Breaking News!!! Daniela Goldstone Shepherds College Class of 2014

 Finally my dream has come true! Today I found out I was accepted to Shepherds College in Union Grove Wisconsin!!!! This is where I am going to go to college starting next August!

A couple of months ago I applied to this college because my mom told me about it and it sounded like a really great school. Two weeks ago, my mom and I went to visit the college and go to their open house. I also had an interview and some tests. I went to different classes and had lunch and dinner with the students. I got to stay in an apartment with the students too. It was really cool. The classrooms and the housing are really neat. My mom got to stay in a suite on campus too. I loved the staff and the students and everyone was really nice to me. I made many new friends. Some of the students have already called and written to me on Face Book.


I knew when we left the school that this was the college I want to go to. It felt very safe and a place I could feel at home. I have been waiting every day to find out if I was accepted. Finally today, was the day! I will write lots more about the college soon. Right now I want to go call people and email them to let them know the good news. Here are a couple of pictures from today and my visit. I'll share more of those soon as well. My mom is going to write more about everything below the pictures. I am very, very excited!

love,

Daniela

September 29, 2010 the day I found out where I'm going to college!!

Sept. 15, 2010 the day I saw Shepherds College - Here are some of the Staff. Tracy Terrill is the college director on the very left. Chris Wright is the Admissions Director on the very right.

From Tina,

What an exciting day at the Goldstone house! This is a day Daniela has been working towards for almost 2 years. When we found out this spring that Daniela was on the waiting list at Clemson, we decided it would be a good idea to look at some other schools in case a spot never opened up for her.


I had looked at Shepherds College back in the beginning of the search for programs, but decided it was might be too far away. It was brand new at the time, but did look very promising. I decided to give it a second look and wrote the admissions director with some questions. We started an ongoing dialog and we were very impressed by the time and attention they took with every one of our queries. Their program is quite unique ( look at the earlier post I wrote about the college). The organization Shepherds Ministries has been working with individuals with disabilities for over 50 years. They are some of the earliest and most pro-active leaders in the field of providing opportunities and independent living for individuals with disabilities. The college program is now in it's third year. Though further away than other programs we applied to, there are direct flights from here to Chicago ( an hour south of the college) so getting there is in some ways easier than some of than other programs. We decided to move forward with an application.

Our visit 2 weeks ago was absolutely wonderful. They treated us and the other visiting families like family. They even have a few really lovely suites available that families can reserve to stay in while visiting (for which they only ask a donation of whatever you can afford). We felt so welcome and at ease. I have never seen Daniela as excited about anything before. All she kept saying was, "This is amazing!"The students were like Daniela in so many ways - friendly, hard-working, and engaging. They were wonderful hosts to both Daniela and myself. The more senior students mentor the new students. Students come from all over the U.S. and overseas. I went to a couple of classes with Daniela. They were so fun and interactive. Daniela even felt brave enough to raise her hand and answer some questions. The first year is basically academic and pre-vocational. The second year, the students pick one of two majors and focus on vocational training. The third year students intern in their majors in the rural surrounding area. Everyone receives classes in independent living, religious studies, and other skills all three years.

The housing is so well-thought out. The first year the students live in dorms (to be completely renovated this year) like typical college students, though they do have cooking opportunities. The second year the women and the men each live in a separate home (brand-new!) housing 8 students, with more opportunities to cook and live independently. The third year, the students live in apartments with one other student, with a great deal more responsibility. The progressive growth in the students was obvious. The third year students were incredibly mature and responsible. They would measure up very well with the best of their "typical" peers.

We knew  for sure when we left that we had found "the" program for Daniela. It has just the right mix of academic, vocational, and life skills classes that we were looking for. The housing situation is ideal. The level of support is remarkable (to not only students, but for the families as well.) Shepherds College is only in it's third year, but the long history of Shepherds Ministries in the field of intellectual disabilities has given the staff a vast depth of knowledge in every aspect of the program.  Their program should be a model for others around the world. This program is faith-based (interdenominational). The founders, board, and staff are practicing Christianity in the very best sense of what it means to be a Christian.

I'm in the process of writing an article, with Daniela's input, about Shepherds College and our visit to the program for Exceptional Parent Magazine. In it I will give many more details about the program and it's history. Christianity Today Magazine also has an article coming this fall about the school (not by me!)

 The world is taking notice of this ground-breaking program. It is  truly changing, and will continue to change so many lives. I'm just so very proud and happy to say one of them will be my daughter Daniela!

A very excited Mom!!!!

Tina