Welcome, Lilacs!

 

Christmas In.....April?!

 

We ordered this thing back in November intending for it to be one of her Christmas gifts. It finally arrived the other day. Better late than never, I suppose! xo 

What Are Your Plans for After Graduation?

 

 

Not my words (obviously, since y'all know that Dave and I don't have sons ) but given that Grace isn't taking the college path I felt that this was fitting to share, along with the annoucment that she has decided to head to cosmetology school in the fall rather than college! 

The title of what's shared below should be called: 

"What are your plans for after graduation?" 

I heard it again yesterday at my son's baseball game. A well-meaning parent leaned across the bleachers toward my son and asked, "So, where are you going to college next year?" The question hung in the air as my son shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting toward me.

My son isn't going to college next year. And the assumption that he should be—that this is the only acceptable next step—is something we've been navigating with increasing frustration.

When my daughter graduated five years ago and announced she was taking a gap year to work for a conservation corps in Colorado, people responded as if she'd declared she was joining the circus. "But when will you go to college?" they'd ask, their voices tinged with concern, as if her life was now on some tragic detour.
She's now a certified wilderness first responder with specialized technical training, leading backcountry trips and making more money than several of her college-educated friends.
She loves her life. She wakes up excited about her work. Yet at family gatherings, relatives still ask when she's going "back to school," as if her current path is just a placeholder for the "real thing."

My son and his friends are all seniors planning their next steps. Among them are future electricians, mechanics, entrepreneurs, military recruits, and yes, college students too. But guess which ones get asked about their plans most enthusiastically at graduation parties? Guess which ones receive the affirming nods and approving smiles?

We've created this strange hierarchy of post-high school plans, with four-year universities sitting untouchably at the top. Trade schools, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship, gap years, military service—these are often treated as consolation prizes for kids who "couldn't get in" somewhere prestigious.

The reality? These paths aren't lesser alternatives—they're legitimate first choices that deserve our respect and celebration.

My son's friend Tyler spent weekends during high school apprenticing with his uncle, a master plumber. While classmates were touring college campuses, he was learning a specialized trade. He'll graduate from high school on Friday and start his official apprenticeship on Monday, debt-free and already equipped with valuable skills. In four years, when his classmates are collecting diplomas and student loan statements, he'll be earning a solid income with benefits in a profession that can't be outsourced.

Yet at senior night, I watched teachers enthusiastically announce college destinations while Tyler's future received a quick, almost apologetic mention.

I've started interrupting this pattern in my own conversations with teenagers. Instead of the automatic "Where are you going to college?" I ask, "What are your plans after graduation?" It's a small shift, but I've seen the relief wash over faces when young people realize they can share their actual plans without apology or explanation.

I've watched too many teenagers trudge off to universities not because they had a passion or purpose there, but because no one ever presented any other option as equally valuable. So this is what I want to say to the parents who have spent 18 summers raising these remarkable humans now standing at the threshold of adulthood: College isn't the finish line. It's not even the only race. It's just one of many paths forward, and success looks wildly different for different people.

When we narrow the definition of success to a single path, we rob teenagers of the confidence to find their own way. We teach them that their worth depends on following a specific route rather than discovering what makes them come alive.

So please, the next time you meet a high school senior, resist the automatic college question. Instead, open the conversation to the beautiful diversity of possibilities that await them. Ask what they're excited about. Ask what they're good at. Ask what problems they want to solve.

And then, whatever answer they give you, respond with the same enthusiasm you'd offer if they said "Harvard." Because their path—whatever it is—deserves nothing less than our wholehearted celebration.

Credit goes to the original author (though I am not sure who that is exactly as the post I saw this in and copied it from only shared the "credit goes to original author" statement). 

Grace's Senior Project Presentation

When we heard that Miss Jaia, Grace's teacher from eighth grade, was returning to Seasons of Seven to teach Class Twelve, we knew that Grace needed to be part of the class again! She chose to attend for two of the blocks. The first was about Faust/Goethe and Color Theory an the second was the Senior Project block. These blocks were running back to back starting in February which was perfect timing for her! 

Grace chose to create a pollinator hotel for her senior project. A few years ago when she was considering doing the Gold Award for Girl Scouts she had thought she would build a pollinator hotel for that. However, since she decided not to persue the Gold Award she knew that her senior project was the pefect time to finally make this pollinator hotel happen. With support and guidance from Dave the pollinator hotel finally was created and this past Thursday Grace gave a stellar presentation during the final class for this block! Below are a few of the pictures I took of her presentation. 

And, of course, she had to paint pollinators and flowers on her nails in honor of this day! xo 

Final Preparations

For her senior project Grace chose to design and build a pollinator hotel. Above is the watercolor she painted in order to help her figure out what she wanted the hotel to look like. Dave was a huge support throughout this process, as he helped her figure out which materials she would need and how to construct it. Along with her pollinator hotel, she also put together a PowerPoint slide deck for her presntation and wrote a research paper about the importance of pollinators and what people can do to keep all pollinators from becoming extinct. Such a perfect senior project for our girl who has been smitten with pollinators since she first watched Wings of Life when she was like eight years old! xo 

In Which Emma Participates in the USC Ice Bucket Challenge

 

And in which we also take note that it's time to re-paint the house! 🤣 xo 

You Know You're a Waldorf High School Junior When....

 

you're spotted in the wild reading Parzival! xo 

Happy Easter!

 

Today In Hudson

 

On my way from dropping Grace at the dance studio to the farm to pick up our flower share and then over to the co-op market to get a few things I decided to head through the center of Hudson. I was thrilled to see that a large amount had gathered around the rotary in downtown Hudson to speak out against the current regime. I quickly found a parking spot and then headed over to join them. The vibe there was wonderful and empowering and made me feel like maybe, just maybe, all hope was not lost yet. xo 

Two Lights for Tomorrow

 

Mission Accomplished

 

After four long years, with one solid year spent working on my dissertation, I am thrilled to share that my dissertation defense today was sucessful and that you can now address me as Dr. Shel Frolich-Tscherne! Misson accomplished indeed! xo 

Elite Team Competition

The Elite Team always has one comp that they attend without any of the other teams from CSDS. It's basically one of the "perks" of being on the Elite Team. This comp was held in Worceter at the DCU Center and since I was prepping my slide deck for my dissertation defense Dave was the one that acompanied Grace to this competition. Emma and I watched from home (#livestream). It was a tough comeptition but the Elite girls did a fabulous job and left it all on the dance floor! One more comp to go before Grace's career as a competitive dance has come to a close. xo