Throughout her childhood and adolescence, Sarah Nagle vividly remembered being surrounded by the widespread belief that children educated at home would inevitably falter once they ventured into what people often call the “real world.” That assumption, circulated by neighbors, teachers, and acquaintances alike, suggested that homeschooling sheltered students from essential academic and social skills, leaving them unequipped for success beyond the walls of their homes. Speaking from a deeply personal vantage point and drawing upon her own educational journey, Nagle now confidently asserts that such dire predictions could not be further from the truth. Her life, both academically and professionally, stands as evidence that homeschooling can provide a strong foundation for intellectual growth, adaptability, and self-direction.
Reflecting on her own academic path, Nagle explained that her parents had done an exceptional job ensuring she was well-prepared for the challenges of higher education. “My parents did pretty well preparing me academically for college,” she told Business Insider, emphasizing that she transitioned seamlessly into university coursework. To her, college never posed a significant obstacle; she recalls that the academic demands felt manageable, and even the social landscape—often presumed to be the Achilles’ heel for homeschooled students—did not present the difficulties others had warned about. In her view, her earlier schooling had already equipped her with the independence and curiosity she needed to flourish.
Nagle’s homeschooling experience began at age ten and continued until she completed her college years, under the direct guidance of both parents in California. Today, she works for herself as a jewelry designer, channeling her creativity into a successful business built from years of self-motivation. She attributes much of her current confidence and skill to the personalized approach her parents adopted in shaping her education. Because her lessons were tailored to her individual pace, areas of interest, and preferred learning methods, she found herself deeply engaged in subjects instead of passively absorbing information. The result, she said, was not only academic excellence but also high performance in national standardized tests—an outcome she directly connects to her parents’ customized curriculum.
An essential part of her upbringing was her parents’ deliberate rejection of the notion that attending an elite or expensive college was the only legitimate route to success. This perspective, which sharply contrasted with mainstream expectations, allowed Nagle to make pragmatic and empowering choices about her higher education. She initially attended the University of Texas at Austin in the late 1990s on a scholarship, later transferring to San Francisco State University when she realized it offered the same educational quality without the financial burden of debt. Deciding to forgo prestigious private universities meant she could graduate without loans—a factor she considers a defining privilege compared with many of her peers. She has often noted that friends who attended their dream institutions continue to struggle under the weight of student debt, a pressure she never experienced. “My parents always told me that you shouldn’t make college the be-all and end-all of your life,” she recalled. Freed from financial strain, she found herself able to focus on creativity and career-building rather than loan repayments.
Her pragmatic financial choices eventually intertwined with her entrepreneurial spirit. According to documents reviewed by Business Insider, her jewelry business generated nearly $29,000 in sales in September alone and a total of approximately $115,500 for the year to date, following a previous year that brought in $121,000. Nagle readily acknowledges that her enterprise can be unpredictable; sales fluctuate throughout the calendar year, with noticeable peaks during the months of August, September, and March. Despite these fluctuations, she approaches her work strategically, choosing to reinvest much of her profit back into her business—purchasing improved tools, new materials, and technology upgrades—rather than paying herself a high salary. This long-term perspective allows her company to grow sustainably, resulting in a personal income that typically settles in the high five-figure range. Her story illustrates not only financial responsibility but also a deep trust in the value of steady reinvestment.
On a broader scale, Nagle’s narrative emerges against the backdrop of a shifting American educational landscape. In recent years, homeschooling has surged in popularity, particularly during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, when dissatisfaction with remote public-school learning prompted many parents to take education into their own hands. The continued momentum of school choice initiatives—such as the rise of school voucher programs—and the growing ability to use federal funds for nontraditional education options, including homeschools and microschools, have further legitimized alternatives to public schooling. Yet, despite this increasing diversification, public education remains the norm: approximately 49.5 million students were enrolled in public schools for the fall of 2023, compared to around 3 million who were homeschooled during the same period. Even within that minority, however, advocates like Nagle represent proof that unconventional choices can yield impressive results.
Before becoming homeschooled, Nagle briefly attended a local public school, an experience that ultimately cemented her parents’ decision to make a change. Dissatisfied with the quality of education offered there and believing it lacked the flexibility needed for their daughter to thrive, they opted to take her schooling into their own hands. For Nagle, hearing constant criticism of homeschooling—especially claims that homeschooled students would struggle in both academic achievement and social adaptation—could be frustrating and disheartening. Yet, with the benefit of hindsight, she recognizes that those doubts became a kind of motivation. “It made me really think things through,” she said, reflecting that skepticism often prompts deeper reflection and, in her case, resilience. “Sometimes, even though everybody’s saying one thing, they can all be wrong.”
Data compiled by the Johns Hopkins Homeschool Research Lab provides further context for her optimism. Seventeen U.S. states have reported increases in homeschooling enrollment for the 2024–25 academic year, following a similar trend among nineteen states the year before. Angela Watson, who established the research lab and serves as a senior research fellow at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy, has observed that homeschooling parents today tend to be somewhat younger than those opting for public or private education. This generational difference may explain why homeschooling has lost much of the social stigma it once carried. Even though not all states report homeschooling data—and varying state laws complicate regulation and funding—the trend suggests growing national acceptance. Nagle interprets this shift as evidence that homeschooling has moved from the educational margins into the mainstream. “It’s a minority decision, but it’s not a fringe decision anymore,” she explained.
Despite her positive experiences, Nagle acknowledges that homeschooling had its own hurdles, particularly in terms of social development. When she first arrived at college, she worried that she might feel isolated or unprepared for a traditional academic community. However, those fears quickly dissipated. Within a short time, she realized that her ability to communicate, collaborate, and adapt matched or surpassed those of her peers. In fact, she suspects that the self-discipline, creative problem-solving, and independent thinking nurtured through homeschooling gave her an advantage, not a disadvantage. Looking back, she firmly believes that if she had followed a conventional schooling path, she might not have cultivated the same confidence or sense of autonomy that later enabled her to launch her own business. “My homeschool experience really gave me the confidence to go my own way,” she concluded. “I think it really gave me a better focus on life.”
In many ways, Nagle’s life story serves as a microcosm of a broader cultural shift—one in which education is increasingly viewed as something deeply personal, adaptable, and crafted to fit individual strengths. Her experience underscores the idea that success is not tied to prestige or conformity but to self-understanding, resilience, and purposeful learning. For Sarah Nagle, homeschooling was not merely an alternative educational method; it was the foundation upon which she built a life defined by creative freedom, financial independence, and unwavering belief in the value of forging one’s own path.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/homeschooled-student-loans-college-pros-cons-successful-2025-9
