Exciting news! This newsletter is a guest post by local writer and educator David Rockower. We hope you enjoy it!

The author with his wife, Michelle, daughter, Maddie (left), and son, Nathan (right).

As my wife and I enter the empty-nest stage, we are starting to reminisce about what it was like raising our two children in the State College area. When I reflect on being a father to my very young children, I think about all the parks we visited, the pools we played in, and the paths we explored. From Start Smart Soccer to Singing Onstage to Monarch Martial Arts to Centre Elite Gymnastics, our children had opportunities available that helped them discover their interests and talents from a very young age.

Before our kids went to kindergarten, I worked during the day and my wife worked evenings. After the late-afternoon hand-off, I routinely loaded the kids in the double stroller, and we went to the nearest park; our favorite was Blue Spring Park in Boalsburg. It was close to home and offered plenty of things to climb or slide down, a baseball field, and a stream. We exhausted every piece of playground equipment, every inch of green grass. Their favorite was the spider web, their tiny bodies working hard to reach the top where they screamed and hooted. Then, after a quick stop at home, we’d hop in the car and zoom off to another park. Though the parks had official names, Nathan and Maddie made up their own, referencing a highlight. Dalevue Park was “the whale park,” Blue Spring Park was “the spider web” park, and so on. I’m thankful for all of the parks that exist, allowing our children to explore, play, and meet new people.

As they got older, we signed both kids up for organized sports and activities. Nathan was reticent about new endeavors, so it was crucial for us that he have coaches and teachers who could ease him into experiences. Indeed, most of his instructors were patient, kind, and knowledgeable. When he joined Smart Start Soccer—which was basically a series of guided sessions where kids kicked a soccer ball with family members—he needed coaxing to participate. The instructors encouraged but never pressured him. Soon, he was asking when we could return to the field.

While Nathan found his passion early with soccer, our daughter went down a different path. She was a try-everything kid. She gave most things about a year before moving on. Acting, karate, dance, creativity classes, and gymnastics were a few activities she tried out before discovering basketball, a sport that she stuck with until high school. Lucky for Maddie, State College had no shortage of kid-friendly endeavors. She played basketball with a club team that practiced a few nights during the week and occasionally traveled to tournaments. Through this, she created meaningful friendships and developed confidence.

As our kids entered high school, their paths diverged yet again. Nathan was fully committed to playing soccer with the high school team. His passion for all things sports and athletics was well fed in State College. During his free time, he regularly met friends at local fields for pick-up games and worked out at the State College YMCA.  While Nathan was fixated on soccer, his sister decided to forgo sports for a part time job. In the spring of her sophomore year, she got a job at The Allen Street Grill. Initially, she worked as a hostess, and then food runner, and eventually expedited orders in the kitchen. Her personal growth from this experience was astounding. She became a more confident, well-rounded person who is unafraid to voice her opinion and speak up for herself. She continued to work until graduating from high school, and still talks fondly about her work family. The Allen Street Grill isn’t alone in hiring teens. Many local businesses hire high schoolers during the school and summer months, so there are always opportunities.

As a teacher, I am always learning about the ways my students’ needs are met in State College. One student demonstrated her fencing skills after taking classes at Nittany Fencing Academy. Other students showcase their improv ability in front of the whole school after attending classes at Happy Valley Improv.  Students often talk about all of their creative endeavors at The Makery. Having the university close by allows students who are interested in theatre to take their acting to the next level. I often have students who participate in Penn State productions of shows and musicals. The university also offers summer camps —from hands-on science opportunities to athletic camps run by collegiate athletes and coaches.

We are fortunate to live in an area that fosters such a variety of experiences for our youth. When I talk to high school friends who no longer live in the area, they often comment on what a wonderful childhood they had growing up here. Several have already returned or plan to return in the future. Whether it’s sports, performing arts, work experience, or places to play and explore, State College has it all.