Holly Richardson

My foundation year was profound and hard to describe, but everything seemed to speak to me directly, answering my questions about life and its meaning, carrying my thoughts further. During my second year, I learned the Carbondale school was in crisis. That summer, Frances came to Europe to travel with me and we talked about the school. She never put any pressure on me but when I said I'd like to come for an interview, she could hardly believe she didn't have to kidnap me – as she'd been instructed to do.

Coming over Independence Pass, Frances and I stopped to jump into the Punch Bowl, a sort of symbolic "jumping in with both feet," and when we got to the school, that's what I did. I was amazed to see what had been built since I had attended the ground-breaking but when I stood before the combined sixth/seventh grade class that I'd inherited from Robin Marcus and Patty Doyle, I realized how little I'd learned. Though I was excited and scared, I connected instantly with those kids. We hiked to the top of Mount Sopris together and just went to work. When my own parents moved here, I felt so supported. Everyone – parents, colleagues, students and my family – wanted me to succeed.