When Marta first considered homeschooling, she never imagined where the adventure would take her family. Yet, 12 years after embarking on this educational journey, one of her children landed his dream job as an editor at a science fiction publishing house, while another is training to be a circus performer and hoping to join Cirque du Soleil.
Marta, originally from Spain, moved to Atlanta in 2000 to pursue a career in teaching. She began working at a daycare, where she met a mom whose toddler was enrolled. “One day, she asked me if I wanted to meet her brother,” Marta recalled. “That is how I met Brian.”
Marta and Brian eventually married, and soon after welcomed their children: Jaume, Afrika, and Konji. For years, Marta was content working in the public school system, but her perspective changed when her own children entered school.
School just wasn’t working
Marta vividly remembers when Afrika, then 7, told her, “Mom, I’m not learning anything.”
Afrika had been identified as gifted, but the school did not offer her the resources she needed—especially in music, her passion. This was heartbreaking for Marta.
Meanwhile, Jaume was excelling, but only because the school’s educational approach prioritized rote memorization over comprehension. Marta realized she wanted more for her children: a love of learning and an education tailored to their strengths.
Marta and Brian with their kids, Jaume, Afrika, and Konji, in DC.
Her frustrations grew when she saw how easily government decisions impacted her children’s education. When Jaume was in early elementary, he had access to art and music classes. By the time Afrika started at the same school, those programs had been cut due to administrative changes.
“I realized my children’s education was at the mercy of the system. Their experience could be great or not,” she said. She was saddened that she couldn’t change that.
Or could she?
Marta first tried different schools. Jaume attended three, and Afrika two. Nothing improved. Private school was financially out of reach. Homeschooling was the only remaining option. So, she began preparing.
At first, she was overwhelmed by the vast array of homeschool curricula, but she found clarity when a friend at a homeschool group recommended John Holt’s books. This introduction to unschooling—a philosophy that prioritizes child-led learning—changed everything.
Her guiding principle became following her children’s interests. Brian was skeptical at first, but after a year of watching their children thrive, he fully embraced the approach.
He loved the lore—now he shapes it
Their family began unschooling when Jaume was 9 and Afrika was 7.
Jaume gravitated toward history, politics, social sciences, and biology, but his true passion was storytelling. He spent hours writing and even completed a science fiction novel during his final year of high school.
Though he received an offer to publish his book, he ultimately decided the offer wasn’t in his best interest. Instead, he wrote a second book! He also gained valuable editorial experience by editing a book in Spanish about his family’s experience of unschooling, authored by his mom.
Even though Jaume hasn’t published his own books because he thinks he needs more experience as an editor, these experiences helped him land a job as an editor at a publishing house specializing in a popular sci-fi and fantasy universe series. When asked if this was his dream job, Jaume responded, “It absolutely is.”
His role involves reviewing and editing manuscripts, ensuring strong character development, pacing, and world-building—all while maintaining the intricate lore of the universe.
“I love being able to shape and polish narratives, knowing that my work will contribute to something much bigger,” Jaume said. He credits homeschooling for allowing him the flexibility to build a portfolio tailored to his career aspirations. “Homeschooling gave me the freedom to focus on what I truly cared about,” he said.
Flipping toward Cirque du Soleil
Like Jaume, Afrika had a deep love for books—Marta recalls that she would “devour” them. But she also had a fascination with animals and music. She took violin, piano, and flute lessons and composed her own music on the piano. She also spent countless hours listening to Cirque du Soleil soundtracks, enamored by their artistry.
She also has a passion for medicine. At 14, she asked her mom to enroll her in additional academic courses. Marta helped her register for and complete several free Harvard online courses on tumors and diseases. Around the same time, she began training in aerial acrobatics.
“When she first met her coach, he was amazed at her natural talent in the air,” Marta said. “It’s incredible what she can do on a rope.”
Encouraged, Afrika set her sights on a career in acrobatics, dreaming of joining Cirque du Soleil. She applied to the National Centre for Circus Arts in England, using HSLDA’s high school transcript services to compile her application.
Konji and Afrika.
Now 19, Afrika is in her second year of training. Her schedule is a mix of intense physical exercise and academic courses, ensuring a well-rounded education.
“When I hear [Cirque du Soleil’s] music, I want to perform,” she said. “Their music inspires me to work harder and strive to be part of their team.”
Training hard hasn’t taken away her passion for medicine. Even in her free time, she still studies medicine and music. “She doesn’t want to dedicate her life to medicine; she only needs to keep her brain happy,” Marta said.
Passion turned into profit
Marta’s youngest, Konji, has taken a different path. Instead of books or acrobatics, his passions lie in geography, investing, and business. “He has always loved maps, atlases, cities, and flags,” Marta said.
He also has a strong entrepreneurial spirit. A few years ago, he started his own car-cleaning business. Now 17, he’s deeply interested in mobile investments.
“I’ve always been interested in money,” Konji said. “Having time to follow my passions though homeschooling allowed me to learn about investing.”
Looking back, Marta and Brian feel profoundly grateful for the freedom homeschooling provided their children. Each of them was able to explore their unique interests without external pressure or limitations.
“I have always followed their interests,” Marta reflected. “Their passions led them to their own journeys, and now they’re building their futures on their own terms.”