By Sharon Vomhof
I graduated from high school last month. A few years ago, I thought I would be happy when I graduated, but now I’m not so sure.
I entered Mini-School the second quarter of my sophomore year. It was really a battle for me to get into the program. The day I had the parent—student—teacher conference is one I will never forget. My dad was against me getting in the program. I have had two brothers and one sister in Mini-School, and according to my dad, all they earned was “under-water basket weaving.”
Anyway, I fought and was accepted in the program. My first year of Mini-School, I learned a lot. I learned how to care for other people, which is something I never learned in mainstream. I learned that I could survive on a bike-canoe trip, where I biked between 350-400 miles, and canoed about 120 miles. I learned how to write in communications, I learned fractions in math, I learned many things in social studies that I had never known, and in English I learned how to use and broaden my imagination.
In my second year of Mini-School, I learned how to build a canoe. My brother, Bruce, and a friend of ours, Aaron Bonkoski, built a canoe for a Mini-School fund-raiser. After classes, I would watch them and ask many questions. Right now, I believe that if provided with the materials, I could build a cedar-strip canoe.
I also participated in two trips. One was to Arkansas, where we helped some people get a farm started, and another to South Dakota, just learning about the state.
Now in my last year of school, I wish I had another to to go. The people, especially the teachers, mean a lot to me. Even Lester, the Mini-School aide, has done a lot for me.
I would like to give some advice to present and future Mini-School students: be good to the program and take care of it. It’s done a lot of good for a lot of people, and I know it will continue to do so.
Now in closing, I would like to thank the Mini-School staff, Dr. Smith, and a former Mini-School teacher, John Eiden, for helping me through high school. Even though I don’t show it all the time, I really appreciate it. Thanks!