Happy New Year (In September)
Most people celebrate the new year on January 1, but for educators, the true new year begins in September. In my job as a school administrator, I welcomed back our teachers, parents, and students this week and couldn’t help but reflect on the fresh start the school year brings. With a warm greeting of “Have a Great Year!” I was reminded of the excitement and hope that this season represents.
The beginning of the school year is always a time filled with anticipation and new beginnings. As I drove by our local elementary school where my loved one once attended, nostalgia washed over me. I recalled the meticulous rituals of preparing for school—labeling supplies, scheduling physicals, filling out endless forms, buying new sneakers, and making sure his hair was cut just right. And, of course, the obligatory back-to-school photo shoot, where I insist on capturing their “excited” faces.
Yet, as I looked back, I realized how much has changed. The summer before his eleventh grade was not filled with summer jobs or family vacations but with multiple rounds of treatment. Despite my best efforts to ensure his residential summer placement would align with the start of the school year, that plan faltered, and the placement ended under challenging circumstances by mid-July.
He did start his junior year at a wonderful alternative high school program, but reality soon set in. After just a month at the new school, he needed to return to residential treatment.
His high school years were anything but ideal: freshman year was disrupted by a COVID shutdown, sophomore year was marred by pandemic restrictions and isolation, and junior year included a brief, unsuccessful attempt at a new start. His junior and senior years were further marked by more treatment and extended care, with education limited to packets and Zoom sessions.
While I deeply believe in the power of education, it is crucial to acknowledge what school cannot do. No matter how supportive or well-resourced, a school cannot cure depression, stop an addiction, or heal deep wounds. These experiences taught me the vital lesson of adjusting our expectations. Sometimes, treatment and healing must come before traditional educational goals.
Today, my loved one has found recovery, healed old wounds, developed a greater sense of accomplishment and self-worth, and set strong goals for the future. While I am extremely grateful for his progress, I am also saddened that we had to sacrifice a traditional education for him to get the support he needed. This has only strengthened my resolve to create a more supportive environment for teens facing similar challenges.
This is why we have worked tirelessly to establish Woodhaven Academy—a place where students can work on their recovery while also integrating principles of healing and discovering their purpose. At Woodhaven Academy, we provide a nurturing environment where recovery and education go hand in hand, allowing students to thrive both personally and academically.
One of our recent graduates, who I am so proud of, shared, “Woodhaven Academy was a great and wonderful schooling program. The staff and everyone helped me to graduate high school. I never thought I would be able to graduate, but with the support of Woodhaven Academy, I did. The program incorporates the 12 steps and recovery principles, which were integral to my progress. I would not be where I am today without Woodhaven Academy.”
As we step into this new school year, let’s embrace the spirit of renewal and resilience. Here’s to a year filled with growth, learning, and the strength to overcome any challenges that come our way.
