Kim O'Donnell is Tending the Spring

   Pictured above is Springhouse student, Jeret Phelps.  He graduated in May and he has given me permission to share the entirety of his graduation address.  His words capture the essence of why Springhouse matters so much to me.  Getting to know this wise, kind, and tender young man has been a huge privilege.  The love, joy and care Jeret found at Springhouse is something all young people deserve to experience.  I hope you will consider supporting our efforts to change the culture of education, one beautiful human at a time.

 "Hello, my beloved Springhouse community. The day has finally come for me to venture beyond the walls of this house and dive into the murky waters, the stone and mud lining the walls of my own spring. 

The love I found in this place has been beautiful. Since my first day here as a student, I have felt welcomed and accepted by all the members of this community. I was bewildered by this at first, as it was a radical shift from the sterile monotony of my public high school experience. But the passionate and joyous culture here embraced me. This community welcomes joy with open arms. We sing, dance, work, and learn together. This allows us to deepen our connection with ourselves and opens us up to being vulnerable with one another. Deep bonds are formed through our practices, and opportunities to support peers are always present.

 I truly believe that this community and these experiences have taught me to be more loving in the relationships I have with myself and others. 

In my time at Springhouse, I accomplished many things that I am proud of. Here are just a few: I represented Springhouse at a learner-centered educational conference in DC within just a few months of attending the school. This experience allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and build confidence while deepening my connection with Zen, Ambrose, and GiGi.

I deepened my connection with the Earth by immersing myself in my passions. Learning more about the living beings that exist all around me and the relationships they have with one another. I hope that through my work, I was able to open others up to the majesty and complexity of our precious world. I hope the students involved with my class will continue to engage with the nature around them. Using what I taught them to break free of the anthropocentric consumerism imposed on life by the broader culture of this society.

Leaping into my own arms, I explored my gender expression. Connecting with the wondrous trans community members around me. Fortifying the love and confidence I have within myself. I am deeply grateful for each and every joyful queer voice in this community. I thank you all for dancing, singing, and smiling alongside me.

Now I shall quote the late civil rights leader and statesman John Lewis: 

"When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something."

To give thanks to the staff here at Springhouse, I will now share one thing I am grateful for them for, one seed they've planted within me over the past few years."

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