Una educación / Educated

01Growing up in Tara Westover's Survivalist Family: A Tale of Abuse and Pursuit of Knowledge

Tara Westover's childhood was far from ordinary. Raised in a survivalist family in the mountains of Idaho, her life was dictated by her father's extreme beliefs and paranoia about the government. The family lived off the grid, with no birth certificates, no medical records, and certainly no formal education. Tara's mother, a midwife and herbalist, provided the only healthcare the family knew, using herbs and energy work to treat everything from minor cuts to serious injuries. This isolation from mainstream society shaped Tara's worldview, limiting her understanding of the world to what she could glean from her family's experiences and the few books available in their home. But this isolation also had a darker side. Tara and her siblings suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their parents and one of their older brothers. This abuse, often justified as discipline or tough love, instilled in Tara feelings of fear, insecurity, and worthlessness. The absence of formal education in Tara's life was a significant factor in her limited worldview. Her parents' disbelief in the school system, coupled with their conviction that the End of Days was imminent, meant that Tara and her siblings were denied the opportunity to learn about the world beyond their mountain. This lack of formal education imposed severe limitations on Tara's knowledge and understanding of the world, leaving her ill-prepared for life outside her family's homestead. Yet, despite these challenges, Tara had a strong desire to learn and understand the world beyond her family's mountain. She taught herself algebra, practiced reading and writing, and studied for the ACT in secret. Her pursuit of knowledge was not without its challenges. Her family disapproved of her academic ambitions, and her lack of academic preparation made the learning process difficult. But Tara was determined and resilient. She overcame these obstacles, earned a high enough score on the ACT to gain admission to Brigham Young University, and eventually went on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University. Tara's story is a powerful testament to the impact of upbringing on a person's life and choices. Her experiences of abuse and neglect, coupled with her pursuit of knowledge, shaped her into the person she is today. But her story also serves as a reminder of the power of education and the human spirit to overcome adversity. Despite the odds stacked against her, Tara was able to break free from her abusive family, pursue her passion for learning, and build a life for herself beyond the mountains of Idaho. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of education and a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit.