"I wanted to thank you for being so supportive over the years.  I am so thankful my parents found your school.  It has been exactly what I needed to learn all that I have.  You gave me freedom to be who I want to be and learn in a way that was right for me.  Thank you for following your dream to help others find their dreams!  Best wishes to you. ~Jacqueline, 2012 graduate, Ellisville, MO USA

"I just wished to briefly express my satisfaction with West River Academy to all of those who are contemplating on whether or not it would be a good decision to commit to this form of schooling or not. I can say with 100% conviction that everything that is stated in the website, especially in regards to the method of graduation and what it entails, is completely true and valid. I was amazed at the ease of the actual process and was very thankful to have a guide as wonderful as Peggy there to help ease my worries and answer any questions I had. I cannot express enough my gratefulness to Peggy for giving me the chance to show that I am still capable of being a successful student and learner, regardless of my homeschooling status.

"When I started on this course, I was still unsure of what to expect. To tell you the truth, I had doubts about how good the Academy truly was since it sounded too good to be true. But as time passed, all of my concerns were put to rest and in the end I got exactly what was said.

"This alternative to regular schooling gave me the freedom to create my own curriculum and scheduling according to what my needs and situations were and got rid of all of the anguish and stresses that families usually seem to experience when going through the schooling system. Yet my WRA Graduation Diploma and Transcript have still turned into the essential tools with which I have now been able to be accepted into all of the colleges that I was working towards gaining entrance in.

"I managed to gain admittance into the University program I had been planning on! I have to say, the apostille came in handy for getting accepted into a UK university and I am very pleased with the ease with which I was accepted. They found my work examples and grades to be satisfactory and after 2 weeks I was admitted into the program.

"I just wanted to once again thank you for making it possible for a homeschooler/unschooler such as me to have the same opportunities for further education as those with public education credentials. You have never failed me and were always there when I needed help or when some of my worries or concerns needed comforting. At first I thought it was too good to be true, but all that you promised became a reality in the end. Through this method I was able to get the credentials needed and still not risk losing interest in or becoming frustrated with schoolwork. Your school is not the alternative, it is the model upon which all schooling should be based. Too bad there are no Unschooling Universities around, though. From both my parents and me: Thanks Peggy, for making this possible! ~ Ester, 2011 graduate, Burnaby, B.C. Canada

"There's no point in beating around the bush...this is my last report and it was fun.  I enjoyed reading my creations and I also enjoyed reading your responses.  I think I really learned something about myself.  Before your program I didn’t like to write much and avoided it whenever I could.  After writing the reports, I’ve learned that writing isn’t so bad and I actually like to write.  I can’t believe that I’m graduating high school!  I know that this is just the beginning and not the end and I look forward to seeing where my life takes me.  And now I know if it involves writing, I can handle it. ~ Daniel, Diamond Springs, CA USA

"These past four years in West River Academy have been the highlight of my teenage years.  I’ll never forget this experience. These four years were the reward for those days I thought would never end. This saved my life. I’d never felt more confident, determined or focused before. The last time I felt like this was right after I left school. I wanted to prove everyone wrong. After beginning this four-year adventure, I realized it wasn’t about them; it wasn’t about proving anything. This was about me and finding out who I am. Thanking you for making this possible will never truly show how thankful I really am for changing my life. Finding your school was the most essential part of the beginning of my new life. I sincerely believe that this was meant to be. From the problems at school, to that afternoon when I was skipping class in that library and grabbed that book where I found out about unschooling… it was all meant to happen. At one point I believed I was the one who had to change, that the way I’d been raised wasn’t correct. I had the most wonderful four years, going from a person who was at her lowest, at times even wishing not to live, to someone who can’t wait to start school and be successful in life.

"Everyone sees the change; the sparkle is back. The educational biography has to be the most important assignment I’ve ever had. I read part of it when I was at work earlier today and I had to stop because I got teary-eyed. Your academy changed my life. Thank you so much, I’ll never forget that your school was the only one that gave me a chance when no one else would."                                           ~ Laura, 2011 graduate, Houston, Texas USA

"West River (or home school) has been a good thing in my life because I have been able to achieve a great education. I have learned that there is always more than one way to achieve your goals. I have never done things the way everyone else has; I have to find my own way. I have learned about real life by doing real life experiences. My family has taught me not only math, reading, and writing but they have taught me about fixing cars, balancing budgets, and to keep trying. I have seen firsthand the difference between a low paying job and a high paying job."
~Mitchell, 2010 graduate, Hesperus, CO USA

"...after homeschooling and then coming back for classes at the regular high school, I have realized that I'm glad I left. I have noticed how the students act, how the teachers act, and how I act. I'm happy that I've grown up in maturity to the point where my sense of humor is different from many of my peers. I'm simply glad that I'm different, and I feel like I'm ready to face the real world."
~Tim, 2010 graduate, Longmont, CO

"West River has saved my life, honestly. If I was still in traditional school, I think I’d either be dead or in jail. This program, this school, this new way of thinking and learning is the greatest thing any one could ask for. Because of you I’ve been able to pursue my dreams in skiing and in life, without interruptions, stress over grades, tests or stress of being in that mediocre school environment. For this amazing opportunity, I truly thank you from the deepest place in my heart."
~David, 2009 graduate, Durango, CO USA

"I'm proud of being home schooled and very thankful to West River Academy for being there for me. During the time we worked together, I learned a lot about myself and I will miss the entire experience. Thank you for being so understanding with me."
~Natanael, 2009 graduate, San Bernardo, Chile

"The kind of consistent chronicling you've demanded of me in these months is completely unprecedented. I've never recorded so much of my life. I think it's been a valuable exercise, and I'd like to thank you for prompting it of me."                                                                                                                                           ~Aurora, 2008 graduate, Santiago, Chile

"I have enjoyed so much doing this program. I love your approach to education. Even when school is over, I'm definitely going to keep up some of the valuable habits I've learned through your program. Thank you, Peggy, for providing a wonderful home school program that fit me perfectly!"
~Jesse, 2008 graduate, Las Vegas, NV USA

"Wow, already it's the end of my last report! I have to admit that I'm a bit sad that this is the last one because I've become so used to being your student and I can't believe that I'm already graduating. It seems like yesterday that I was a giddy freshman getting ready for the long road towards adulthood. Even though it was for a small portion of my life, I must say that it was truly a great honor to be one of your students. Thank you so much for helping me get to where I am now with home schooling because if it wasn't for you I would probably be a high school dropout flipping burgers at McDonalds. Thank you.
~Nate, 2008 graduate, Longmont, CO USA

"Homeschooling was one of the best experiences that I have had in my life and I have learned a lot from the experience. I was able to unlock my inner self and my inner child. I was allowed to have fun while learning and be able to express myself as well as be more curious. I don't think I would have changed a thing."                  ~Matthew, 2008 graduate, Kalamazoo, MI USA

"I have truly enjoyed being homeschooled and feel I have learned many valuable lessons, both educational and lessons for life. I feel I am ready and have learned skills to now face all of the new challenges I will be given as a young adult. I have been blessed to be a homeschool graduate. I am thankful for West River Academy and all your hard work in helping my family achieve our goals in our homeschooling journey. It has been a pleasure being enrolled in your program. I have enjoyed expressing myself through these reports and sharing just a bit of my homeschool life with you."                                                                                                ~Aaron, 2008 graduate, Denver, CO USA

"The one thing that I don't like about graduating is that I will miss our monthly reports and feedback. I really appreciate all of your advice, support, time, and effort. You are definitely on my list of people I would like to thank (Wow, you would think I won an Oscar!) so here it goes....... THANK YOU, MS. PEGGY WEBB!!!"
~Ashley, 2007 graduate, Colorado Springs, CO USA

"Throughout my elementary and middle school years, I accomplished more than the average student, but I was always bored. West River Academy gave my guardians the opportunity to change my thoughts from 'I'm bored' to 'I love school'.

"West River Academy was the ideal choice for me. One of the greatest things about West River Academy is that it allowed me to combine my interests with education. When I started high school, I wanted to become a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. As we live on a ranch, I was able to start a meat goat business. This started with a four-year business plan. I had to learn a number of things to be successful with my business. This included Accounting, Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural Science, management of resources, and a number of other business practices. I am proud to say that my business made a profit this year and that with forty-two goats and agricultural equipment, my business is worth approximately thirty-five thousand dollars.

"Without West River Academy, I think I would have dropped out of high school by the time I turned sixteen. West River Academy was there when public schools were not. I would like to thank West River Academy and my guardians for their considerable contribution to my life."
~Gwendolyn, 2007 graduate, Grand Junction, CO USA

"I would like to thank West River Academy for all your support over the last four years. I feel blessed to have been able to experience such unique schooling and such a wide range of subjects. I feel confident that I have the knowledge and skills to succeed in college and in life in general.
~Victoria, 2007 graduate, Elbert, CO USA

"I tell people about your school all the time; it's an amazing program, you were an amazing help, and I'm still as excited about your school now as I was when I first enrolled!"
~Amanda, 2005 graduate, Villa Grove, CO USA

Final Report from a 2009 graduate in Colombia:

December 2009

Dear Peggy:

Well this is the last of the six reports, so, first of all, I want to begin by telling you that I found this opportunity very interesting, now that having to write my experiences down have made me notice and acknowledge the importance and influence they have had in my life. So, thank you, for helping me see what was there all the while, but I hadn’t gotten the time to process.

At the beginning of the year I just lived life as my parents wanted and taught me to live it. I only did the things I was expected to do, like going to school, training golf, doing my homework etc…. I practically lived at my big sister’s shadow, but, then she left, and my world fell apart.

I was lost, now that I had no one to open the way for me, no one to advise me, no one to follow, no one to take as an example. It was then, at that moment, that I had a “wake up call” and I realized that I had to start to do things for myself.

I started the routine I had had when my sister was with me, but I soon started realizing that there were some things I wanted to change about my life. For example, one day I saw that I had never actually enjoyed playing golf, I just enjoyed my sister’s company so much, that I didn’t care. So I decided to leave it. I decided to start doing things for me, things that I enjoyed, like cooking, but without forgetting the good things that I had learned from those experiences I was leaving behind.

Apart from these changes in my life, I also started to learn some new things at my studies. Through these months I learned what I think was the most important lesson of the year, and that is the responsibility.

I used to study because I had to. I hadn’t really understood the true meaning of studying, and so I didn’t like anything that had to do with school. After this time I have had to reflect about it, I now know, that if I study I don’t do it to please or favor anyone. I do it for my self, for my future and for my own benefit. And that, I think, was a very important discovery because I started to want to learn and to be more responsible about my studies.

Once I understood this, I saw that it was actually fun to challenge my self and try to get ahead when I was behind and, it all could be fun instead of being monotonous and boring. I understood that learning can be either fun or boring, but that it is up to me.

So, I think all this process I have been through in the past months, has been important for me to prepare for whatever it is to come in the future. Though some sacrifices and yes, many mistakes were made, I guess it was all necessary for me to grow up and mature, for me to move forward and learn new things and finally grow up to be a good person, that helps others, which is, in my opinion more important than anything else.

~Daniela, 2009 graduate, Bogotá, Colombia