Why did you choose this program?
I chose this program as an alternative start to my college career. Burned out after high-school, I knew I wanted to take time off before pursing a strict bachelor's degree. I was looking for a program that was still educational and brain-stimulating, but with a more alternative and authentically holistic approach. Seguinland checked all my boxes! Leaving home for the first time, I loved the balance of independence and support, and thrived in the conversation and experience based classroom. I loved the community both students and staff built, and all of the activities and adventures, everything from musical guests to hiking, we explored.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
Seguinland absolutely set each student up to succeed! Seguinland included all the necessities including housing, food, class materials, and art supplies. Class was typically Monday-Friday, with occasional weekend excursions to town (Bath, ME) or a sauna pond plunge. I felt that staff fully respected the interests of the student, too, adding activities per our interest wherever possible. Additionally, I felt comfortable knowing staff was always available via phone. In late afternoons, evenings, and weekends, I most often found myself hanging out with my peers. We held movie nights, went on walks together, threw birthday parties, baked cookies in the cookhouse, and truly enjoyed each other's company the community we built. Though I love my friends, I also did enjoy plenty of alone time in a hammock, reading, journaling, and exploring campus.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Lean in to the experience! Whether it's kayaking or cooking or improv dancing, there's bound to be an experience new to you, and possibly out of your comfort zone. Embrace it all! You will learn and grow in ways you did not know possible by truly appreciating the all Seguinland has to offer. You only get back what you give, which is incredibly relevant to community building. And document it! Journal, photograph, scrapbook everything. I promise you will look back with so much joy, nostalgia and just want to relive it all.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Days start with breakfast in your cottage with your roommates, and then roughly 45 minutes of group mindfulness, which could include yoga, meditation, and nature walks. Morning typically included classroom time, sitting on bolsters in the treehouse, speaking in a circle styled conversation about the previous night's readings or a larger theme of the day. Lunch again would be cooked in the cottages with your roommates, or leftovers back in the cookhouse. In the afternoon there were often outings, maybe visiting a local farm/homestead. Many full days were also outings to Portland or Brunswick to tour art studios, watch a performance, or volunteer at a farm. The afternoon allowed for some downtime to walk, read, relax, and complete homework/readings on campus. Then dinner, and my favorite part of the day, which some students would head over to the cookhouse early to help prepare. The days truly were packed full of engaging, relevant, and fun experiences, and afternoon downtime allowed enough time to slow down and enjoy the beauty.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
As this was my first experience living outside of home, I was nervous of who I would be "stuck" with for the next 10 weeks. But, truly after my first steps on campus, meeting the Seguinland staff, and introducing myself to my peers, I felt right at home. Seguinland attracts amazing, creative, and passionate people. Most of us were either straight from high school or taking time off in college. I bonded quick with my 19 peers, as we shared interests in cooking, nature, literature, art, and more. My roommate soon became my best friend, and 3 years later, we are both at UVM (along with 3 others from our Fall 2022 cohort!) and we've been back to Seguinland as students and staff twice. I have visited countless others, and we even still meet every few months on Zoom! Absolute life-long friends. It was a powerful and positive experience building a community with my peers and friends, and I look back with so much joy for that time of my life.
What is your favorite memory?
Without giving too much away, my best memories include everything from camping trips, to museum visits, and jumping in the ocean. But, by far, my favorite memories were made in the Cookhouse, where a small, rotating group would make dinner each night. While cooking, we'd laugh and learn making new foods and each other's home recipes, and even have fun student planned dinner themed events, like a murder mystery night!