Boothbay Region High School Class of 1998 member Christine Leonard is living in California practicing holistic health and working toward her master’s degree in creative health. Leonard said northern California has been fantastic with its mild winter weather, perpetually blooming flowers and San Francisco’s diverse culture.

“When I was young I always wanted to travel, to see the world and experience many cultures,” said Leonard. “I have always valued connection with the natural world, experience and happiness over financial wealth and this has made my life quite rich.”

In her final year at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2004, Leonard took advantage of an opportunity to spend time at the University of Manoa on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Graduating with a degree focused on art, English and psychology, she said she felt like she did not have a valuable skill set to get a decent job, so she went to Spa Luna Massage School on Maui.

“I wanted to follow my heart and my passion and to do that, I needed to continue to delve into my own self discovery while learning a lucrative trade … I was in a small class of 12 students and we shared a profound time over those six months of learning to heal simultaneous to our own healing processes. I am forever grateful to the manna of Maui.”

Her experience hiking to waterfalls, swimming in the ocean and learning bodywork on Maui was transformative and joyful. She even had the pleasure of living in a tree house suspended in a mango tree.

She practiced massage therapy for 10 years. One of her favorite experiences was studying herbalism at Blue Otter School for Energetic Herbalism in the foothills of Mount Shasta in Northern California. She lived on the land for four months skinning tipi poles and building her own shelter while turning herself over to meditation and the study of therapeutic herbs.

“And, no, I was not high. I was studying plants for nourishing the nervous system, balancing blood pressure, alleviating depression, balancing thyroid hormones and reproductive hormones as well as healing digestive disruptions …”

Two years ago, she enrolled in the California Institute of Integral Studies for a master’s degree in integrative health studies. After the small learning environments of Mount Shasta and Maui, Leonard knew she could not digest the broad, unaccommodating characteristics of typical academic institutions.

“At CIIS, the courses invite the student to be process-oriented, to bring in personal experience and to honor one’s spiritual path.”

In her final semester, Leonard’s capstone project is a class in creative health, which she described as the combination of artistic exploration, self inquiry and psycho-social support so teachers and professionals learn to prevent and heal burnout. After graduating, Leonard said she plans to continue to enjoy the life of herbalism, wellness coaching and health education.

“In my line of work we address the mind, body and spirit. The roots of disease often affect many areas of our being and by integrating practices that address thought patterns, relationships, nutrition, exercise, meaning and purpose, we can become more whole. This is the art of holistic health. My theory is that we are all creative in some way and that it is important to exercise our own creative forces to cultivate vitality and a sense of happiness and well-being.”

Though she enjoys the diverse culture and lifestyle in San Francisco, Leonard said she often reflects on her good fortune to have been brought up in the Boothbay region.

“At BRHS, my teachers and classmates knew me from the time I was small. It is a valuable experience to be seen in that way and I truly benefited from the support of my teachers.”

The first in her family to attend a university, Leonard shows a particular appreciation for the Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund and to science teacher Sherrie Hersom for believing in her.

She said she owes a lot of thanks to the BRHS staff for showing her the way to embark on her journey, having faith in her and giving her the vote of confidence she needed to make that leap.