Title: Colorado Timberline Academy
Category: bored
Blog Entry: During the years of my rebellion, I attended a private High School
located just north of Durango, Colorado inaptly named Colorado
Timberline Academy. It was nowhere near the timberline and though it
boarded rich kids from around the world, it was far from an academy. It
hosted some of the most eclectic people Ive met in life and I wish to
share the experience now with all of you who actually read my blogs. I
dedicate this to Vik, who so graciously shared her boarding school
experience with me.
My daunting grandmother had, all my life, put $20/month away in a
savings account for my future. I lived with my mother in the early 90s
while she attended Ft. Lewis College. Her school schedule and kidney
transplant had affected my ability to complete an entire year at any
public school and I was suffering from consistently transferring from
one school to another. A close family friend, who also lived in
Durango, saw great potential in me and referred me to CTA. She was on
the board of directors and could assist with their scholarship program.
So, after a lengthy application process and the annihilation of my
meager savings account, I attended CTA with stars in my eyes.
The first task after orientation was a week long hiking trip in the
mountains surrounding Silverton.
This was intended to be a skills test get us down to bare bones work
and exhaustion and evaluate how we would perform under the pressures of
the coming school year. A few students turned back and were then kicked
out of CTA. I, however, managed the 98 mile hike, thanks in large part
to my father for trekking me all over southwestern Colorado as a
youngling. The experience was exactly as predicted, difficult. Each
student joined one of 8 groups depending on their experience level. I
chose a moderately difficult hike. There were 4 other students in my
group, and 2 staff members. With all of my equipment (tent, cookware,
food, water, sleeping gear, rain gear and a few changes of clothing) my
backpack weighed in at just over 60lbs.
One of the students in my group was Sasha from Russia. He had been
adopted by an American couple from California, but had a difficult time
adjusting to life in America. A year younger than I, Sasha became my
fast friend. He had never hiked before in his life and all of his
equipment was brand new; he suffered a great deal with blisters and
sunburn. I helped him as much as possible, taking some of his gear to
ease the load, lagging behind the rest to keep him company and
encouraging him through the tears of frustration.
Upon passing the inspection of my physical abilities, school began. CTA
uses a block system of education. Basically, that means that they cram
3 semesters into a 2 semester time period. Our routine included 3
classes per day, for 1 1/2 hours at a time with an hour break
in-between classes. During these breaks we were assigned basic chores
in order to keep the campus in tip-top shape, after which it was
mandatory study hall. I took the required courses Algebra, Geometry,
Literature, US History & Government, World History, Biology I, II
& III, English, Creative Writing, and Physical Education (Rock
Climbing and Weigh Training) as well as some fun electives, Japanese I
VI, Photography, Classic Films of the 70s, Cooking, Drama, etc. My GPA
went through the roof at CTA. It was possible to earn a 5.0 (normal
public school caps at 4.0) and should I transfer to public school
again, I would qualify for all honors classes College Prepatory indeed.
The total school population toped out at 68 students, but people left
throughout the year for various reasons and some people came late in
the year. I made several friends, Dorothy, Bianca, Jeremy, Sasha,
Daisuki, Koh, Ryan, Ken, Dave, Dillon, Adelle, Martin, Matt, Shennon,
and Yuko. I also made a few enemies who I wont name here The
interesting thing about the dynamics of our school is that it was
possible to see which attributes each of us brought to the whole. We
all knew each other on that intimate level that you just dont achieve
at a public school. We were family.
We took 2-3 more camping/hiking trips throughout the year. I chose to
go to Lake Powell both times. I remember being on the lake for Spring
Break, completely out of touch with the world and when I returned,
everyone was talking about the FBI building that had been bombed in
Oklahoma City. It had happened days before, but we were oblivious. My
Grandmother died that year too she was young and it hit me hard.
Selling her stuff was one of the worst experiences Ive ever been
through, because I just couldnt grasp that she wasnt coming back and I
thought, Wait! Shes going to need that stuff! Her funeral was unreal
and the first night that we stayed in her home without her, I had
flashbacks to when I was an infant in that house perhaps the only time
Ive come close to seeing God was during that grieving process.
I took Sasha home with me one weekend. He needed to get off campus and
we had a total blast. My parents loved him as much as I did. He was the
little brother that I wanted! I took another friend, Ken, home with me
for Thanksgiving. Kens family lived in Japan, and they couldnt afford
to send him home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, so he hung out
with us gypsies in Silver City, New Mexico.
We had a vegetarian celebration that year. Ken didnt know what to make
of our bunch, but Im sure that he fondly remembers that holiday to this
day.
Academically, I did very well at CTA. The overall experience was one
that I will cherish forever. My parents felt differently however, and
decided that I need not return to CTA for another year. Along with the
good that I achieved at CTA, I also became involved with drugs and sex;
a lot of both, to be sure. In defense of my choices, I have to say that
it was not the people at CTA that led me to such unruly behavior. My
parents, against their best intentions, had sheltered me from the ways
of the world. I know now that they did so in a completely relaxed and
natural way, not because they were fundamental Christians or freaky
alien abductees or anything. They just chose not to deal with the
social bull-??? that people encounter in mainstream America. I cant
say that I blame them, though it did me a disadvantage in coping with
reality in many ways
Ahh, the memories linger...
VIEW FULL VERSION: Link