Discover more from Breaking the Cycle by Marissa Hackett
School Days As I enter my final year of marriage and family therapy grad school, I’m stuck thinking a lot about my educational path, and how I never thought I would be suited to obtain a master’s degree.
My first encounter with a conventional school environment didn't occur until the sixth grade when I enrolled at Brighton Academy. My parents kept my siblings and me out of any formal school settings under the guidance of Roy Masters and the Foundation of Human Understanding. Once I moved to Oregon in 1991, most of the kids I got to know were either homeschooled or attended the schools that Roy and the Foundation established; Evelyn Street School or Brighton Academy, both in Grants Pass, Oregon.
Los Angeles Homeschool Days I have warm and fond memories of my childhood in Los Angeles. Growing up in LA in the 80s, and early 90s, I had a lot of free play because the homeschooling my parents engaged in was very unstructured. I remember attending various homeschool groups in family homes, barns, and backyards, where we mostly played. We went on field trips to nature, to museums, and libraries. There was little time for learning basic reading and writing skills.
Swim Team Days and the Beach My older brothers and I had a second home at Cheviot Hills Pool in LA. We were all competitive swimmers, lifeguards, and Jr. Lifeguards at the pool. I excelled in freestyle and breaststroke. I’m a water-loving fish to this day because of those formative years living in the pool. We also spent many weekdays at Santa Monica Beach. Mom took us during the week when other kids were at school, and we had the beach to ourselves. We would also bring my cousins and neighborhood kids along with us when they got home from school. My family stood out. My mom would round up the kids and take them to the beach–which was not the norm in our neighborhood. The Pacific Ocean is still the most precious place to me because of those early memories of joy; I think of diving into the waves, boogie boarding, digging DEEP in the sand, and getting Thrifty's Ice Cream afterward.
Shame and Education My early education was hindered because of the unstructured nature of my homeschooling. While play and free time were transformative and positively influenced how I live my life today, I still carry shame and find gaps in my education because of missing out on lots of early opportunities to learn. When my family moved to Oregon and I began attending Brighton Academy in the 6th grade, I had many hurdles to overcome academically. I spent a lot of time with tutors after school throughout my time attending Brighton. I’m forever grateful to one special tutor who patiently worked with me to teach some basic reading and writing skills. I tear up thinking about how invested she was in helping me.
Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Intern Marissa I recently accepted a position as a Marriage and Family Therapy clinical intern at Protea Wellness in West Seattle. I begin on 4/1. I will be with Protea for a year to finish up my Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. My main focus will be working with kids and adolescents, plus folks at all stages of life.
I wish you all wellness and peace. Thank you for being here, I’ll be back soon.