Homeschoolers are known for thinking outside the box and making choices that differ from the status quo. Many will become leaders who possess the ability to influence others and positively impact the culture. Kelly Negvesky, author of The Official Homeschooler’s Guide to Dual Credit, recently took the time to answer some questions about leadership for Homeschooling Teen.
HST: How do you define the difference between a leader and an influencer?
KELLY: A leader goes first, ahead of the rest. This does not mean the leader influenced anyone with his direction. He just pointed a direction. When someone is influenced they are moved to take a difference stance, they know why they are heading in this new direction and have plans to imprint themselves morally with the change.
HST: What are some of the character qualities that make up a great leader? A powerful influencer?
KELLY: Great leaders are led by the Lord. They have never arrived. A great leader will say really hard things and then share how they fell in their achievement of those hard things. Great leaders assume the best in those around them but never, ever settle for anything but the best in others or themselves.
HST: Who influenced you as a child?
KELLY: My parents have a deep, impacting influence on my life and the choices I make. I had a strong relationship with all the Pastors in our home church. Each taught me valuable lessons from the pulpit and from the way they lived their daily lives. There are several authors that left deep imprints setting the stage for a different way to live my life. They pulled back the curtains on the multi-generation sin in my life and influenced lifelong changes that have led to great blessing. These are Larry Crabb, James Dobson, Bill Gothard and C.S. Lewis.
HST: Who influences you now?
KELLY: There are the well-known leaders in the Christian community and my thoughts are affected by their insight, but it is the Holy Spirit that has guided and directed me faithfully through my life.
HST: Who do you think are the major influencers within the homeschool community?
KELLY: Since the homeschool community is who the parent chooses to bring into the home this varies. In the Negvesky home we follow a very classical approach so we are heavily influenced by the authors of Memoria Press, Vision Forum and Veritas Press. We read history written by the history makers, Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and we aren’t afraid to read from differing perspectives to either widen our horizon or solidify our current stand. I love reading articles from World Magazine and then grabbing an issue of Time to read the differing slant.
HST: When should a child make the transition from leader to influencer?
KELLY: Each child matures differently, but in our home we have set an expectation of 13. Our heart is to train them to lead and at the age of 13 create opportunities to step outside the realm to influence their world. We plan strategic opportunities to set them up for success. Sometimes they fall and we bring them home, discuss what happened and set up the next opportunity for success.
FREE LIVE WEBINAR: How Combining High School & College Will Pave the Way for Success in College and Life Beyond
Speaker: Kelly Negvesky
Webinar date: 8/18/11
Start time: 8pm EDT; 7pm CDT; 5pm PDT
You are encouraged to REGISTER NOW for this webinar at http://www.collegeplus.org/leadershipwebinar as space is limited and will fill up fast. After you register, you will receive the webinar participation instructions in your email.
Kelly Negvesky, Curriculum Specialist & Dual Credit Consultant, will lead this webinar on combining high school and college to save thousands of dollars in tuition fees. Kelly is the author of The Official Homeschooler’s Guide to Dual Credit (available for free at http://www.collegeplus.org/prep/ebook). In 2007 she received her BA in Humanities through distance learning in only 12 months by earning 72 credit hours with CLEP and DANTES tests. Kelly will discuss the “how to’s” of dual credit – from high school transcripts to the methods of acquiring credit. In 60 minutes Kelly will help you become an expert in dual credit, and give you the tools and information you need to make the right dual credit decision.
This webinar is one of five seminars in the Christian Leadership Series sponsored and hosted by CollegePlus! CollegePlus! is a mentoring program that helps homeschoolers get credit for college classes by examination. Homeschool students as young as age 13 can start earning dual credit, thus slashing both cost and time investment. CollegePlus! creates a customized accredited degree program designed around the student’s specific needs, personality, and life purpose.
