Rites of Passage for Emma

Emma's graduation from an online high school took place yesterday at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The cold and rain didn't detract from the happiness of the occasion, especially as, before the event, we were able to take refuge inside a heated conservatory and a restaurant on the premises. The ceremony itself was held inside a large tent, and the rain had the decency to cease and desist thereafter just long enough for us to snap a few photographs outdoors.

Emma is a self-directed learner who has managed her own education since third grade, when she quit regular school. She was not particularly happy in second grade at our local public school. Her classroom had no windows, and she came home nearly every day with a headache. She became frustrated with sitting still for hours every day. It was an unnatural environment for a young, active child who loved to learn. As an online schooler, she has not required adult nudging or intervention but organizes her time and her schedule quite effectively. Throughout high school, she chose to take a wide variety of electives (music, photography, marine biology, etc.) and explored these areas well outside the curriculum. As an independent learner who related better to adults than other kids, I think online school was a good fit for her. I think she probably learned more than she would have done in a regular school, partly because she was able to take complete ownership of her own education. She was able to explore and develop her many interests, which include music, writing, marine science, anime, and social activism.

Then today, Emma attended a "Bridging Ceremony" at the High Plains Unitarian Universalist Church in Colorado Springs. Bridging is a celebration of graduating high schoolers' transition from "youths" to "young adults". Each of the kids spoke for a couple of minutes, and I was impressed by how self-possessed and articulate they all were. Emma played the piano and sang during the service. She attended the UU church a few times with me when she was very young, after which we all took a hiatus for some years. She independently went back a couple of years ago and has found it a very enriching place. She has made great friends with other teens and with adult mentors, and the church has helped her become involved in social activism. As a result of contacts she made through the church, she has earned a scholarship to go to Washington D.C. next month. Once there, she will be trained as a lobbyist and will begin actively lobbying for climate change legislation.