Written by:  Anna Homen (Levi's mom)

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On May 24th, Levi Conner will have the privilege of graduating from Hamilton High School. To say 'I am beyond proud of him' would be the understatement of my lifetime, and there's a reason for that. For many people, going to school is the staple of growing up. I'm not just speaking of postgraduate education, but also of K-12. For me, I can only view education as an absolute privilege. Having been raised with no electricity, no running water, and nearly no resources, my education had everything to do with daily survival in the wilderness and nothing to do with survival in the real world. My mother homeschooled me through 4th grade, and skipped 5th grade altogether. The following year, she handed me an all-in-one schoolbook from Costco and said,

"You do your own school from now on!” 

At 18, I left home with the equivalent of an 8th-grade education, a bicycle, and a trash bag of belongings. When I tried to get my first job, they asked for my driver's license, but I didn’t have one. So I studied, got my GED, my driver's license, and my first job. I learned every lesson the hard way, with a few kind-hearted people who were willing to explain the rules of the world. 

By the time I was 24, I was divorced, and Levi James Conner was two years old. I had no other income outside my paycheck, and often worked 3 jobs to make ends meet. Even Levi has held a year-round job since he was 15. We've struggled, but we are making it work. I didn’t expect to spend 16 years as a single mom. But the goal of getting Levi here and preparing him for the real world has been my ultimate priority. 

And here we are! Levi is 18, and about to take part in something that is truly a forgotten privilege. This May, he will put on that cap and gown, and he will graduate. In this way, he will achieve something I never had the privilege of doing. His education will continue as he heads to the University of Montana. While I never had the privilege of education, graduation, or a college degree, giving Levi those opportunities will be my most important achievement. And watching him develop into a young man who lives with emotional maturity and kindness has been my greatest privilege and honor. We don’t have everything covered, but together, we are invested in his continued education. All contributions go directly to his college fund. Levi will continue working through college to help pay his way. And I will continue to see him through it, no matter what it takes.