Students who have spent at least three years at Fairhaven School may earn a diploma by defending the thesis that they have prepared themselves to become effective adults in the larger community. Diploma candidates must declare their intent to graduate and answer questions at a special winter Assembly of parents, students, staff and public members. They also meet with their individual graduation committees, and defend their written theses before a Diploma Committee made up of three experienced staff members from other Sudbury schools. A majority of positive votes from the Committee is the final requirement of  the diploma process.)

How I have prepared myself to be an effective adult

Effective adult means many different things to many different people.  I believe an effective adult has responsibility, knowledge of self, effective communication and community integration.

When you are self responsible, effectiveness within the adult community is assumed.  When you aren’t responsible for your self other pursuits become irrelevant, not to mention impossible.  A job is essential for food, clothing, housing, and general finances.  And if a person is to have a job they must have responsibility.  I believe when you know who you are work becomes an act of gratitude.

I see work as something that becomes apparent through constant pursuit of happiness and balance.  With the pursuit of a balanced life there are many opportunity’s for responsibilities.  I believe through responsibilities we can find peace.

Now that I am of legal age, responsibility means knowing what needs to be done. I have learned to manage my money, take care of my car, and contribute to the household.  I am currently working for the Bowie Blade delivering newspapers once a week.  I have learned to be dependable in doing my job and recognize the importance of work ethic.

During my time at Fairhaven the judicial committee exhibited a fair justice system; I believe this system taught me responsibility as a necessary characteristic. Being written up repeatedly through out the years has been a cycle of learning resulting in a new perceived value of responsibility. The first case I remember was when I was 5 years old. My friends and I rolled a giant pumpkin across the co op grounds only to be written up later.  The pumpkin had an owner and we hadn’t asked permission.

Knowledge of self is critical to being an effective adult.  I believe an effective adult recognizes their infinite potential for self discovery and growth.    I believe it’s important to consistently ask yourself what you need concerning this.  I have been seeking knowledge of self primarily through a spiritual manner. Meditation has been a beneficial route in self discovery.

At Fairhaven I have been given an abundance of freedom.  This has been essential in pursuing the constant discovery of where I want to be in life.  Following enrollment I found interest in video games and learned to read from playing them.  I grew up with a love for nature that was nurtured by the structure of Fairhaven; spending hours in the woods, collecting rocks and building forts.  I was quick to follow my heart.  At Fairhaven I also found an environment ideal for relationships, that environment being one with few restrictions that would prevent me from discovering my truest nature.

I have been producing and composing music since I was 14.   Working with music has helped me open to myself and others.  Music is my primary inspiration as a career.  I also have interest in horticulture. Living in a rural area, I feel much motivation to learn how to live off the land.  I aim to project my value of a better world, through artistic and other expressions.

I believe an effective adult recognizes communication as the connection with the outer world and manifests this knowing with that very communication.  I believe communication to be essential for any connection. At Fairhaven I have learned to communicate with clarity and integrity, from discussing my job as “sound guy” in the plays, to talking about life with younger students. I find the widest knowledge to come from communicating to the widest age group.

An effective adult recognizes the importance of being integrated within a community.
Community is essential in a balanced life.  I find my inner balance most present when I reflect upon a community for support.  I have participated in music corp. and have been the DJ at school dances and coffee houses.  I have enjoyed being a part of many of the school plays as the sound engineer, helping to create various musical scores.  I have found much contentment coming from simply being a part of the bigger picture.

I went to the Fairhaven school co-op at age 5 and went to Fairhaven at age 6 when the doors opened.  I have been a student at Fairhaven for 12 years. During my time at Fairhaven School I have acquired responsibility, communication, integration within the community and knowledge of self. This is what an effective adult is.

By Jimmy Jackson

Fairhaven School Class Of 2010

Students who have spent at least three years at Fairhaven School may earn a diploma by defending the thesis that they have prepared themselves to become effective adults in the larger community. Diploma candidates must declare their intent to graduate and answer questions at a special winter Assembly of parents, students, staff and public members. They also meet with their individual graduation committees, and defend their written theses before a Diploma Committee made up of three experienced staff members from other Sudbury schools. A majority of positive votes from the Committee is the final requirement of  the diploma process.)

Catching Leaves

“In the blink of an eye, babies appear in carriages, coffins disappear into the ground, wars are won and lost, and children transform, like butterflies, into adults.”

–Brian Selznick

My art is not writing, it is telling. I tell stories through my artwork, but today I am telling you a story through my words.

I believe that an effective adult is a self-sustaining being, who does not need to rely on anyone but herself, and who knows responsibility and self-discipline. She is also aware that every action she makes has a reaction that will affect others and she is successful, meaning she is satisfied with herself and how she lives her life. An effective adult is also able to communicate her needs and feelings in a respectful and mature fashion, and can work and compromise with others to obtain contentment for all involved. She is also very adaptable, able to work with any type of situation easily and efficiently.

I was born July 16^th 1994 and I was given the name Lillian Ashanti Lani. I lived and learned from my experiences. When I was four years old I decided I was ready to travel across the Atlantic Ocean and the United States by myself. I flew from Kauai, Hawaii (which was my home then) to Delaware where my grandparents lived. That journey gave me a greater sense of responsibility for myself and my actions; it also quenched my thirst for independence and made me hungry for more. Ever since that trip I have loved to travel. I am captured by the thrill of experiencing new places and different cultures and I can acclimatize very easily.

In the summer of 2004 my mother and I moved to Maryland so I could attend Fairhaven School. I was very nervous, I didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t know if I would “fit in.”

My first day at Fairhaven went like this: I was walking into the office with my mom and out of nowhere popped this boy with long curly hair, bare feet and mud on his clothes. Zack Bennet. He looked at me and literally screamed, “HEY YOU’RE THAT GIRL FROM HAWAII RIGHT?!!” He didn’t give me a chance to reply. He just introduced himself, “I’M ZACK! YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE IT HERE!” Then he ran off. I remember being excited that I didn’t have to wear shoes and being terrified of that Zack creature. I also thought about what he told me, “You’re going to love it here.” I was skeptical; I had been to so many different types of schools and so far none of then had worked out. I had been uprooted and transplanted so many times it was hard for me to believe those words. But he was right, I loved it.

My first week at school I spent in the Art Room by myself. I was so happy I could just draw all day. ALL DAY!  I loved my new freedom and I fit perfectly into Fairhaven’s unique system. I watched; I played; I learned; I grew. I was no longer a child, not in my eyes, no.  I was a….  Well I wasn’t exactly sure what I was yet, but I was sure I wasn’t a child anymore. Why?

Because I had an opinion, I had a voice, a vote equal to those older than me; these are all things that were and are very important to me. I have always wanted people to listen to what I’ve had to say and I have always had an opinion about something.

At Fairhaven I also had the right to do what I wanted to do with my time, but occasionally what I did with that time landed me in J.C. My first time in Judicial Committee was as a plaintiff. I had written Jared Luczak up for repeatedly taking things out of my cubby. The other times I was there as a defendant. I went through a period of time when I lied. See, I was accustomed to the “you don’t get caught, you don’t get in trouble” policy, but at Fairhaven if you get caught and then you don’t tell the truth, you’ll get in much bigger trouble. When people found out I wasn’t being honest I got scared. I thought everyone was going to hate me for it.  But no, they didn’t.  I soon learned that it was okay to make mistakes as long as you learn lessons from them and that at Fairhaven School everyone is just learning together. Even though they might be learning very different lessons or might be at very different stages in their lives, we still all learn together and help one another along. I wasn’t I anymore, I was we, a part of the most amazing community I had ever experienced. When I figured out that J.C. wasn’t against me and out to get me, the judicial system was so much easier for me to work with. J.C. helped fine tune my ideals of respect, my actions and the reactions to them (in this case room restrictions and community service) and the benefits of telling the truth.

This year I found myself clerking J.C.; in previous years I had been interested in clerking or alternating but I just wasn’t ready to commit that much of my time. Julia Rubin and I were elected together. Clerking on the Judicial Committee really helped me improve my communication skills, and my patience. J.C. also helped me determine the most efficient ways to hear everyone’s thoughts and feelings and meet all their needs. I hadn’t ever really run a meeting before, unless you count a Music Corporation meeting comprised of three people. I had watched J.C. and School Meeting run so many times that I knew the theory by heart. So I dove into clerking and I loved the experience.

When I was younger and to this day I was given art supplies and puzzle games instead of a TV, so naturally when I saw the Art Room I thought I had walked into a dream. I have always been a very creative person and just being at Fairhaven inspired me to put my talents to greater use. I mean the entire campus is a beautiful work of art. I love to paint, draw and make 3D art. Working on my art projects enables me to dive into my imagination and just let go of all the stressful things in life; and it is amazing where my imagination takes me. This school year I went to School Meeting and got an attendance acceptation to have more time to work on my larger pieces of artwork. Art is really a passion of mine and I am basing my career off of the things I love because I believe that in order to be successful in life you need to enjoy your occupation.

I made a lot of amazing friends at Fairhaven. One thing that really helped me to do that is that I could just be myself at school and I didn’t have to worry about anyone judging me. After I had gotten comfortable with myself and my surroundings I started to be more outgoing.

Once, this girl, Josette Jackson, and I spent two weeks in the shop building a jump so we could play horses. Josette and I later became very good friends. We were inseparable, we played all day together, we ate together, and we practically lived with each other. She helped me learn and grow, and I likewise, helped her; it was a great friendship. Fairhaven showed me it was okay to be an individual. It was not a bad thing to stand out of the crowd and say, “Here I am. Accept me like this or don’t at all, but I don’t care because I am just me and I like who I am.” The school also helped me learn how to connect with lots of different types of people and cope with all their different habits and needs; I also gained courage to make new friends. At the age of twelve I even had the courage to take a trip to Tanzania, Africa, with my mother; we volunteered in the schools everyday for a month and during those days we were separated by miles. I taught my own class of twenty-five kindergarten and preschoolers who spoke mostly Swahili (the common language in Tanzania). I wasn’t afraid at all. I just took things as they came to me and worked my hardest to teach the children in my care. It was an amazing experience living there for a whole month. A lot of people that we met didn’t want me to leave and I seriously considered staying.

It was late spring 2008 when my mom told me I had matured enough to carry my secret name; she also told me we were moving to a different house. We had been living in the same house for four years. When we had lived on Kauai we had moved from house to house a lot, so I was kind of excited for the change. During that last school year at Fairhaven I had been debating whether or not to change schools, and in mid-summer I made my decision. I was going to try something new.

A new house, a new name, a new school.

So at the beginning of the new school year, instead of getting in the car with my mom and driving to Fairhaven, I got on a school bus for the first time in my life and headed off to the local public school, Southern Senior High. My first month at Southern I didn’t say a single word; all I did was listen, observe and memorize. This was such an abrupt change for me. I had attended public school on Kauai for second grade, but elementary school on an island is a whole lot different than a high school on the “main land.” I knew no one, and when I say no one, I mean every single person at Southern High had no idea who I, Salvia Lani, was. All of a sudden after four years of running barefoot though the woods, jumping in the stream and having Munchkin wars, I had a schedule. I had classes, I had homework, and I had to be there on time. It was kind of a culture shock at first but I adapted well to the very different school system and I thought it was a lot of fun.

I confused the teachers more than anything. No previous grades, no classes, no preparation and straight A’s! That is another thing I really love about Fairhaven, you just learn even without realizing it sometimes. Also I am just, “stubborn” as my mom calls me. If I want to do something I will work as hard as I can until I finish it or I will fall short, then I will get right back up and try again until I succeed. I am a very determined and self-motivated person. When I was very little I figured out that I can do anything I put my mind to no matter how difficult it is and no matter who tries to stand in my way.  With my artwork I like to set myself tasks and deadlines in order to exercise my self discipline and keep the gears in my brain well-oiled. That year in the public school system was really enlightening. It made me realize just how lucky I really was, how much freedom I had, and how much trust I was given at Fairhaven School. I learned some valuable things at Southern High School, and I met some people that I won’t ever forget and a lot more things that I can’t forget soon enough, but by summer I was ready to go back to good old Fairhaven.

I really enjoy working; I love the satisfaction of getting the job done even if it is extremely difficult. At the moment I hold two seasonal jobs, one in a catering kitchen and the other at a local café. I also provide child care for a couple different families. I am a very quick learner; you can show me how to do something once and I will be able to do it or you can take me somewhere once and I will be able to get you there again no problem.  This has been very useful for me in my places of work as it allows me to move up to the harder tasks quickly, plus I am a walking GPS.

When I was younger I would always answer that question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” with something different. Now that I have to answer it for real the list has become insanely long. (But everyone has to start somewhere, so here goes.)  I am going to get a full-time job for this summer in order to save up money to pay for my schooling and housing down the road. Then in the fall I will switch to part-time so I can attend community college, either AACC or PGCC.  My reasoning for this is because I would like to have a few credits under my belt before I start a four-year university. Next fall I am also going to take EMT training; I feel that I will learn a lot of very useful information and I really like to help people. That is another possibility for a job. In the field of four-year colleges I am looking at schools that major in art. I am very interested in a career as a fashion designer, an interior designer or a chef. These are all things I take pleasure in doing and I believe they will make lucrative careers.

Attending Fairhaven School has given me amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.  It has taught me to speak out for what I want and what I believe in. Fairhaven gave me the opportunity to focus on one subject or endeavor for as long as I was interested, and allowed me to follow my passions. It has helped me establish and govern my ethics of independence, self-discipline and responsibility; my efficiency and negotiation skills, my adaptability, awareness and self satisfaction. The school has helped me learn and grow throughout all my stages of childhood. It has helped me become who I am today, an effective adult ready to move on to new challenges and experiences in the larger community.

Even if I get nervous about taking the next step, I know all I have to do is take a deep breath, hold my nose, jump into the cold water, see where the current takes me, and work with it.

“It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the end.”

–Ursula K. Le. Guin

by Salvia Lani

Fairhaven School Class of 2010

Students who have spent at least three years at Fairhaven School may earn a diploma by defending the thesis that they have prepared themselves to become effective adults in the larger community. Diploma candidates must declare their intent to graduate and answer questions at a special winter Assembly of parents, students, staff and public members. They also meet with their individual graduation committees, and defend their written theses before a Diploma Committee made up of three experienced staff members from other Sudbury schools. A majority of positive votes from the Committee is the final requirement of  the diploma process.)

My Last Walk Home

Hello! My name is Zachary Taylor Bennett. I am seventeen years old and have been attending Fairhaven School for 13 years now. Every single second has been a learning experience because Fairhaven has allowed me to pursue my passion in whatever way I saw fit at the time. I love adventure, being outdoors and exploring. Among other things, early on, I wanted to become a paleontologist and a geologist, so I spent alot of time getting muddy in the stream searching for shark’s teeth, and finding that one rock that was so much better than the rest! I spent days, weeks, months and years exploring, happy with my wet clothes caked in mud and God knows what else. I was diligent, devoted and playing hard.

One of the things that Fairhaven urges its students to do is follow the rules. When I was younger, I spent a lot of time in the Judicial Committee.. I was suspended, indefinitely suspended, and even expelled at the age of six because I left school property three times. I decided to walk home, and got pretty far the first time. I was angry, frustrated, and wanted to get away from being bullied. Since my independence made me a liability for Fairhaven, I was expelled. I attended Davidsonville Elementary where I came to the realization that my opinion meant nothing. I had no control over anything; it was the opposite of everything I was used to. I was determined to do better the next time at Fairhaven where freedom is everyone’s right.

I have been traveling since the age of three months. I have been to several places including St. Martin, Bolivia, Panama, Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, the Canary Islands, Hawaii, and all over the United States. I have seen huts with dirt floors, given clothes and toys to the poor, and enjoyed the pinnacle of extravagance. I saw the devastation of 9/11 a month after the fact. I remember playing in the Circle Room of Fairhaven’s old building that morning and not knowing what was happening. At the end of September, my mom showed me. I was nine years old, with my scooter, in the city of New York. It resembled a war zone yet the people stood stong and proud. Being an effective adult means showing up.

Presently, my passions are snowboarding and spelunking. I helped organize the annual Fairhaven ski trips to Seven Springs three years in a row. I have been caving and snowboarding for ten years and traveling from coast to coast, often alone, to do it. After you do something for that long, you find ways to relate it to your life in general. For example, when you’re coming up on a thirty foot jump, there are a few things going through your head: Am I going fast enough or too slow? Am I going too far to the right or left or am I in the middle? Is there someone at the bottom of the jump? All these factors are in play. Let’s say I have a job and am excelling. If I tell them I can do things I cannot really do, I am going to overwhelm myself and get fired/ fall. On the other hand, if I take my time, in business, good jobs are quickly taken by people willing to take that hard fall.

I enjoy caving because it is one of the most beautiful ways to see nature at its best. Most caves remain untouched for thousands of years before we find them. They are a sight to behold. You would never believe how amazing it feels to be hundreds of feet underground until you have done it. I have been in lava tubes, tight spots, gigantic rooms, and in complete darkness. There is a cave in particular in West Virginia, named Simmons Mingo. Just entering the cave is a feat of its own. You literally climb down a thirty foot hole in the ground about as wide as a barrel of wine, followed by several other decents. In general, cavers must be prepared with the correct eguipment, cooperate and trust each other. We also take out of the cave whatever we bring in and the trash others leave behind. It is a sport that requires patience, endurance and skill, just like life.

Fairhaven has taught me to give back to the community. Whether you are sentenced to by J.C. or you do it on your own, it’s positive. Since I enjoy helping others, I decided to volunteer at the Woodland Beach Fire Department. From cooking at fundraisers to cleaning the trucks, I learned to deal with some of the nicest to some of the most unpleasant people in Edgewater. I am grateful for my communication skills. To further my experience, in July of 2009, I took a five week EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) course through the University of Maryland. The class required me to take five ride alongs on the ambulance and really buckle down and get serious. Unfortunately, I didn’t pass the final written test. This summer I will. Some of the people I encountered during my training were drunk, on drugs, and I witnessed one suicide. Treatments of patients must remain confidential so I will not elaborate. How it affected me is another story. I learned how desensitizing something like a suicide can be. I did not have nightmares or unwanted memories, it was just terrible.

I’m comfortable speaking in public, communicating, traveling and enjoy working. I have had an array of jobs ranging from cooking at Smoke and Spice, a BBQ pit, to working as a dockhand at South River Marina. In my current job, I do everything from working in the office to being outside with the mechanics, so I don’t make a lot of money. I do not have this job for money; I have this job for experience. I may join the military, not for the stereotypical reason, but for the stability of having a job, going to work everyday, and having a purpose in this world. It’s a lot to think about. My current plan after leaving this utopia of a school is to work for six months to a year at the marina, but no longer than a year, because believe me you cannot live on what I make.

In my intent to graduate, I spoke about balance in life and how it must be maintained. This is what’s most important to me in being an effective adult. If you work too much you’ll lose your friends. If you play, party, or just straight up goof off too much, you’ll lose the stability of a job that most people need for a happy life. Being an effective adult means being true to oneself. Being devoted, funny, responsible, honest, mature, and dependable is who I am. My life, so far, has required many choices. I want to live fully, take chances, change when necessary and remain flexible Whether walking my dog, spending money, managing time, being a friend or doing laundry, it all matters. Right now, I still make mistakes and do things that aren’t productive, but I’m learning all the time, and that I know for sure. My name is Zachary Taylor Bennett. I am seventeen years old, and this is my last walk home.

Zachary Taylor Bennett

Fairhaven School Class of 2010

Students who have spent at least three years at Fairhaven School may earn a diploma by defending the thesis that they have prepared themselves to become effective adults in the larger community. Diploma candidates must declare their intent to graduate and answer questions at a special winter Assembly of parents, students, staff and public members. They also meet with their individual graduation committees, and defend their written theses before a Diploma Committee made up of three experienced staff members from other Sudbury schools. A majority of positive votes from the Committee is the final requirement of  the diploma process.)

Yellow Jackets and Angry Chairs

Because ‘effective adult’ is a subjective term, I believe I should share my personal definition.  An effective adult in my opinion is an adaptive, self-sufficient individual.  I do not believe that age plays a very significant role in determining the effectiveness of a person in the larger community.  While it may be more difficult at times for a younger person to achieve the same goals as a legal adult, I believe with enough determination and maturity, nearly anyone can be self-sufficient and effective.  Furthermore, I believe that I am still on my way to becoming my ideal version of an effective adult.  I still have plenty to learn and experience before I would call myself completely effective, however, I believe I am off to a good start and headed in the right direction.

I began attending Fairhaven School when I was four years old, prior to its existence at its current location.  In 1997, Fairhaven was a co-op held in a house on the Pittman’s farm in Davidsonville.  It was only a part-time school; students enrolled there were considered to be homeschooled by the state of Maryland.  I can recall learning many life lessons at the co-op. These included how to use a broom, improving my chess skills and discovering debate through arguments over the existence of faeries.  One particularly memorable experience I had happened when I was on a walk with former staff member Romey Pittman, and I managed to irritate a nest full of yellow jackets.  I got stung by four yellow jackets in succession, and had to be taken back to the school to be treated.  Even though I had just been stung multiple times, I felt compassion for the wasps, and I was sad that I had upset them.  I’m told that despite the fact that I was in pain, right after I was stung I grinned and said “They must like my African-American meat!”  The co-op was a great place for me to begin learning skills that I still use today and will aid me in becoming an effective adult.

When I was three years old, I began taking violin lessons with a Suzuki accredited teacher until she recommended I play piano.  She told my parents about a piano instructor named Dr. Oster.  I took lessons from Dr. Oster for about a year and a half, and during that time I learned quite a bit about the piano.  When I was four years old, Dr. Oster invited me to play with some of her other students at a recital at the French Embassy in Washington, DC.  I recall practicing very hard to learn the song, and being nervous on the day of the recital.  In the end the recital went very well and I received high praise from the audience and my instructor.  From this experience I began learning the benefits of self-discipline and working hard to achieve my goals.

At Fairhaven I have been a clerk on the Judicial Committee three times and Alternate JC Clerk three times.  My first experience clerking full time was with Anna Droege; I was 11 years old and she was 10.  Being a clerk at that age was a big responsibility for me.  I had to remember to do the sentence list before JC, run the meeting or write the reports, and enter the case information into the database after each meeting.  At the time, one of the duties of the JC Clerks was enter the JC reports into the computer database after each meeting, a job the school’s secretary now handles.  Because I had good spelling skills I wrote most of the reports and did most of the database entry. Clerking could be considered one of my first jobs because of the skills that I was required to have and learn, and the amount of time I had to be willing to commit.  I recall dealing with some challenging cases and people in JC, and through that experience I improved my managerial skills and learned how to be a more patient person.

I have been a member of several corporations and committees at Fairhaven over the years.  These include Public Relations, Art Corporation, Music Corporation, and the failed Chicken Corporation.  I was also the Executive Director of Kitchen Corporation from 2004 to 2005, and I have been the Executive Director of Digital Arts Corporation since 2008.  As the Executive Director of DA Corporation, I run the meetings and help manage the budget.  I also am the sole certifier for the Digital Arts iMac and its miscellaneous hard and software.  At the beginning of the school year two years ago, I was voted successor of the previous Executive Director and at the time, the iMac was in a state of disarray.  There were no designated folders for students to save their work and no limitations on how much memory each student was allowed to consume.  Pretty much all of the RAM was in use when I began working on the Mac, and people had saved files in completely random folders.  It took two weeks of research, deleting files and password protecting folders that were not for general use for the iMac to be in a useable state.  I became more competent with Macintoshes during those two weeks, and even though I am nowhere near mastering that operating system, I’m happy that I was able to succeed at that task by myself.  In many of the corporations that I have been involved with, I have certified School Meeting Members for the various tools the corporation offered.  Being a certifier means that I have to be willing to get up and go teach someone how to properly operate the object in hand, even if I am having a lackluster day.  I have been accountable for certifying Fairhaveners for many things, including how to operate a sewing machine, graphics tablet, scanner, iMac, microwave and conventional ovens, knives, and Photoshop CS2.  I learned how to be a better teacher and I got better at operating some of the aforementioned devices through certifying people.  General knowledge is essential in the outside world, and I believe that I gained some through teaching others at Fairhaven.

When I was seven years old, I had to leave Fairhaven because of the tuition increase.  I left mid-year, which was devastating to me at the time.  I homeschooled for the next three years, but my parents were only involved in homeschooling me for the first year.  My father was unemployed for about a year and stayed at home with me, although he did not do very much teaching.  The next two years were spent at other homeschooled families’ houses, primarily my friend Gillian Brown and my godsister Jasmin Hall’s houses.  I missed Fairhaven so much and pleaded with my parents to let me return, but they could not afford to pay for the tuition.  I believe Fairhaven is a better choice for me, however, I learned some beneficial skills from my three-year homeschooling stint. These include how to entertain myself and how to get along with people that I was constantly around.  My cooking also improved when I was homeschooled, which I think is a crucial skill for an effective adult to have.

When I was eight or nine, I enrolled in an eight-week animation class in Greenbelt, taught by George ‘Mr. Geo’ Kochell.  There, I learned how to make claymation films.  I made a short film entitled The Angry Chair, in which the New York Stock Exchange bell awakens a giant chair, sending him into a rage and ultimately causes him to eat Enron.  I recall reading the newspaper briefly while brainstorming story ideas for my film and seeing an article about Enron’s downfall.  Not knowing anything about Enron, I made up a story about how they reached their demise.  Mr. Geo entered some of his students’ films into various film festivals, and one day in 2002, he told my parents that my film got accepted to the Ottawa ’03 International Student Animation Festival.  In October of that year, I flew with my mom to Ottawa, Ontario to attend the festival.  There were lots of really great animations; my favorite was a series of German films about a man who always wore an electric blanket.  My film did not win any awards, although I did get recognition for it.  Going to Canada was a really great experience; I remember trying to decipher the weather forecast because it was in Celsius, learning about different kinds of animation and tools, and being educated about local foods.  I believe that the chance I had to be really creative turned into a greater learning experience, and I ended up becoming worldlier because of it.

Another incident that I have experienced that has caused me to grow significantly is my estrangement from my mother.  One night in May, 2008, my mother dispossessed me from her home.  We had been having communication issues for many years; I disliked quite a few of her parenting tactics and she felt that she did not need to evaluate or change her tactics since she was the adult in the relationship and had authority over everything.  Needless to say, that caused problems in our relationship.  Since then, I have lived exclusively with my father, with no financial support from my mother.  This has been a burden for my father, especially when he was unemployed again in September, 2008.  This time he was unemployed for six months, and there were times when our water and electricity was shut off.  I definitely worried that I was going to have to leave Fairhaven, and he told me a couple of times that I was probably going to attend a public school.  A couple months after my dad became jobless, I started applying for positions at fast food restaurants, the only places that were offering positions for 15 year olds. In December of that year, I was hired as a Customer Service Representative at Domino’s Pizza, a position I still hold today.  These experiences have been very hard for me, but I have become a much stronger and more effective person because of them.  I have gained work experience and independence and I know that when I move out, I will be able to live by myself successfully.

For the last two school years, I have known that I wanted to go to art school, and I educated myself about the things I needed to learn in order to get accepted.  Last school year I began taking SAT Preparation courses at Fairhaven.  These included Algebra, Geometry and English classes.  I learned so much in those classes that was imperative to getting a decent score on the SAT Reasoning Test.  I took the PSATs twice before taking the SAT this January, which I believe also helped improve my score because I was more familiar with the testing process.  This school year I also searched for and applied to colleges.  I narrowed down my candidates to three: Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design in Denver, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Oregon College of Art and Craft in Portland.  I have been accepted by all three colleges, and all of them have awarded me with merit and talent scholarships.  Taking the SAT and applying for college has really given me a sense of working with deadlines, which is something I’ve needed to learn as I become an effective adult.

To conclude my thesis, I believe an effective adult is a self-sufficient and adaptive person that does not necessarily have to be a legal adult.  While I am working steadily towards becoming a completely effective person, I do not believe I am quite there yet.  I have had many experiences that have helped guide me to become a capable being in the outside world, including maintaining a steady job, learning how to enjoy solitary pursuits through homeschooling, studying for the SAT, and searching for colleges without the aid of an advisor.  I will continue to work hard towards becoming a more self-sufficient and adaptive person, and I am looking forward to attending college next fall.

Imani Stewart

Fairhaven School Class of 2010

Members of the class of 2009

It’s around midnight on a Wednesday night and just as I’m starting to fall asleep, it starts. Young women are screaming and gallivanting down the hall of the dorm that I live in here at Washington College. I swear, every time it happens (which can be pretty often), I want to march down the hall and pick up a JC form to fill out. And then I remember. No, I’m not at Fairhaven anymore. I can’t write people up for leaving trash outside or being too loud or running down the hall. But I do have a lot of freedom, just like I did at Fairhaven. I have the freedom to take the classes I want to, though there are a lot of requirements. I can lie out on the campus green and read a book or chat with friends, though it’s not as great as playing Capture the Flag.

There are many similarities between Fairhaven School and college, I feel like. Sometimes I don’t even notice it. It makes me feel sorry for the kids here who feel like they have to break free of something- their parents, high school, whatever. I believe it’s because I attended Fairhaven that I’ve never felt that kind of remorse. I’ve learned to truly appreciate my education. I’ve also learned that a lot of people don’t. As I’m in college on basically a full scholarship, I appreciate and utilize all of my time here and don’t understand when other students skip class (though I did once by oversleeping).

As scared as I was about starting college, it really isn’t that different from what I imagined it to be. There are house parties and movie nights and studying until you think your eyes will fall out and starting that paper the night before it’s due. If anything, college has taught me time management. There are deadlines and there are consequences. As an avid procrastinator, I’ve had to rethink some of my homework habits. I have also had to sort of learn how to study again, something I never really had to do at Fairhaven. Sure, I would memorize lines for plays but that was about it. I’ve had to relearn things and sometimes ask for help, which, for some reason, is something I absolutely hate having to do. I guess I must be stubborn or something. Here’s a little college anecdote. The second or third week of classes, I had a sociology paper due. I hadn’t really written a paper since my thesis and before that, who knows when. So I hiked very slowly over to the Writing Center, taking deep breaths on the way. Just as I was about to open the door of the building, I did a 180. I turned around and started walking back to my dorm. Then I turned around again. I did this a couple times. Myself eventually convinced me that I wasn’t stupid and that asking for help was okay. Needless to say, I went to the Writing Center, which was immensely helpful. A week later, when my teacher was handing back our papers, I wasn’t too hopeful. Turned out that I had gotten an A- on the paper. Not too shabby. I also made the Dean’s List last semester, with a 3.6 GPA. The only B I had was in my favorite class, Creative Writing. Go figure.

This semester has been a bit tougher, not to mention busier. Even though I quit the crew team, which I had joined in the fall, I find myself having a lot more work. It seems that the professors expect more of us this semester, which I truly cannot believe is almost over. It seems like a couple months ago I was tearfully reading my poem at graduation, but no,  it’s been almost a year. I’m still learning the ups and downs of college life and of life in general. But I like to think that so far, I’ve got a pretty good handle on it.

Zoe Woodbridge

Washington College

Fairhaven alum Kat Steigerwald (left) graduating from Prescott College

December 10, 2009

Dear Fairhaven-ers,

I am finally graduating! There is actually snow on the ground here in Prescott today, which makes me think of Maryland. Please find my senior project enclosed. It recounts some of my experiences volunteering for hospice this semester- an amazing experience. I also have the honor of presenting my project at Baccalaureate this weekend. Prescott College graduation is a lot like Fairhaven- each student picks a mentor to speak about them, then the student has a minute to cry (or do whatever!)

Thank you all so much for being part of my journey. I know that I wouldn’t have found such an amazing college if my time at Fairhaven hadn’t empowered me to take responsibility for my education. Now I just need to find a grad school…

Love,

Kat

With Kat’s permission, below are some passages from her senior project, a booklet entitled Reflections On Being With Dying.

For this study I added an additional two days of hospice volunteering per week, in addition to the one day I have been doing at a care home for over a year. These two days took place in The Hospice Family Care inpatient unit, which houses patients who are in need of symptom and pain management, respite care, or who are actively dying. I also researched the psychological and emotional processes of death, dying, and bereavement to inform me of what I should expect to witness while volunteering. Part of my project also involved a more personal exploration of death that included doing meditations and practices to become mindful of my life and the inevitable end to it.

(from “Introduction”)

Another reason why I chose to spend time with people who are dying is that death is a completely universal experience. As  a future therapist I could choose to specialize in addictions, multicultural perspectives, or adolescence (to name a few), but emotional issues surrounding death is one of the few things that I can connect to everyone about….I am able to relate to hospice patients whose lifestyles are completely different from mine, because all of the differences fall away when we get down to the business of life and death.

(from “Facing Facts”)

Days have a way of passing and leading into the next so fluidly that it is not unusual to wake up one morning and wonder “how the heck did I get here?’ Finding meaning in life requires being intentional about how we spend those days. I agree with [psychiatrist and author] Viktor Frankl that participating in life creatively, experiencing the parts of life we believe to be of true value, and the attitude we take toward our limited time in this world will lead to a meaningful existence.

(from “Meaning”)

I remember seeing one particular patient, Wendy, who was very confused and quiet. In the beginning of my visit I found myself chitchatting quite a bit, and only getting brief, indifferent answers from her. Once I realized how much I had been leading the conversation I quiteted down and let her get lost in her own thoughts for a while…During her stories she spoke very slowly, only a few words at a time. “You don’t notice getting older,” she began slowly, “and then one day you are…” After an extended pause she concluded, “and surrounded by elderly people.” This insight was very sweet, and certainly worth the wait.

(from “Silence”)

It is a cold and cloudy day today, and although this project must now come to an official end I know that death and dying are subjects that I will continue to explore until my theoretical death becomes a reality. Reflecting on the questions and ideas that have arisen for me this semester has helped me clarify how my relationship with death can make me a better counselor, volunteer, and friend. I will continue to foster gratitude, compassion, intention, a search for meaning, and the ability to sit with suffering in my life. And, knowing that there may not be a tomorrow, I am now going to throw on a coat, strap on some boots, go for a walk, and seize the day.

(from “Conclusion”)

Thanks, Kat for sharing your project with us. And Congratulations!

Students who have spent at least three years at Fairhaven School may earn a diploma by defending the thesis that they have prepared themselves to become effective adults in the larger community. Diploma candidates must declare their intent to graduate and answer questions at a special winter Assembly of parents, students, staff and public members. They also meet with their individual graduation committees, and defend their written theses before a Diploma Committee made up of three experienced staff members from other Sudbury schools. A majority of positive votes from the Committee is the final requirement of  the diploma process.)

My Building Blocks for Life

My name is David Shigeru Yamamoto Hepner.

I think an effective adult is someone who can make it on their own outside of school without the help of someone else. I have been attending Fairhaven for three years now; I decided to go to Fairhaven School because I don’t do well in the traditional school system. I feel I am an effective adult because I have all the tools and experiences I need to keep moving forward in my life.
I was about eight years old when I went to be tested for ADHD and Dyslexia. Over time, I have learned to not let them slow me down. I have found ways to have fun in school and life. I have found things that I like doing to make learning easier for me. I learn better when using subjects that I like such as sciences and history. I also am a kinesthetic learner and if I can do hands on work I will be really involved.

I wasn’t a very social kid in 9th grade I didn’t have the time. I was spending all of my free time on my school work and then some, so when I got here it allowed me to be who I am. I like to meet new people and converse and learn new things. It is interesting to hear about their lives, what they were like when they were my age, the different kinds of jobs they had, also the places they have been and the experiences they had there. these talks help me know find what I want to be and what I want to do in my life.

I have had a job for two years now; I work at a retirement community called Glen Meadows. I was hired as a server, but I do lots of things there, such as dishwashing and helping in the kitchen. It’s really nice because I really like to cook and being around real cooks is fun and educational. I can ask questions and learn about it and how to cook on my own. I work Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sundays, and I try to pick up shifts whenever I can. Each shift is about three to four hours. With the money I make I pay for my food and my own gas. I also pay for my insurance and maintenance for my car.

The first two years I went to Fairhaven I lived with my aunt Ruthy, because I live so far from school. This year I have had my license and drive back and forth from Baltimore. I drive about 60 miles to school and about 60 miles back home on Thursdays. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays I stay with my fellow student Zack Bennett. The time and effort I take shows the responsibility I have and the dedication I have to the school.

Now, I know you have my JC record. I know it’s really crazy, but every mistake, I have made I learned from. When I was written up for smashing a can of Axe I didn’t think it was dangerous at all. Now I look back and see it could have really hurt someone. When I didn’t put up the M sign on the door when I was playing an M rated game, some little kid like Sasha could have walked in and seen the game we were playing. As I have gotten to know Sasha and Wes I have realized I want to be a good role model so they can grow up to be good people. I was also written up for signing out on a food run to go get Zack Bennett when I only had my provisional license. I think being written up has helped me realize that I am responsible for my actions. Now when I think “hey lets go do something dumb”, in my head I say “wait you have little kids that look up to you”. Do I want them to think what I am doing is ok, and for them to go do it too?

Next year I want to go to Essex Community College. I know it’s that other little push I need to keep my self going and growing up and become a better person. I plan on attending for two years and getting the basic courses out of the way. I think it will help me find what I want to do in my life. Right now I feel interest in culinary, medicine, biology and mechanical engineering. After the two years I want to test out to the college that has the major that I want.  Through this time I will continue to work and support myself.

I think I have already started to become a better person while at Fairhaven.  I want to continue moving forwards in my life toward my goals of living on my own and working my way through school.

David Hepner

Students who have spent at least three years at Fairhaven School may earn a diploma by defending the thesis that they have prepared themselves to become effective adults in the larger community. Diploma candidates must declare their intent to graduate and answer questions at a special winter Assembly of parents, students, staff and public members. They also meet with their individual graduation committees, and defend their written theses before a Diploma Committee made up of three experienced staff members from other Sudbury schools. A majority of positive votes from the Committee is the final requirement of  the diploma process.)

Making My Mark
by Zoë Woodbridge

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I believe that all effective adult make their own marks, whether it is in their own community or in the world. This is how I have made mine.

There are many qualities that I think every effective adult should have. I am only going to describe the ones I believe are most important and ones that I possess. The first is the ability to provide for oneself by having a job or career with a steady income and the ability to manage that income. Effective adults should also have the ability to express their opinions. This goes along with the third quality that these adults should possess, which is being able to communicate with and contribute to the larger community. Lastly, but certainly not least, I believe that all effective adults should be able to find happiness and know what it means to be happy. I will describe in detail all of these qualities and abilities and how I, as an effective adult, embody them.

The first quality of being an effective adult is being able to provide for oneself by having a steady income. I think all effective adults should have a job or have had one in the past. By doing this, one is able to provide for him or herself. By having a job, one makes money, which is used to provide shelter, food, clothing and other necessities. Without a job, I do not think one can even begin to think about being effective in the larger community.

I have been babysitting since I was thirteen. When I first began this endeavor, I only made about $5 an hour. As I started to baby-sit more often, families got to know me better and tell their friends about me. I baby-sit for a lot of families at my church. Just this past year, I started babysitting a 2-year-old girl every Thursday and sometimes on weekends. I am responsible for feeding and entertaining her, giving her a bath, and putting her to sleep. This is a lot of responsibility for a teenager. It makes me realize how difficult raising a child is. I sometimes find myself being worn out after just two hours. It makes me glad that I am waiting a while to have kids of my own.

Another job that I currently have, which I started this year, is office assistant at school. I really enjoy it. I mostly answer phones and do other administrative work. One huge task I have had is updating the school’s Management Manual, which is probably more than 200 pages worth of information on running the school. This is an incredibly significant task that I will probably be working on for the rest of the year. Having a job also relates to how effective adults, like me, spend and save their money. Since I started working in the office, I have put almost every paycheck I get into my savings account. I also have money from babysitting and money that I received for gifts in this account. I plan to use this money for college expenses such as books or a laptop. Speaking of money, this past year when I turned 18, I decided to open a checking account. I put some of my salary into this so that I can pay for everyday things such as gas and food. With this account, I can write checks and have my own check card. It works like a debit card, not a credit card, something I hope never to have. But even without credit cards, one can still run into money problems. I was once buying groceries and thought I had more money in my account than I actually did. A week later I got a letter from the bank stating that I had spent more money than I had. They were also nice enough to tell me that I owed them a $35 fee. Making mistakes like this urges me to pay better attention to what I buy and how much I spend my money. I hate to have just talked about money as much as I did. Sometimes I wish that the world was still a place where people traded, not bought and sold things. But I believe that handling money responsibly is part of being an effective adult, so I have learned how to do so.

Though I already have a job, I realize that I will probably not be a babysitter or an office assistant forever. My dream is to be a published poet. I know this will take a while, so I have also thought of being a teacher, psychiatrist or newspaper writer. I know that in order to make the money that I need by working any of these jobs, I need to go to college. This past semester, I applied to six colleges: Drexel University, Brown University, Washington College, Hollins University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Guilford College. I think of going to college as making an investment in my education and career, whatever it is I decide to pursue.

The second quality which I think everyone, but especially effective adults, should possess, is being able to express their opinions. Many effective adults that I look up to, such as my parents, embody this quality. They have always been honest with me, even when I was young. When I make a decision that they are not pleased with, they let me know. They are not mean about it, but they do tell me exactly how they feel. They always taught me to say when I thought something was not right, or if I or someone else was being treated wrong. Most of what I know about voicing my opinion I learned from them.

Another place where I have learned to speak up is at Fairhaven. In JC, whenever I feel that a charge or sentence isn’t fair, I let people know. When I first came to Fairhaven, I was a bit soft spoken and still am in some ways. It took me a while to learn how to comfortably voice my opinion, after years of being told to shut up in public school, even when I was not talking. I also get to voice my opinion in School Meeting (SM). I did this more my first and second year. This entire school year, I have been SM Chair. It can be a really tough job that requires a lot of patience and often consists of a lot more listening than talking. Though listening is a good quality to have, I feel like I already have it. I need a bit more practice with voicing my opinion. However, I do try to tell people when I disagree with a motion. Mostly, I agree with the rules and regulations that we as a SM pass. I also get a chance to speak up when someone is out of order or not speaking on the current motion. This was really difficult for me at first because I hate interrupting people! Even though I have a ways to go with my ability to convey my feelings and opinions to people, I think being in a democratic environment has definitely helped me in the process. Having this quality certainly helped me when I was applying to colleges. I was required to write admissions essays for each one to which I applied. In each of these six essays, I had to be very clear about my opinions of myself, of learning, and many other topics. I also had to voice my thought clearly during my interviews with each of the colleges to which I applied. The interviewer would ask me very specific questions which I had to answer articulately. I would say I did fairly well, considering I was accepted to my top three college choices. I like to think that my acceptance is partly because of this quality that I possess.

As a third quality, I believe effective adults should communicate with and contribute to the larger community. I am currently a part of two communities. As I previously mentioned, I have been and am currently SM Chair. This is my 5th term. When I was first SM Chair, the terms were six weeks long. Now they are half of the school year, or one semester. I have also been Judicial Committee (JC) Clerk and Alternate twice. I love being part of a democratic system. When I realize that something is unfair, I am allowed to speak up about it. My voice can change things. As a student, that means a lot to me.

In school, I am also an active member of Music Corp, Kitchen Corp, and Theatre Corp. This is my second year being secretary of Music Corp; my first year I was executive director. I always help out with our coffee houses, dances, and other fundraisers. We have been trying to get a music building built so that students can play loud music whenever they want. I have been pretty involved with the planning and fundraising that goes along with that. As for Kitchen Corp, this is only my second year being on it. I am involved with cooking projects and fundraisers. We recently held a Parent Appreciation Night which included a lot of cooking, almost three hours. I helped with the preparation and baking. Everyone seemed to love the food. It felt good to have our work be appreciated. With Theatre Corp, I am also the secretary. I attend all the meetings and take notes. I have also been involved with all of the plays since I started attending Fairhaven. I was Mrs. Wayne in The Rise of the Dark Knight, the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, Wendy in Peter Pan, and most recently Meg in Mr. Winkler’s Birthday Party. I love being involved with the plays, not just acting but set production and costumes as well. My time with all of these corporations is always well spent. I feel that I am adding something to them and to the school. Not only time, but energy and ideas as well. I look forward to seeing what these corporations look like in a few years, as they are very special to me.

Besides Fairhaven, another community that I contribute to is my church, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in College Park. I have been attending this church since I was about four years old. It is a significant part of my life. I have made precious friendships there. I am very involved in my church’s youth group, which meets every Sunday before church. Attendance requires waking up at 9:00 on a Sunday morning, which is really hard for a teenager!  I try to get there as much as my sleep-deprived body allows me. We participate in a lot of service projects whether it is the 30- Hour Famine, where we raise money for third world countries and then fast for 30 hours, or making lunch for the homeless in the church’s kitchen. As well as being in youth group, I also participate in the actual church services. I am an usher, a person who welcomes everyone when they come to church. I’m also an acolyte which means I am in contact with the priest and I carry torches, crosses, etc. Being a part of a church family is very special to me. I love contributing to St. Andrew’s in as many ways as I can. I only hope to have a community like it and like Fairhaven in my life ten years from now.

The last but, in my opinion, most important quality that an effective adult should have is the ability to find ways to be happy. Now, of course, no one is happy all the time. And the people who act like they are probably fake it and are a little scary. But I think when one has all the aforementioned qualities, one can be genuinely happy with good reason. An effective adult can also be happy when he/she has things that they love doing. I myself have many hobbies and activities that I enjoy. Writing is the most important to me. I also love singing, dancing, acting, painting, and spending time with friends. When I am not happy, I know that I have to do one of these things to cheer myself up. There were definitely times, mostly in my pre-teen years, when I did not know how to do this. I would sit in my room alone, maybe reading or sleeping. I was not being very effective or happy. I finally realized that I had to get up and do something. Though I still sometimes go back to that place of being sad, I know how to get out of it, which is the most important thing.

As of right now, I consider myself to be happy. I am going to Washington College next year to continue my education. My plan is to major in English and minor in creative writing, since I want to pursue it as a career. I know how to take care of money, I can convey my opinions, and I am part of and contribute to more than one community. All of these abilities are ones that an effective adult cannot live without. They provide one with the basics to live independently and contentedly. These abilities also allow one to feel that they have a place and purpose in life. I believe that I am already an effective adult and will continue to be one when I leave Fairhaven. I have cherished my time here and enjoyed the help that it gave me to become an effective adult, though I was already on my way to becoming one. All that I can hope is that I make some sort of impact on the world during my time here, even if it’s just a footprint.

“I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a road and I –
I took the one less traveled by
And that had made all the difference.”
~from The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Students who have spent at least three years at Fairhaven School may earn a diploma by defending the thesis that they have prepared themselves to become effective adults in the larger community. Diploma candidates must declare their intent to graduate and answer questions at a special winter Assembly of parents, students, staff and public members. They also meet with their individual graduation committees, and defend their written theses before a Diploma Committee made up of three experienced staff members from other Sudbury schools. A majority of positive votes from the Committee is the final requirement of  the diploma process.)

The Paths of Explorations Leading, Shall Lead                              By, Richard Thomas “Max” Muffler

My idea of an effective adult is one who can provide for oneself without losing sight of what makes one happy. An effective adult will also give back to the larger community through their ideas and abilities. I believe that a person spends most, if not all, of their life trying to arrive at such a point.

Before I enrolled at Fairhaven, I attended a public middle school. I could not focus on my studies, for I was really displeased with my personal life outside of school. The chaotic environment created by so many of my peers in one room was distracting. The teachers would not assist me, so I just gave up on my responsibilities the school set for me.  If I could not grasp the information that was being presented, I could not successfully complete assignments. I got to the point where all I did was question life instead of just living it. So after the 7th grade, I joined the Fairhaven community. When I started at Fairhaven, I had a pretty bad outlook on life, so I tended not to be the easiest or nicest person to interact with. I really had no idea what to expect of a school with no assigned curriculum. My first impression was that I was free from responsibility and I had the ability to do anything I wanted, whenever I wanted. Then it hit me that I could really take advantage of the freedom and focus on my passions. Unlike the structure of my previous schooling, I could go about projects and things at my leisure, making the process more enjoyable with the end result of creating a better product. I found this to guide my way to a clearer and more positive outlook.

I started to play guitar and piano at a young age, but I never really had the time to take either of them seriously. Then I started playing Fairhaven’s piano and bringing in my guitar. At that point, we had a couple of students who were really passionate about music. They helped me understand different aspects of playing guitar, such as picking techniques and chord progressions geared toward specific genres of music. They helped me develop an all around appreciation for music. I also learned to play drums while at Fairhaven, just by listening to my peers play.  In public school, I took some clarinet classes and have used these skills to dabble in playing alto sax. I have made music via computer sequencing with the help of either a drum machine or programs such as “FL Studio” and “Logic”. I worked with the recording and editing of sound both in and out of school.  Playing music with others has been a big part of my life.  It is a challenge to find people that really dedicate themselves to focusing on a project. I played in a couple bands such as a three-piece   improvisational group called Motion Motion in which I played guitar, organ and synthesizer. We played a couple of small shows and then disbanded due to different directions within the band. I played electric piano and some synthesizer in another group known as Prehistoric, which is an experimental hip-hop group. I recorded some songs with them and have been in and out of contact. Lately, I have been trying to record with my current band that doesn’t have a name at this point. We are working on a demo and hope to be playing a show before summer.

While at Fairhaven, I have been Music Corp Chair more then once. Among my accomplishments, I identified the need for and assisted in the purchase of a new drum set for the school, which many people now enjoy playing and practicing with. I helped with several events such as coffee houses and the distribution of food to raise money for Music Corp. Perhaps one of the most important projects that I was a part of while in Music Corp. was helping soundproof the music room. This was done in response to complaints about the music being too loud. Now students may go about playing loud music without disturbing others.

After two or three years at Fairhaven, I started to grow an   appreciation for art. I have been exposed to it off and on during my childhood since my father is a calligrapher. I gained a lot from talking to and working with Leo Hussey, A former staff member and Peter Carlson, A former student. Working with Leo really helped me get a feel for my approach to sculpting. Art is not quite my forte, but I have such longing to learn and to make it so.   When it comes to my sculpting, I usually start with chicken wire or wood. I feel that I can go beyond this and I want to learn how to work with marble, granite, and other heavy-duty materials. I tend to like to work with others more than on my own since it allows me to share ideas and learn how to take constructive criticism. My solitary pursuit tends to be drawing, as my average sculpting pieces are fairly big and often require assistance.  I also build things by taking apart various items such as furniture and instruments and combining them. I am looking forward to acquiring more skills to improve my abilities as a sculptor.

I have recently started my term as J.C. Clerk. I have found it to be a very communal experience dealing with both young and older kids, with cases that vary in intensity. J.C. can be very stressful. The whole process of handling case after case has forced me to become a little more patient. I have also made it a point to attend most, if not all, school meetings for I think my vote and word is very beneficial to the community. I have argued for and against many rules and privileges in the time I have been here. My participation helped me to be a more efficient J.C. clerk. I believe if one uses the School Meeting system properly, one can really get what one wants out of this school.

During the winter break of 2007, I went to New Orleans to help aid those who were affected by Hurricane Katrina. I worked with Habitat for Humanity. While there, I stayed with my aunt. In the morning, I would go to the work site, which was a house on a corner near the Musician’s Village. The days were long, but well worth it. By the time I left the project, we had much of the base of the house finished. The work site was not that well organized and a bit chaotic at times, but I enjoyed the opportunity. However, I still felt that there was more that I could have done for the owner of the house as well as others affected by Katrina.

A couple months ago, I acted in a one-act play, directed by Ruth Yamamoto, a current staff member. It was my first time acting and I was a bit nervous about going on stage. It was overall a good experience. The work of memorizing line after line paid off and left me feeling very satisfied about my ability to act. After that, I started writing some plot lines and even part of a screenplay. I, with the help of Ruth, tried to act in and direct “Sleuth”. This is a play about an older man and a younger fellow who play mind games with one another over a woman they both love. Sadly, due to the lack of the right cast, it fell through. I am not discouraged though. I may pick up theater down the road. It was just such an awesome experience sharing the stage and connecting with my character and those of my costars.

I believe my dedication to my studies and participation in the larger community has prepared me to take the next step in becoming an effective adult. I volunteered to bus tables at a Thai restaurant known as Tamarind the summer of 2006. It closed down not too long after. I am in the midst of looking for a job. I am not quite sure what I want to    do in the long run, but I plan to attend Anne Arundel Community College in order to improve my academic foundation and to eventually study sculpting and anything else that may catch my interest. Once I have completed my time at Anne Arundel Community College, I plan to transfer to a four-year art school such as the Corcoran or MICA. My overall time at Fairhaven has been pleasant. I will take my experiences here and apply them to something bigger.    My life is a work in progress. I find that the more I achieve, the happier I am and the happier I am, the more effective I can be in supporting myself and contributing to society.

Students who have spent at least three years at Fairhaven School may earn a diploma by defending the thesis that they have prepared themselves to become effective adults in the larger community. Diploma candidates must declare their intent to graduate and answer questions at a special winter Assembly of parents, students, staff and public members. They also meet with their individual graduation committees, and defend their written theses before a Diploma Committee made up of three experienced staff members from other Sudbury schools. A majority of positive votes from the Committee is the final requirement of  the diploma process.)

THESIS
‘How have you prepared yourself to be an effective adult in the larger community?’

There isn’t really a way to define what an ‘effective’ adult is. Everyone has a different perspective on the subject, but no one can honestly set a solid definition for the term ‘effective,’ it is, in its entirety, an opinionated question. I honestly have no idea what my opinion is on the matter. I have gone over the question again and again in my mind, and I can’t help but feel that being effective really doesn’t have much to do with what my future plans are. I want nothing else than to make myself and others happy, and if that’s considered to be effective, then so be it. I don’t think I can write a thesis on how I’ve prepared myself to be an effective adult if I don’t even know how to define the term, so I’ll write a thesis on how Fairhaven has helped me grow musically, which is all that I find relevant.

I began playing guitar when I was 11 years old, long before I began attending Fairhaven. I never really considered it as a possible career path; it was just something to do. But as the years went by, it didn’t fizzle out like most things I took up when I was younger. My mom purchased me a very nice electric guitar, and I continued playing, but it wasn’t something I really took seriously. It wasn’t until I was 14 that I was introduced to the blues, particularly mister Stevie Ray Vaughan. It was something completely honest and instrumentally oriented; music with heart and soul, and years and years of preparation and practice (unlike the half baked pop stars I had previously listened to). I began listening to more and more ‘real’ music, knowing what real music was, I realized I would have nothing else than to be a musician. I have since branched into different genres as well, but I will always consider myself to be a blues guitarist.

I’ve known about Fairhaven since I was 5 years old, so I can’t say like most do that the system amazed me when I came here. It’s always been something I’ve known about and something that’s been an option to me. Now this may sound crazy, but up until 7th grade, I liked public school. I decided to give Fairhaven a try in 8th grade though, given I did not want to pass up on an opportunity to attend such a bizarre school. I loved it, obviously. However, I decided to go back to public school in 9th grade, just to give high school a try. Now, when I went back, I had just begun taking music very seriously. Having not taken it seriously in my previous years at public school, I had a very different experience upon my return. It was a never ending monotony of waking up, going to school, coming home, doing homework, and going to bed, leaving no time for music. Within 4 months, I was back at Fairhaven. Since I’ve come back, I’ve been able to grow as a musician, as opposed to public school where my muse was constantly being stifled by a lack of creativity and a ridiculous amount of homework.

Now money happened to get tight in my family around the time that I began taking music seriously. Being more of an acoustic oriented guitarist, and not having a good acoustic guitar, I began scrubbing toilets and taking out trash at Fairhaven. It was a painstaking couple of months, but I never missed a day, and in the end I purchased an absolutely beautiful electric-acoustic martin guitar. Having worked for it, I love it very, very much.

I will admit, I am kind of addicted to buying instruments. I think absolutely all instruments are gorgeous, and I wish I had the time and money to learn every one of them. Looking to make more money than I did at Fairhaven, I was granted an attendance exception and got a job at a music store. I have since learned a great deal about instruments, and have purchased a digital piano and clarinet.

Having a job has also allowed me to experience something absolutely incredible. I spent the first 300 dollars I made on tickets to see B.B. King at the Birchmere. I sat right up front, got his autograph, and shook his hand. It was an experience I’ll never forget.

As for the future, I am planning to attend University of the Arts in Philadelphia and earn a Bachelors in instrumental performance for guitar. I am applying this year, and if I get in I’ll go, if I don’t I’ll stay home and work for a year. I plan on being a studio musician, which most of the time requires proficiency in more than one instrument. I’ve of course been furthering my skills in guitar, and I’ve also been working on clarinet and drum set, as well as taking classical piano lessons from Kim and jazz piano lessons from Michelle.

I plan on someday owning a blues bar, possibly in Chicago. Though as of right now I can’t decide if after earning my degree I’ll come home and go to University of MD to earn a business degree, or if I’ll wait until later in my life to pursue this goal. It’s hard to tell where I’ll be and what I’ll want 4 years in the future, but I am a decisive person, and I know when the time comes to make decisions, I’ll know.

Now I must address one thing that I know must be explained; my age. I understand I am quite young to be graduating, but as I’ve clearly demonstrated I know exactly what I want to do and how I’m going to do it. One of the amazing things about Fairhaven is you can graduate when you’re ready, as opposed to when you’re told. If I felt I wasn’t ready to go out into the world, I absolutely would not be doing it.

I respect whatever decision you make on my behalf, and I thank you for your time.

Carly Long

‘‘What we think and what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only thing of consequence is what we do’’
~John Ruskin