Alumni Spotlight: Zoë Miller

Meet Zoë Miller, a CWS alum who attended the school from early childhood through 12th grade, graduating with the last class at the original Rogers Park campus. Since then, Zoë has earned degrees from Oberlin College and the University of Chicago and is now an Associate Therapist at Skylight Counseling Center, where she works with high school and college students.

We caught up with Zoë to hear about her journey since graduation, the teachers and experiences that left a lasting impression, and how her Waldorf education continues to shape the way she approaches her work today.

Tell us a little bit about yourself! What led you to the school? What path did you take after graduating from Chicago Waldorf School, and what are you doing today?

I started at CWS back in the old Rogers Park location. My family lived in the neighborhood and was drawn to the school through recommendations from friends who were already a part of the community. I was there from EC-12 and my class was the last to graduate from that building, before the big move to Andersonville! After CWS, I completed my undergraduate degree at Oberlin College in Ohio, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Studio Art. Then I worked for one year at PCC Community Wellness Center, a community health center in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, as a Behavioral Health Care Coordinator. This past June, I completed my graduate degree in Social Work at the University of Chicago. Now I am an Associate Therapist at the Skylight Counseling Center, working primarily with high school and college students at our locations in the Loop, and in Evanston. Some days, you might also see me working at Skylight Vintage, the nonprofit resale shop that helps fund our affordability program at the counseling center, for those with financial barriers to receiving services.

Looking back, how did your Waldorf education influence the choices you made along the way?

During my time at CWS, I enjoyed the interdisciplinary approach to education. I think this influenced my decision to pursue a liberal arts degree when I went to college. I wanted to be able to continue pursuing multiple, interconnected interests. As someone working in the mental health field, I now have more of an understanding of the therapeutic impacts of the arts, and being in nature. With this, I also have a new appreciation for how these things were so ingrained in our education at CWS. I am beginning to integrate arts-based interventions into my therapy practice, and hope to do so even more moving forward.

Were there any teachers, classes, projects, or experiences at CWS that had a lasting impact on you?

So many wonderful teachers. Lauri Sullivan, whom I had all of grade school, taught me so much. She was always so supportive while still running a tight ship and pushing us to do our best work. Thinking about impactful experiences at CWS, the senior project process was so unique. It helped me really take a step back and think about my interests, and what was important to me. For my senior project I interviewed participants from various backgrounds about the origins of their core belief systems and values. Sitting with these folks and hearing their stories was so fascinating to me, and I learned so much from them. I think this, among other experiences, ultimately helped me realize that I wanted to pursue a career working with people.

What are some of your favorite memories from your time at the school?

The buddy system between first graders and seniors was so lovely, and I remember being very excited to participate in that. When my class was in first grade, we got to see our seniors acting in a staged production of Peter Pan for their senior play. Naturally, we were obsessed with Peter Pan for many years after that. When it came time for us to choose our senior play we decided to perform Peter Pan as well, and it felt like such a full-circle moment. The class trips, specifically the senior camping trip to Maine and the service learning trip to Camphill were very special. I had fun acting in the drama club and playing on the volleyball team. Art classes were also my happy place. I enjoyed going to Archie’s cafe down the street, towards the end of our time at the Rogers Park location.

How do you feel your education prepared you for the opportunities and challenges you've encountered since graduation?

Reflecting back, the exchange program was such a privilege to get to experience. Not only did it help me improve my Spanish language skills, it helped me learn and grow so much as a person. As a high schooler, having the opportunity to be an outsider navigating another country in a second language can be very impactful. When I worked at PCC Community Wellness Center, many of our patients were Spanish-speaking, and my time abroad in Colombia during high school made me feel more equipped to work with those patients in their language. I think the exchange program also helped me feel more prepared when I moved away for college, knowing that I already had that experience of living away from home.

What advice would you give to current students as they think about their future?

Don’t let your anticipation for the future keep you from fully living in the present moment! I met some of my oldest and dearest friends at CWS and that is something I will always be so grateful for. Enjoy your time together and stay connected to your community, because that is the most important thing.