As the mom of two Classical Conversations graduates, I never thought we would ever reach the day of graduation! I started homeschooling them at 7 and 10 on a wing and a prayer.
Where on earth did that saying “a wing and a prayer” even come from? According to Grammarist, “On a wing and a prayer describes doing something difficult or dangerous while relying on divine help or luck.” This phrase came from a fighter pilot in World War II who petitioned his crew to pray as they were coming in for a rough landing. Later, John Wayne would coin the phrase, “She’s coming in on one wing and a prayer!” in the 1942 movie The Flying Tigers. Coincidentally, today my now 21-year-old son is a pilot!
As I dug deeper, I discovered in that 1943 Harold Adamson and Jimmy McHugh wrote a song called “Comin’ in on a Wing and a Prayer.” The lyrics are simple yet powerful:
Comin’ in on a wing and a prayer
With our full crew on board
And our trust in the Lord
We’re comin’ in on a wing and a prayer
How many parents have you encountered that would describe their homeschooling journey as “on a wing and a prayer”? When it is time to land that plane on graduation day, where and how do you plan to land?
Attend the 2025 National Commencement!
Attend our 2025 National Commencement for your graduate to celebrate with other Classical Conversations students and parents around the nation who—just like I did—desire for our homeschool journey to go out with a bang!
The Classical Conversations National Commencement is a formal graduation ceremony designed to celebrate and affirm not only the hard work and perseverance of graduates, but of their parents, too! This upcoming year in 2025, National Commencement is a two-part event, with a graduation celebration and rehearsal on Friday, May 16, where graduates get to meet and fellowship with each other before the official ceremony in the morning and afternoon of Saturday, May 17.
At the official ceremony on Saturday, Leigh Bortins, founder of Classical Conversations, will address and commend graduates and parents for their hard work and perseverance throughout their years of homeschooling. Each family will have the opportunity to present their diploma to their graduate and take a photo with Leigh and Robert Bortins, CEO of Classical Conversations.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to join us in Southern Pines, North Carolina, from May 16th-17th! Let’s celebrate together with you and your graduating student, land that plane, and go out with a bang!
What Parents of Graduates Have to Say
Sandy Spence, a homeschooling parent of a Classical Conversations graduate, said the following about attending our 2021 National Commencement:
The National Commencement experience went way beyond my expectations! I loved having everything wrapped up in one package: decorations, cake, gifts, college representatives, high-quality cap and gown, and personalized diploma. Even though we didn’t know everyone, we were all on the same journey. We felt like honored guests! One of my favorite parts was hearing from the student speakers. My daughter is graduating next year, and we will not miss it. It brought high school graduation to a higher level. Make it a priority for your family to be part of this!
Read what another parent, Rachel Thompson, and her graduate, Wyatt, had to say about 2023 National Commencement: “National Commencement: A Time to Commemorate and Celebrate.”
Register Now!
We hope to celebrate with you and your graduate this spring at our 2025 National Commencement! Registration is now open..
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