I am told that you can’t repeat your childhood. This statement may be true for some, but not for me. I know now that you can return just by closing your eyes and allowing your mind to open the doors of the past. And as long as I am able to do so, I shall always return to my days as a youngster full of life, and to those years that I spent at Kurn Hattin. I shall always keep with me all that I learned and will cherish the fondest memories. And I shall always remember that Kurn Hattin was not an institution, but a home to be cherished, loved, and remembered.
~Jerry Bardwell, Class of ’73
With graduation time upon us again, everyone at Kurn Hattin Homes for Children is filled with a mixture of emotions… Many of those graduating from this Vermont residential school for at-risk children have had their lives transformed, forever.
There’s an amazing sense of pride and accomplishment that shows in the students’ eyes (and in the eyes of their teachers and family members), as our graduating 8th-graders look back on their time spent here, realizing how far they’ve come, noticing how much they grown, and reflecting on all that they’ve achieved.
There’s also more than a hint of nostalgia as they think about moving on soon and saying “so long” to the many good friends they’ve made.
And of course, there’s plenty of curiosity and excitement about what the future will bring for high school and beyond.
Watch the following video to hear a few representatives of Kurn Hattin’s Class of 2014, as they share what they’re most proud of, what they’ll miss about Kurn Hattin, and what they’re looking forward to on the horizon.