Last month, the M Station classroom neared capacity as our Class of 2018 filled the room. Twenty-seven students and their kiddos joined together for the first class, among them an aspiring librarian, a army veteran and stay-at-home dad of five, an ex-alligator wrestler and several Game of Thrones enthusiasts, each joining together in the name of the humanities.

In our opening Creative Writing classes, the group was invited to describe their ideal future lives. Students shared dreams of opening writing schools and Mexican restaurants, of claw foot tubs and Jimmy Choos, of working on set with Tyler Perry. Several wrote of dreams for their kids' happiness.

For many, Free Minds represents a fresh start in education. One student, Elaine, made this promise to herself: "I will focus and place all my dedication and hard work in furthering my education, so that I can actually say the word college does exist in my vocabulary."

Another student, Shilda, hopes to set an example for her children. "Since I will be the first in my family completing college, they deserve to see what never giving up looks like," she said. Down the hall from their parents, the children of Free Minds students participate in Creative Action, a youth arts program that allows them to create their own learning community.

Through the lens of this year's theme of "Citizenship and Community: Conversations in the Humanities," students will voyage through Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, Plato's Republic, Cisneros' House on Mango Street, and more. You can see our full fall syllabus here.

Welcome, Class of 2018! We look forward to journeying with you.