It’s a new year at North Star, and what I see is Happiness.
The best way for me to convey the state of North Star is to briefly introduce you to three of my advisees: Ash, Kai, and Colin. The photos pretty much do the work here! (Thank you to staff member Kim Chin-Gibbons.)
Ash, now age 17, is in their second year at North Star. Instead of slogging through 11th and 12th grades at their public school, Ash began this ongoing two-year adventure. Last year Ash was a very active member of North Star and adjusted to life without grades, assignments, and the social tensions of high school. This year, Ash is pursuing a series of major interests, (primarily dance) and is at North Star a bit less than last year. Ash takes dance classes at two studios and is auditing a dance class at UMass. They continue to be a member of the North Star Band and participates in our Music Theory and Film classes. Ash also pursues guitar and songwriting with North Star alum Hazel, who has aged out of our program this year. In addition to these studies, Ash has a part-time job working in a raw-foods kitchen two mornings per week, is getting their driver’s license, and is intending to obtain their Hi-Set (GED) this fall. Ash comes to North Star for activities two days per week and stops by on other days because North Star is an ideal meeting spot for Ash and their parents. We are a true home-away-from-home, and Ash’s two-year arc at North Star inspires all of us who know them.
Kai, age 14, is a spunky young person who is always moving. She arrived at North Star last spring, feeling confined by the conventional expectations of her cozy private school. At North Star, she embraced our culture and our community, and at our 25th year Bonanza I believe Kai replenished her wardrobe with North Star t-shirts! Kai comes to North Star every day, and her list of current classes includes Body Modification in Different Cultural Contexts, Hiking, Garden Club, Social Issues, Hands-On Math, Science, Breadmaking, Liberated Learners, Self-Directed Math, Creative Writing, and ASL. Outside of these groups, Kai is everywhere with everyone…the backyard, the kitchen, going for walks, and all manner of random fun. Outside of North Star, Kai is part of a teen-organized book group, plays the guitar, draws, and sometimes does reading and math on her own. She and her mom go the gym together. When it’s our time for our weekly advisory meeting, Kai finds me! In our advisory, as well as in my classes, I witness Kai reflecting on sense of satisfaction in creating her weekly routine. For me, seeing Kai flourish is a daily joy.
Colin, age 16, hit the wall attending a charter school last spring. The social conflicts and daily grind of homework outweighed the creative opportunities available, and to some extent, Colin stopped going. That backstory doesn’t match a single moment of Colin’s first month at North Star. He walked in knowing essentially no one, and has made himself the life of the party. Colin skateboards, and has brought in a rail to our backyard so he can practice his tricks. He is a rock climber, and he also likes to climb trees and test his strength in other ways. He is part of our weekly Hiking group and he attends my Social Issue class, but mostly he is outside with others. Colin works at Central Rock Gym in Hadley, and he has requested and obtained more shifts for himself this fall. He used to be on the rock-climbing team there, doing extraordinarily well a few years ago. He had let go of that team, but this week he let me know that he has started competing again. Colin is currently doing some independent test prep for the Hi-Set (GED), and will take that test this fall. Colin expects to enroll in a community college course or two in the spring. Instead of dealing with 11th grade, and looking at another year of school next year, Colin is seizing the moment and living his best life.
Ash, Kai, and Colin have powerful stories, and there is a lot to reflect upon and infer from their experiences. One key item they have in common is that they would not have left school to embark on this journey without North Star or some such program. Independent homeschooling was not an appealing or realistic option for them and their families. For me, the happiness in this work is making this lifestyle possible for any interested teen in our community.
3 beautiful happy humans !! Love this article.
Thank you Ken for all that you do to offer this wonderful alternative for our teens. I wish there were more Northstars!