Journey from miserable 10th-grader to world traveler and Amherst College student.

Dan was bright but angry about the rules and constrictions of school.

Summer, 2003. School’s out…and I know that I am not going back to Holyoke High School again.

Click to read more ...

Matt knew life is too short to waste time. At North Star, he found his time was his own.

Stream of consciousness: waking up knowing that today would be another day of just going to high school; knowing that I'm going to be confined to these mandatory classes that have very little meaning to me;

Click to read more ...

Katie's depression made school untenable. She found life without school much healthier.

I started North Star about this time last year, when I was 15 and in 10th grade. My guidance counselor had politely suggested that I take an extended break from my schooling...

Click to read more ...

Shane was bright, angry, and good at finding trouble. See a video of his speech at our 2009 fundraiser.