Education Through Life

by Zahra Petri

Growing up in a world of organic food, spiritual thinking, and creating harmony and balance for yourself and those around you would seem out of the ordinary anywhere in Texas but Austin. I grew up not only surrounded by all those wonderful elements but also grew at a school for thirteen years that instilled the backbone of who I am today. It was not solely an education; it taught values, creativity, cooperation, and most importantly, how to thrive as a strong, dynamic individual.

It was called the Austin Waldorf School and was a branch of the Rudolf Steiner schools that began in Stuttgart, Germany in 1919. Rudolf Steiner was an Austrian philosopher and the founder of Anthroposophy, Waldorf education, biodynamic agriculture, anthroposophical medicine, and much more. He advocated a form of ethical individualism and strongly viewed anthroposophy as “a path of knowledge, to guide the spiritual in the human being to the spiritual in the universe” (Rudolf Steiner). It took me thirteen years of Steiner education to understand and develop the ability to appreciate its teachings and the meaning behind them. It was not until I finished college that I realized I missed the Waldorf education system. The curriculum incorporates every aspect of learning possible from music, art, history both ancient and recent, humanities, advanced levels of math, every type of science feasible and so much more. It offers not only a fully well rounded education, but it becomes a home where each child develops and grows with and from its peers and the entire community; because that is what it is, it is not just a school but a whole community where families interact in every step of the process. It is a place where teachers play an integral role in the development of that child and are not distracted by a whole class of children but are able to give each individual child the help and attention they thrive on.

This education, community and lifetime relationships that were built while I attended school will never be lost or forgotten. They are instilled deeply within me and have created a desire to never stop learning and furthering my goal of life balance. Without structure and guidance it is nearly impossible to get on the right track and push forward to achieve one’s highest goals. If you do not recognize imbalance and how it can be corrected, it creates an undesired path that is often difficult to find your way off. You have to ask for help, and accept change in order to move forward, increase your desired intentions and have success in achieving them.