Colorado Timberline Academy

By: hypenhide Mood: bored Date: 09/09/2007 12:57:44 Music: None

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...