Meet the alumni of awakening seed school
Emily Rabiner
Age: 27 | Location: Berkeley, CA
After finishing high school at Mountain View in Mesa in 2006, I went to Yale for college, where I studied Italian Language and Literature and graduated in 2010. I’ve spent the last six years completing an M.A. and working on my Ph.D. in Italian Studies at UC Berkeley. Luckily for me, my dissertation research also involves trips to museums and archives in Florence and Rome. I’ve now been a student for more than two decades, and I can trace many of my beliefs about education and pedagogy to my formative years at the Awakening Seed. Now that I spend more time on the other side of the classroom teaching undergraduate courses, I try to work with my students to cultivate an open and accepting learning community in which all of our voices are heard.
Emily Richeal
Age: 17 | Location: Phoenix, AZ
I just finished my junior year at Higley High School. The most important thing that Awakening Seed brought to me is friendships. I met a lot of friends the first year I attended the Seed at age 18 months. I was part of the first toddler class that my mom, Sarah Balluff, taught with Kerri Tornow. I am still friends with them. I also learned to respect others and the planet. My favorite event was the the Halloween carnival. It was fun to dress up and try to win a cake in the cake walk. I also loved the in-school camp out. The teachers are open-hearted and they made me feel like I was important. I’m not sure what is in my future but I know I’ll do great things because of the lessons I learned at the Seed.
Emma Strouse
Age: 16 | Location: Paradise Valley, AZ
I am currently a junior attending Xavier College Preparatory. I spend most of my time playing volleyball, but I also really enjoy hiking, working with kids, and scuba diving. Going to the Seed taught me the importance of both individuality but also community. Being in such a loving place at such a young age, I learned how to appreciate others and our surroundings and developed critical creative thinking skills. Having the ability to think innovatively, as well as the concept of love for your community, has assisted me in every aspect of my life; from school, to sports, to relations with others. I feel like the Seed provided me a very balanced foundation of values.