By Dr. Katie Kleinhesselink
Katie Kleinhesselink is SCC's Dean of Rural Education, overseeing SCC's centers in Colville, Newport, Republic, and Inchelium. Learn more about what's available at SCC's rural centers.
After a summer passing as average evergreens, northeastern Washington's tamaracks have turned brilliant gold, a breathtaking reminder that what we think we know isn't the whole story.
I see similar transformations in Spokane Community College's High School+ program. Adults complete their diploma through a mix of prior coursework, demonstrated knowledge, life and work experience, and targeted classes to fill the gaps. Learners gain more than a credential; they gain the chance to tell a new story about who they are.
In rural communities where memory runs long, stories stick. We remember who left school, who fell into addiction, who had a run-in with the law. It's hard to tell a new story about yourself when your community thinks it already knows yours.
John Dewey, one of my favorite education philosophers, believed that not every experience helps us grow. Some teach us habits that make it harder to learn or try something new. An undiagnosed learning disability can convince a student she isn't smart. A family that never saw education as an option can convince a child it's not for people like them. These stories often outlast the circumstances that created them.
Even educators aren't immune to old stories. Last week, I attended a planning retreat for YouthBuild Stevens County, a new LaunchNW program that helps youth ages 16 to 24 achieve a high school credential while gaining construction skills and building affordable housing. As we worked through student case studies, we considered how the students might be perceived by others. I was struck, and a little embarrassed, at how quickly I defaulted to a deficit narrative.
High School+ rejects the deficit lens. It asks adults to reflect on their experiences and often gives them credit for what they learned. What did raising children, caring for aging parents, or solving problems on the job require? Even without credit, the process encourages students to see their lives as a story of learning rather than a list of interruptions. Someone who has long said, "I never finished school," can meaningfully say, "I've been learning all along."
Tamaracks are among our most resilient trees. They survive fire that destroys other trees and are often the first to grow back in burned ground. High School+ helps people do the same, to look honestly at the past, keep what it truly taught them, and grow.
Through our partnership, YouthBuild participants can enroll in High School+ and earn up to 10 college credits for free. For young folks still close to early lessons, it's a chance to rewrite their stories sooner.
Like the tamaracks, people can surprise us when we take a second look. High School+ doesn't ask people to forget their story. It asks them to take that second look and write the next chapter.
The image illustrating this story is used under a Creative Commons license.