A Conversation With Connor

When did you embark on your journey into Partnership Education? (Said another way, when did you start on your path as a self-directed learner?)

I started my journey into Partnership Education around the beginning of my junior year of high school.

What were the main benefits of a hybrid education for you?

The hybrid education model allowed me the flexibility to pursue what I wanted to study during each week. This was extremely freeing for me as a long-time public school student accustomed to constant regiment. For example, I began to take community college classes as part of the hybrid model. I liked these classes as I felt I could take whichever courses interested me. By the time of my graduation from high school, I had 30 college credits, which later allowed me to graduate college early.

How did Mike and/or Lucy support you during your high school years?

Mike and Lucy both supported me in too many ways to count! Everything from college visits, support with career path options, freedom to choose what I wanted to study during the school day, offering interesting options for study, regularly checking in with me to see how my transition from public school was going, assisting with post-graduation plans, and frequently checking in even after my graduation to see how I am and how things are for me.

What advice would you give a family who’s considering Partnership Education, but unsure of whether to take the plunge?

The best word of advice I can give is to open your mind to the flexibility and transformativeness of the Partnership Education program. I always joke that my transition from public school to Partnership Education happened so fast; on the Monday of that week I had my last day in public school, on Tuesday I visited and shadowed the Partnership Education program, and on Wednesday, I was enrolled!

I have no regrets about my decision to do so besides wishing I had found Partnership Education sooner!

How does being part of a community like CA help families who are transitioning from traditional public or private schools?

CA has only ever been a supportive community for me. Each family and learner has a different educational background and journey that gives them a unique educational perspective. This is an incredible asset for the CA community, as the program truly allows all learners to thrive, regardless of their past and present experiences.

What has your path been since graduating? 

I enrolled in college right after graduating, and with the help of college credits I accrued during the hybrid model, I graduated early from West Chester University summa cum laude with my B.A. in History and a minor in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. I am now a graduate student at West Chester pursuing an M.Ed in Secondary Education with a Social Studies Certification specialization. I work as a graduate assistant as a Program Coordinator for West Chester’s Rustin Urban Community Change AxiS (RUCCAS) major program and Youth Empowerment and Urban Studies (YES) minor program. In addition, I work as a teaching assistant at Garrett’s Way Child Care and Learning Center in Newtown Square.

What skills did you develop as a SDL that have served you well during your transition to college/adult life?

I think having more say in creating my own schedule has been an incredible asset for me as a college student. While many other students were used to the regimented 7:30-3:30 school day, I had long been able to make decisions for myself about my own learning times. This gave me an edge as I went to choose my college classes; I was easily able to balance all of the things in my life, including full-time study, work, social interaction, and homework.

Can you share a specific memory or story about an activity or experience you had with another self-directed peer or facilitator that has had a lasting positive impact on you? 

One of the best memories I have is when I participated in the theater choice run by Lucy in the Fall of 2019. During this choice, five of my peers and I worked with Lucy to rehearse for two plays and plan two nighttime events to show these plays to the whole community. I absolutely loved being a part of this program and being able to share what we had worked so hard on with the rest of the community. I frequently reflect on this event and know that without the support of Mike and Lucy, I never would have been able to experience something like this that has become an amazing memory of high school.

If you could have known that there was no need to stress about this one thing during your teens years, what would it have been, and why? 

I wish I had put less stress on trying to find and get into the perfect college for me. To be frank, West  Chester was not my first choice, and I attended four different colleges before finally deciding to stay at West Chester and finish my B.A. Even though it took me a while to figure out my journey through university, I still got to experience all the things I wanted to experience during my time in college, academically and socially.