Alone At School... And Far From Home

I was invited to dinner with the Appalachian Trail Team 1 the other night. It was a unique opportunity for me to see them outside of the school setting.. with their hair down, so to speak. It was really a lot of fun. I learned a great deal from my dinner date with your kids. First, we need to add a cooking class... no I'm just kidding, the kids did a bang up job preparing the meal. Second, I realized just how hard it must be to be a kid, going to school and living far away from the ones they love.

Now, I don't want to be a downer, but at the time I joined the kids for dinner I was feeling low myself. For those of you who don't know, I live in the area, and work for The Academy at SOAR, and my wife and kids live in Charlotte, 2 1/2 hours away. I know what you're saying, " Mike, that;s a heck of a commute!" and I supposed it would be, if I made the daily commute. Fortunately, and unfortunately, and realistically I don't. I only see my family on weekends during the school year. It's a tough economy, and we just can't afford to make the move yet, with a house to sell, kids in school, and the wife at work, there's a lot more to consider than simply picking up and hitting the road.

Reasons aside, I was feeling a little depressed the other night when I joined the kids for dinner. As I walked in to Founders Hall, the kids were busy into their evening routines. Chef was preparing the meal, with the assistance of the instructors, and the other students were taking a little break, just chatting, reading a good book, or listening to their IPODS. Everyone seemed quite content, yet, a little feeling of sadness overcame me. Here, were all these great kids... alone at school... without their families... and far from home. I suppose my own mood didn't help the reaction I had at the sight of seeing your kids out of the setting in which I ordinarily seem them, school. In the absence of the schoolhouse, they weren't just my students, they were kids, they were somebody's son, daughter, sister or brother. For a moment, everything just seemed a little out of place.

I joined the kids and their instructors for a great meal and conversation. It wasn't until later that night that I processed the feelings I was having. I was really feeling sorry for ALL of us, the kids and I. In processing through what I was feeling, I was able to put things back into perspective.

I, found my way to SOAR, because it was where I was meant to be. Far from the ideal situation all around, being away from home, I had found a great job, a place and people who needed me and what I had to offer. I also found a place where my strengths and talents, could be exhibited, benefit derived from, and a place where I felt I had a special contribution that was making a difference in a program, and in the lives of students, families, and colleagues each day. Yes, I was away from home, but it was, and is, where I needed to be.

Reflecting upon how SOAR was just right for me, and I for it, helped me to see how my students, each in their own individual way, also needed SOAR, and SOAR benefited from their presence. Each of my students, your children, has found a place here at SOAR where "their" unique strengths and talents could be put in the spotlight, where in the past perhaps, light was only shone on their shortcomings. or how they didn't fit the traditional mold.

Your kids, like myself, have found a great place, and a great school, are forming friendships and connections with peers and staff  who benefit from what they have to offer.

At a recent educational conference I attended, I listened to a keynote speaker, a very successful educator who stated that "Schools of the future that will survive will be the ones that continually strive to meet the needs of their students." – SOAR does this, and kids benefit.

He also stated that:

The trend of successful schools is:

Customization over standardization

Personalization versus collectivism

Non- traditional delivery versus traditional

SOAR is on this track.

This gentlemen also stated that, " We need to engage in 'purposeful abandonment' of things that no longer work." SOAR SOAR SOAR

The last profound statement that caught my ear was. "Successful education has time as the variable, and learning as the constant. Every child learns, just in a different time and a different way." SOAR SOAR SOAR SOAR SOAR!

While it may seem initially that I digress, all of these things that the educational expert stated successful schools that will last DO and ARE, SOAR already is, and is getting better at it every day.

It sort of connected the dots for me. For if it were my OWN child that needed help and support, I would do everything in my power, even if it meant them leaving home for a time, in order to work with professionals who "engage in 'purposeful abandonment' of things that no longer work.", to get an experience and an education that values customization over standardization, and personalization versus collectivism.  I would, if I were in your shoes as a parent, do whatever it takes to find a place that truly believes that "Every child learns, just in a different time and a different way, " and that "Successful education has time as the variable, and learning as the constant."

So while your kids and I may be, for the moment in time, far from home, we are never alone, and we each are here at SOAR for very specific and individualized purposes.  Once I pondered  why it is each of us is here at SOAR, and what we each give and receive from SOAR,  I realized that I will look back on my SOAR experiences years from now with amazement at what we all accomplished together and how it changed us. I honestly don't believe there is any way your child won't have similar feelings at the end of their SOAR experience, and years down the road.