A Conversation With Lucas

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?)

My journey as a self-directed learner started in kindergarten. I was put in preschool while my parents were working. After a couple of months, my parents decided to pull me out and start my journey of homeschooling. I was homeschooled until my senior year of high school, where I graduated with my high school diploma.

What were the main benefits of being a self-directed learner?

I would say one of the main benefits of hybrid education for me was the ability to escape the brutal and demanding regime that is the typical school lifestyle. I found that being able to have my routine worked best for my mental, physical, and emotional health.

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

 Both Mike and Lucy were role models in my youth. My friendship with Mike goes back to when I was 6 years old. Mike was one of my facilitators, but my friendship didn't start until I entered my teen years. Mike and I often battled on the outdoor fields during group sports games, which is where I think our friendship started to take off. Naturally, I often had to play down to Mike's level during group games as I was the superior athlete ;) When I was finally old enough to enter Mike's program, I started to see Mike as more of a friend rather than a facilitator. I often told him about my adventures playing a sport for a public school, my life's current events, and we had a blast discussing current professional sports. Over the years, Mike and I became closer. I'll never forget the day he handed me my high school yearbook and congratulated and cherished me in a wonderful speech. Even after high school, Mike and I still meet up at coffee shops to catch up and stay connected through social media, so that we can continue our sports conversations. I would say that Mike's biggest support for me was just being someone I could learn from, while also being my friend. I always found him so easy to have a conversation with. 

My experience with Lucy was also very supportive. I always looked up to Lucy because I thought she was so knowledgeable. I enjoyed having conversations with her about literature, television series, and much more. Lucy started to support me when I found out we have common taste in books. She started to recommend books I read outside of programming such as The Catcher In The Rye, and I looked forward to discussing them with her. I enjoyed every conversation I had with Lucy and just like with Mike, I will never forget her speech during my graduation and the effort she put into teaching me during my high school years.

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

My advice to a family that is considering partnership education would be to give it a try. In my experience, the relationships built during a partnership education are so crucial to developing a young person's personality.

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

Being part of a community like CA will allow your family to feel like you are part of a community instead of a generalized public organization, like a traditional school. The community of a place like CA allows for personalized interactions between youth, parents, and facilitators.

What has your path been since graduating? 

Since graduating, I have been a student at the University of Vermont, where I study computer science. I will admit that jumping into a traditional school environment after being homeschooled my entire life was a shocking change, but I have managed to work out what works for me. I am in the middle of my junior year and loving it more and more each day. The work is long, hard, and tough, but thanks to my partnership education, I have the social skills to connect with my professors and ask their advice instead of struggling on my own.

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

One of the top skills I feel I have learned from being an SDL is the ability to communicate with others in a way that doesn't demolish their opinions or ideas, but allows for each individual's opinions to be heard.

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 experience I will never forget was when I was turning in an outline for a paper during my sophomore year of high school. I remember turning it in to Lucy, who was one of my facilitators at the time, and waiting to hear the feedback on my writing and design. Shockingly, I remember Lucy told me she was going to use my outline for future examples and that it reflected what she was looking for precisely. I can still feel the sense of accomplishment as I patted myself on the back for the good work I had done.

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? 

Growing up watching all the kid's television shows in the early 2000s, I often found myself wanting to be the "cool kid" throughout my schooling experience. I strived to have the coolest outfits, have the most friends, and be the most popular among my peers. I would tell my younger self to not worry about what other people think and just to embrace being who you are.