Ask a Parent
Curious what it’s like to have your child attend Youth Initiative? Ask one of our parents!
Send a message to hear about their experiences in the YIHS community.
And make sure to scroll down and enjoy our lovely "Parent/Student Stories" videos, too.
Send a message to hear about their experiences in the YIHS community.
And make sure to scroll down and enjoy our lovely "Parent/Student Stories" videos, too.
Denise Semanchin
Relationship Coach One current student (sophomore) YIHS community member since 2010 
Margret
Physician (retired) One current student (junior), one graduate YIHS community member since 2018 |
Adrian Ugo
Furniture Craftsman One current student (freshman) YIHS community member since 2008 
Christina Lovdal Gil
Self employed One current student (sophomore - boarding house) YIHS community member since 2025 |
Parent/Student Stories
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"Tanya, Jonathan, and Hugo"
(boarding house student)
BOOOKMARKS
0:36 - Why were you looking for an alternative high school?
1:25 - He started with a month-long exchange. How did that go?
2:24 - Did you have any concerns sending him abroad to YIHS?
4:20 - Was crime/safety a concern?
5:10 - What made you ultimately decide to enroll him at Youth?
6:53 - What changes have you seen in him since his time here?
8:16 - How easy was it to stay connected and in touch while he was away?
9:58 - What are some things you think parents should know as they're considering sending their child to YIHS?
11:12 - Was Youth Initiative's affordable tuition/housing a factor in your decision?
11:32 - Any final thoughts to share?
0:36 - Why were you looking for an alternative high school?
1:25 - He started with a month-long exchange. How did that go?
2:24 - Did you have any concerns sending him abroad to YIHS?
4:20 - Was crime/safety a concern?
5:10 - What made you ultimately decide to enroll him at Youth?
6:53 - What changes have you seen in him since his time here?
8:16 - How easy was it to stay connected and in touch while he was away?
9:58 - What are some things you think parents should know as they're considering sending their child to YIHS?
11:12 - Was Youth Initiative's affordable tuition/housing a factor in your decision?
11:32 - Any final thoughts to share?
"Paul and Paula Grenier (Misa, Justys, Perla)"
BOOOKMARKS
0:41 - What initially made you want your children to go to Youth Initiative?
1:45 - You had three kids go through the school. What was their experience like?
3:52 - What are some of your favorite aspects of the Youth Initiative approach?
6:38 - What differences do you see in your kids now that they're out on their own?
8:46 - How did you think about the tuition versus the value you get from it?
10:45 - What's it like as a parent to be part of the Youth community?
11:27 - If parents asked you if you thought they should send their kids to Youth, what would you tell them?
12:42 - Any final thoughts to share?
0:41 - What initially made you want your children to go to Youth Initiative?
1:45 - You had three kids go through the school. What was their experience like?
3:52 - What are some of your favorite aspects of the Youth Initiative approach?
6:38 - What differences do you see in your kids now that they're out on their own?
8:46 - How did you think about the tuition versus the value you get from it?
10:45 - What's it like as a parent to be part of the Youth community?
11:27 - If parents asked you if you thought they should send their kids to Youth, what would you tell them?
12:42 - Any final thoughts to share?
"Sebastian and Arturo Cervantes"
(foreign student program)
BOOKMARKS
0:28 - Arturo, why did you decide to send your children to Youth Initiative?
2:02 - Sebastian, how did you feel about the decision at the time, and how do you feel about it now?
4:41 - How difficult was it to navigate the language barrier?
5:49 - Arturo, what are some specific impacts you've seen in your children?
7:38 - Sebastian, is there a particular aspect of your time at Youth that stands out as being especially
impactful for you?
10:24 - Since you've graduated, are there specific aspects of your YIHS education that have been especially helpful?
11:56 - Did you have any concerns about safety?
12:58 - How much trouble was it to deal with visas, etc.?
14:08 - If a family asked if you thought they should send their child to Youth Initiative, what would you tell them?
15:57 - Any final thoughts to share?
0:28 - Arturo, why did you decide to send your children to Youth Initiative?
2:02 - Sebastian, how did you feel about the decision at the time, and how do you feel about it now?
4:41 - How difficult was it to navigate the language barrier?
5:49 - Arturo, what are some specific impacts you've seen in your children?
7:38 - Sebastian, is there a particular aspect of your time at Youth that stands out as being especially
impactful for you?
10:24 - Since you've graduated, are there specific aspects of your YIHS education that have been especially helpful?
11:56 - Did you have any concerns about safety?
12:58 - How much trouble was it to deal with visas, etc.?
14:08 - If a family asked if you thought they should send their child to Youth Initiative, what would you tell them?
15:57 - Any final thoughts to share?
"Susan and Bill Townsley (Charlie, Arlo)"
BOOOKMARKS
0:24 - What initially made you want your children to go to Youth Initiative?
1:17 - Did you have any concerns about sending them to Youth?
2:31 - What are some of your favorite aspects of the Youth Initiative approach?
5:09 - What differences do you see in your kids now that they're out on their own?
7:16 - Can you speak to the value of the social/emotional support that students get at YIHS?
10:44 - Do you think Youth Initiative would be a good fit for any student?
12:00 - Any final thoughts to share?
0:24 - What initially made you want your children to go to Youth Initiative?
1:17 - Did you have any concerns about sending them to Youth?
2:31 - What are some of your favorite aspects of the Youth Initiative approach?
5:09 - What differences do you see in your kids now that they're out on their own?
7:16 - Can you speak to the value of the social/emotional support that students get at YIHS?
10:44 - Do you think Youth Initiative would be a good fit for any student?
12:00 - Any final thoughts to share?