Today, we’re excited to introduce you to Walker, a student at Holden High School! Read on to discover how joining our small, caring community gave her the confidence to pursue college after graduation.
“I’m a junior!”
“I actually like coming to school now. I’ve experienced a lot of anxiety and depression throughout my life. Before Holden it felt like I was mentally holding my breath all the time.
The anxious thoughts still pop up from time to time when there is a lot to do. But, since I started at Holden, the general fears and worries I had are subdued because the environment here is so welcoming and comfortable.
It’s super helpful to have a whole RES period once a week that’s dedicated to helping me process my thoughts and let go of the ones that don’t actually serve me.
I accept myself a lot more when I’m here. I can be my unapologetic self.”
“Before Holden, I hated going to school so much that I had trouble falling asleep at night during the school week. There were times when I intentionally stayed awake until 3 or 4 in the morning just so I would be too exhausted to feel anything throughout the school day.
My previous school operated on a one-on-one learning environment. My classroom consisted of myself and my teacher only. I definitely feel like this model helped me grasp academic concepts with zero distractions, but it also hurt my ability to grow socially.
At first I didn’t mind this teaching model, but after awhile the lack of a social structure started wearing on me. I felt claustrophobic.”
“I looked at lots of different schools and I knew Holden was the school for me after my visit day. I remember sitting in an Algebra class and feeling very light-hearted about everything I was seeing and hearing.
The interactions between the teacher and the students were very encouraging. I didn’t feel pressured to have all of the right answers. I felt comfortable and reassured.
Before Holden, I was socially guarded. It used to take a very long time before I felt comfortable enough to open up and make new friends.
Holden has allowed me to come out of my shell. I feel more comfortable socially now than I ever have before.”
“Holden is a community. It’s this big welcoming environment where you can be yourself and you can find someone like you . I thought I was weird, but then I came here and found people just like me.”
“Everyone at Holden is so supportive. They’ve made me feel more confident in what I enjoy doing. A couple years back I would not have been comfortable enough to tell people that I enjoy writing.”
Fun facts about Walker:
You are invited to discover if our unique, vibrant school would be a good fit for you. Scheduling a tour is a great way to experience Holden. Our small group tours are scheduled during school hours. Small group tours are limited to 3 families or less per group.
HOLDEN HIGH SCHOOL
FINALLY, A SCHOOL THAT FITS.