At Shining Mountain Waldorf School, the experiences of our students go beyond the traditional classroom setting, fostering a community built on creativity, curiosity, and mutual respect. Our alumni’s reflections highlight how this unique educational environment has shaped their paths and inspired their futures. From the welcoming, homey atmosphere to the profound relationships formed, Shining Mountain stands as a testament to the transformative power of a Waldorf education. Here are some heartfelt testimonials from our graduates, sharing how their time at Shining Mountain prepared them for the diverse journeys ahead.
“My experience at Shining Mountain was a stark contrast to that of any public school. We swapped cavernous and lifeless hallways for homey, welcoming walls. We replaced the common claustrophobic classroom with open air and a chalkboard. We even altered a group full of diverse individuals -that probably wouldn’t even talk to each other in a public school- into a tight knit community of friends. Most people say they would never want to return to their high school, however, I feel quite the opposite. Shining Mountain provided me with the most incredible learning and social environment, and that cannot be taken for granted. This school builds its foundation on mutual respect and trust, treating students … as actual humans. The three years I spent here were some of the best of my life, all because I was allowed to integrate into an accepting community centered on joy and love of learning.”
—Violet Dempsey, Class of 2024, Filmmaker, Denver University
“Shining Mountain is a place where we needed to be creative. I think a lot of people lose creativity when they become adults, but Shining Mountain taught me to be curious, artistic, and adventurous.”
—Grace Remmert, class of 2021. Biology major at Whitman College
“My time at Shining Mountain was instrumental in making me who I am today. The authentic relationships, both with friends and with teachers, encouraged me to identify my passions and what I wanted to do in my life. My experiences with Shining Mountain gave me the confidence to go to college, and live on my own. The middle and high school teachers who taught me subjects like art, Spanish, history, and government, helped me expand my horizons and learn who I am.”
—Joshua Love, class of 2021, Government and International Politics major at George Mason University
“I feel like one of the really important things that you get out of a Waldorf education is curiosity—curiosity to go and learn and explore what’s out there in the world. I fell into engineering and a path that I don’t think I would have anticipated, but having an arts background where you’re bringing creativity and imagination into problem solving, there’s a really incredible synergy between those. So I think between the ability to learn, and the curiosity to [use] imagination to solve problems, somehow, this is where it brought me.”
—Sarah Gillis, SMWS Class of 2012, Current Lead Engineer and Astronaut for SpaceX (see our interview with Sarah here)
