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The Woolman Semester
The
Woolman Semester is a program that incorporates
the Quaker values of Peace, Justice, and Sustainability
into one semester of high school. I first learned
about it at the 2006 Friends General Conference
Gathering when the Woolman Admissions Director
gave a presentation to the High School Community.
It sounded like a place where my ideals could
flourish, but, at the time, I never expected
that it would be a viable option for me. It
is in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains
– far away from Philadelphia and not easily
navigated in a wheelchair or walker. It stayed
in my mind for the next few days. Then I dismissed
the idea.
Over the next fourteen months, I was reminded
of the Woolman Semester on several occasions
and dismissed it each time. In the fall of 2007,
however, I began to recognize that attending
Woolman was within my reach. I was rapidly becoming
more independent and realizing that I could
go live on my own before college. I also knew
that attending the Woolman Semester would nurture
my personal beliefs and enhance my educational
experience.
After a long admission process during which
time we figured out how I would live on the
rugged campus and thrive in the rigorous academic
program, I was accepted into the Spring 2009
Woolman Semester. I left for Woolman on January
22, 2009, and I finished in May. I
then returned to Philadelphia and graduated
from Central High School in June.
While I was at the Woolman Semester, I
periodically sent out updates to let people
know how I was and what we were doing. Links
to the updates are below:
Woolman
Semester Email Update – February 7,
2009
Woolman Semester
Email Update – February 21, 2009
Woolman Semester
Email Update – March 14, 2009
Woolman Semester
Email Update – April 6, 2009
Woolman Semester
Email Update – July 12, 2009
On April 22, 2009, my father, Laurence Marc
Sigmond, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep.
I came home for five days and then went back
to Woolman for the rest of the semester. Being
at Woolman was such a wonderful experience,
and I knew that my father would have wanted
me to go back. Being there after he died was
also healing for me. I planned to continue
sending out my updates, but I had to deal with
my schoolwork and grief. I sent out Update
#5 in July, after I came home from Woolman.
During the Spring 2009 Woolman Semester graduation
ceremony, each student gave a speech. Click
here to read a copy of my speech.
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