished my educational experience with no real sense of purpose, direction, or ownership over my learning. School had become a game, figuring out how to get the A with the least effort.

When it came time for our daughter to begin school, we couldn't shake the feeling that there had to be something more. We explored everything: public, private, homeschool, and innovative models. But most still followed the same basic pattern: adults directing, children receiving.

Then a friend handed us Courage to Grow. As I read, something came alive. It felt like someone had put words to what we had been sensing but couldn't fully articulate. Learning could be driven by curiosity, purpose, and even joy.

That discovery set us on a different path.

Today, we lead Acton Academy Northwest Indianapolis, and I can honestly say it has changed the trajectory of our family's life.

What we experience each day is hard to fully capture. It shows up in moments that don't fit on a transcript, but if you have eyes to see them, are far more beautiful and powerful than a grade could ever be. The spark of joy in the eyes of a learner as she shares something she created. A child finding their voice for the first time in a Socratic discussion. Learners working through conflict with honesty and respect. A breakthrough that comes only after persistence and struggle. Older learners stepping in to serve younger ones without being asked.

To be clear, Acton is not easy. It will challenge you. Change you, even.

But if you feel that tension, that sense that education could be something more, I'd encourage you to take one more step.

As parents, we all want the very best for our children's education. It's easy to stay comfortable when things seem "okay." But I learned the hard way that "okay" can come at a high cost when our children aren't empowered to lead their own learning.

I wanted my children to be independent, to speak up, to solve problems, and change what they didn't like. But I realized school wasn't helping them take charge, and I found myself doing it for them. How can a child learn to make decisions, take risks, and feel confident when they're told what to do all day? When someone is fixing everything for them?

It shouldn't be normal for a fifth grader to live with anxiety and fear of failure. It shouldn't be okay for a second grader to disconnect from learning and seek attention by retreating to the nurse's office. It isn't right for a curious five-year-old to be forced to sit still all day and conform.

That love for our children pushed my husband and me to start an Acton in Guatemala. We knew the road would be hard, but 14 years in, it's been the best decision of our lives.

Acton has been transformation, for our children and for me as a parent and educator. I've watched them discover their voices, develop habits of courage and curiosity, and learn to thrive on their own.