If and when we each can take the time to pause and reflect on our past experiences and challenges, that view is often 20/20, vivid, or crystal clear! I have been most fortunate throughout this cultural crisis of a global pandemic to have the privilege of continuing with my three jobs. One is a guest services team lead at Stowe Mountain Resort, which this past year and ski season, was mostly micro-managing the general public to keep all guests safe and to ensure the resort and other VT businesses could remain open, which has given me a unique perspective on the challenges our society faces. I do not function best as a micro-manager of anything, so this challenge has helped me to grow. Job two is teaching health to 13- 16-year-olds at an independent school near my home, which truly fills my cup. Health is a lifetime endeavor, which is most often an accumulation of our choices; not necessarily something someone provides for us. Undisputedly, knowledge is power! It is such a gift to me to have these conversations at this age in their young lives. Job three is coaching individuals in recovery from addiction and substance misuse. I made a commitment to this endeavor as my own children were fledging our nest. I recognize our kiddos had a fairly good start and not every child is as fortunate. I wanted to make a positive contribution.
We were fortunate enough to be introduced to Waldorf philosophy when our daughter, Merritt, was a two-year-old and our son, Lucien, was a newborn. We attended a parent-toddler group at the Ashwood Waldorf School. Each soft, smooth pearl of wisdom that was shared during those weekly gatherings resonated profoundly with me and it became clear this unique education would be my first choice for our children. Long story short, our daughter graduated in 2016 from the Lake Champlain Waldorf High School and our son continued on through 9th grade when he was diverted to the high school alma mater of my husband, which also supported his competitive alpine skiing goals.
Today I am so grateful to say our daughter has graduated from Lewis and Clark College with a degree in Art History and is now MANAGING an Orange Theory Fitness Studio in the greater Portland, Oregon area. She is 23 years old. Two years into her college education she was second-guessing her choice of a major given her dream job would be adventure travel. I was able to reassure her that no matter the jobs she chose she will use her liberal arts education! My own father sagely informed me that an undergraduate degree teaches one how to start and finish something and to solve problems, while advanced degrees provide specialized skills. Furthermore, I believe a liberal arts education provides common ground intellectually, a way to relate to others with differing perspectives, a skill relevant today and every day! And our son, at the age of 21, is an FAA Certified Commercial Helicopter Pilot. He tried a semester at Saint Lawrence University (with a merit scholarship), but he stated emphatically mid-semester that he would be happy to study physics (calculus and computer programming!) if he could apply it to something. “ I want to be a helicopter pilot!” The experiential nature of his Waldorf education served him very well!! As parents, it is a great source of joy to see our children have the confidence to make choices that are meaningful to them. This shared family experience continues to create motivation and inspiration in our lives despite the distance of time and place.
What do I hold most dear about our commitment to and experience with Waldorf Education? The teachers have the opportunity to teach the topics that resonate most with them and that are developmentally appropriate for the child. This means they are teaching from a place of interest, relevance, or even passion without contrivance or dogma. This gives any topic vitality and color that a multiple-choice assessment could never measure! The educational philosophy and the community, which is never homogenous, (instead blessedly diverse) generally echoed my own beliefs regarding authenticity, ethics, inspiration, and KINDNESS. In hindsight, it was a commitment and investment worth making, not only for my own family but also for the greater good. The challenges our culture faces today can be beautifully met by a Waldorf education where resources can be gleaned to create a vital and productive culture!