Conquering the Mississippi (homeschool student follows his dream)

By Trevor Persaud
Special to the E-E


Teens and young adults are often encouraged to follow their dreams. For some, that might involve acting, dancing, trying out for a basketball scholarship, or appearing on a show like "American Idol."

Then there's Shane Nix, who, with his mother Peggy, decided to travel the Mississippi River this spring in a pair of 17-foot kayaks.

"We've had some people say that they wish they could go along," said Peggy, before they left in March, "but nobody's willing to do it. You know, it's easy to sit there and say, 'Wow, it sounds like fun,' but it's another thing to actually put your feet forward and get going and actually do it."

Shane, 18, is homeschooled along with his sister Michelle; Peggy is retired from the Tulsa Police Department.