The MSGH Experience | After MSGH

Self Reliant. Intellectually Curious. Socially Adaptable.

These are just some of the ways teachers from other schools often describe MSGH graduates.

Our children move on from our program with a strong academic foundation and with the realization that learning is a lifelong pursuit.

With over 50 years in the Greater Hartford area, we’ve built a strong alumni community. They not only return for visits; many choose to enroll their own children at MSGH.

2024 Moving-On Ceremony Speeches graduating from our Adolescent Program completing as 9th year students

It was at the MSGH where I was first truly exposed to the world, the complex and confusing world that I will spend the rest of my life figuring out. I remember vividly sitting in the classroom, gazing at the ceiling and waiting for the school year to begin. It started with a few short papers and an unorganized planner, but eventually, the passion of the teachers won over my love and respect. Something else came with the farm, other than a completely new experience; love, a love for my surroundings, as well as gratitude. I was encouraged to take my time, to stop and look around before life can pass even further by, to stay in the moment. The vast forest surrounding our school was an opportunity for adventure. The garden was an opportunity for growth, and the animals, for love and care. When I was in seventh grade, we set out across the street with baskets, foraging for grapes to make jelly. We passed by a patch of stinging needles-. I had heard stories of the itching and the swelling that those weeds had caused, but the guides showed me otherwise. Those “dangerous” needles were our lunch the following day.

It’s these things that are irreplaceable. I like to think of it as forming an alliance with the Earth. There is abundant food everywhere we look and the farm helped me see the endless resources that are available to us in nature. At the farm, I firsthand witnessed the true benefits of academic integrity, passion, and hard work. I observed these traits from my guides and classmates during my three years at Millstream. From my peers, I became inspired and driven to succeed. I was reminded to seek beauty in each subject, especially the virtually unappealing ones like closely studying the compost or finding ways to convert goat manure to gas. And while these weren’t my favorites, I respected them. I learned to appreciate the hard work of others, to be curious, to ask questions, and to further establish myself as a worldly citizen.

At the farm, I learned to say goodbye. In the past months, I have come to the realization that life is not just a series of events that take place over a span of years, decades if you’re lucky. It has a bigger meaning. It is a vacuum or a puzzle where everyone is finding their place in this world. I learned this from my good friend César. We spent summer nights under the vast, night sky, admiring the stars, talking about where we might eventually end up. It was here where I was reminded that nothing is permanent, the bugs in the grass, flowers in the ground, and people on Earth are here for such a short period of time. The nightly views of the stars encouraged me to appreciate the present and truly be grateful for the people and things around me in the moment, for each is such a significant point in time.

The memory of César encouraged me to meet new people. Later, as I made connections with others through school, adventure and travel, they shared their dreams with me. Some dreamed of making music and bringing together the world, others dreamed of moving to the U.S. and bringing their siblings along, but every time I met a new person and later said goodbye, I would find myself thinking like them, seeing the world through their eyes. Ultimately, having these young adults as friends helped me choose what kind of person I want to be and which morals are most important.

From the farm, I was encouraged to explore the world freely. During our class trip to Costa Rica, I observed nature, paying meticulous attention to everything there was to see in El Bosque Eternal de los Niños. At first, the thought of sleeping in the jungle for a week seemed unpleasant, but I was soon amazed by the ecosystems that thrived all around us.} The leaf cutter ants that marched by the millions home to their families and frothy cascades that loomed 164 feet overhead inspired me to draw and write for days.

This relates back to the broad topic of life, the conversations under the stars, the vacuum of life that moves so uncontrollably fast, the gorgeous nature around us. and people and things that are not always meant to stay, but are just with you for a short while, keeping you moving a little bit further on your individual path. So enjoy life; smell the flowers, drink in the sunsets and the sunrise, the majestic skies, good days, and not so good ones, take advantage of everything life has to offer. Because those first steps, lessons, and connections I made by exploring have all contributed to the person standing before you today, proud, motivated, and ready for the future.

It was here that I first discovered my love of learning. Ms. Jessica, my primary teacher, would introduce me to all of the materials that make up the backbone of my education: the stamp game, the pink tower, the small and large bead frames, and many others that I’ve forgotten the names of but were important nonetheless. My favorite of them all were the materials used for mathematics. I loved mathematics, and I made it my goal to learn all of the mathematics materials in the Primary 1 classroom before I moved on to Lower Elementary. This passion for mathematics, along with one for learning, followed me through my elementary years.

Over time, as I gradually became accustomed to the MSGH community. I felt myself becoming more social, more integrated into the community. In third grade, my friends and I spent much of our school time creating comics and exploring our creativity. It was here that I developed yet another interest–that of writing, and later of drawing. Later on, in sixth grade, my friend and I began creating music on GarageBand, and posting it on Youtube. This cultivated my appreciation for music and composition. It seemed that no matter what I did, my passions and interests seemed to only multiply as time went on, for Montessori had allowed me to explore subjects that I’d never even thought of exploring, whether they were academic or not. The independence that I had at MSGH truly allowed me to spread my wings.

Soon after, I joined the Adolescent Community in my seventh grade. Though I’d visited a few times before, I didn’t really know what to expect. However, to my complete surprise, I was met with a balance of challenge, emotional and academic support, a beautiful campus, and yet another sub-community to find my place in. Though things weren’t perfect, it always turned out fine in the end. Then, in my eighth grade, we went on a nine-day trip to Costa Rica to learn about biodiversity and peace. We spent five days in a station in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, where we took regular hikes to the rainforest, observed nature, and had a lot of fun while still learning important lessons that we probably wouldn’t have learned anywhere else.

Finally, my 9th grade year arrived. This year felt a bit surreal, because it was hard to believe that I was really leaving this school. Although I’d known that I’d have to leave, it was hard for me to imagine myself applying to schools, supporting the other farm students, and, last but not least, giving this speech. During my time at this school, I’ve met so many people, I’ve learned so many things, and last but not least, I’ve done so many things. I feel that the Montessori education system has helped me and countless others learn independently in a hands-on way. It encourages collaboration over competition, and total understanding over basic grades. The three-year class system allows older students to help younger students, and ultimately allows the older students to practice their leadership skills. Montessori is all about following the child, relying on the child’s innate urge to learn, and giving them the resources and time to fulfill their thirst for knowledge. All of these aspects of the Montessori education results in a tight-knit community in which learning can actually be fun and exciting. I’d like to say thank you to all of the guides that I’ve had at this school. Without your kindness, wisdom, and support, I wouldn’t be the same person today.

Now, years later, most of what I can remember of that old, Nashville day school is me looking at a calendar. Thinking now, as I’m about to end my ten years at this school, maybe that meant something. Maybe that memory was meant to remind me of how fast time can slip between your fingers if you're not paying attention. Maybe it was to remind us all to seize every single day, take advantage of every single moment, before it goes away. Now, all I can do is look to the future, to the bliss, sorrow, anger, and everything in-between. Though today marks my last day as a student of this school, I feel that I’ll always be a part of the MSGH community. Lastly, I feel that I’m ready to take the next step, and start a new journey, beardless or not. Thank you.

Alumni Corner of the Follow the Child:

A section where readers will be brought back in time with our alum and see what they have been up to.  

To read the Interview with Rain Hayles, click here.