Editorial lets the 'secret' out

Apparently the Oak Park High School Senior Life Skills Retreat is no longer a well-kept secret.

Yes, well overdue for the credit it deserves, that credit cannot come from a wellwritten tribute in a local newspaper. The reward for this fine program comes from the sight of parent and child united, friends connected, and drugs and alcohol put aside for healthier choices that involve honesty, happiness and integrity.

We are talking about teenagers, right? Oh, yeah, but teenagers who retreat from cellphones, homework, siblings, tests, SATs/ ACTs, college choices, work, cars, school, grades, essays- well, you get the point.

Try to compliment or thank Dr. Appell and he deflects all accolades. He claims the work is up to the retreatants, and sure enough, every time a retreat group returns, we see the whole town turn upside and over with hugs, smiles, tears, great warmth and enthusiastic kids. This isn't just a great program- this is a miracle.

Every school district in the state should be talking about this model of teenage retreat, and maybe now they will consider it.

I am one of the lucky ones to have had my children attend the retreat years ago, and both my kids, now in college, still talk about it, still connect with friends who attended their retreats, still remember the wisdom they carried away from the retreat.

Wait, I might be giving too much away. Thanks, Acorn, but mum's the word. Mae Greenwald Oak Park