One of the best things about Leadership High School is our Advisory program.
A few days ago, my 2008 Advisory and I had our seventh post-graduation dinner (we meet twice a year) to catch up and see how everyone is doing.
You can see some of my advisees to the right!
This time, the main thing my students wanted to talk about was college. Marilyn, first in her family to attend college (like nearly all LHS students), just graduated a semester early from UCLA. Now she’s applying to a master’s program in social work. Amy, finishing up at UC Santa Cruz with a double major in American Studies and Psychology, said she “really likes school.”
Angelica just got a B in Microbiology after studying the hardest she’s ever studied in her life. When Jeremiah said he wanted to take a semester off to get a job and take care of finances, Ja’Nay warned him that if he did, he’d never go back. Despite facing health issues, Jason said he feels best when he’s in school. And Franklin somehow fits in a full-time load at San Jose State while working 40 hours a week doing security in Hunters Point.
Another topic of conversation was the recent news reports about Leadership High School. I told them about the California Charter Schools Association’s public call to close our school. We got into a good conversation about the influence that LHS had on their lives. Everyone spoke highly of their experience and wanted to find out how they could help with the school’s charter renewal. Franklin was certain that he wouldn’t have attended college had he gone to another high school. Others talked about how the school taught them the importance of social justice.
It was heartwarming to see my advisees again. They are good people doing good things. I always look forward to our dinners, and I hope we continue our tradition for years to come.
It’s clear that the Advisory program helped my students navigate high school. But it’s also clear that it’s offering them a way to stay connected in adulthood. After all, growing up doesn’t end at 18.
This post illustrates how utterly tragic it will be if they do close your school.
At least we know that you would continue to make a difference wherever you went.
Have a good Christmas. Let’s hope the holiday season recharges your batteries so that you’re even more motivated than ever.
John, thank you for your comment. We find that our graduates do very well in college. For our students, education is not just a means to a good job. As a teacher, it’s wonderful for me to stay in touch with them as they figure out their next steps.