Comments from Students & Parents
What Students Say:
“TM helped me with thinking. Before I was having a problem with thinking but since I started meditation I am thinking well and I feel so relaxed and happy.”
—Brenda Sheera (Grade 10E), South Africa
“I have been waiting so long for this day to come... TM has helped me become more clever. No one can take this gift away from me now. TM helps me focus in class. TM makes my body relax, and it feels so much better. It is doing good for me.”
—Robin (Aged 12), South Africa
“I am feeling very relaxed and I can even read my books at school. I can now listen and concentrate better than before.”
—Florence Shibambo (Grade 9B), South Africa
“I think I am starting to become more clever, but also wiser.” i.e. her self-concept is improving.
—Isabella (Std 8), South Africa
“Meditating has released a lot of stress from me and it helps me with my studies, I cope well at school and I have confidence.”
—Student (Std 9), South Africa
“I used to have more stress than anything else and I didn’t realise that it was stress. When I started to study I became more tired, but then you came along to our school and made things easy. Now I have less stress and I can study harder than before. Meditation everyday is very good for me, it makes me feel good and I can study.”
—Jacquiline Masoga (Std 9), South Africa
Graduated cum laude, Dartmouth College, B.A. in Government. Currently working for Cable & wireless. Engaged to Rod Teeple, with plans to live in San Diego, California.
“The teachers at Maharishi School instilled in me an understanding of universal connectedness; learning something new just seems like a natural extension of something I already know. From my perspective today, I see the whole map—and getting to where I want to go is just a matter of following the most effortless and logical path. Thank you, teachers. We want our children to have every bit as inspiring an education as we had.”
—Ben Podoll, Class of 1993, USA
Married Heather Levi (also of Maharishi School) in 1996. Daughter, Katherine, was born in 1998. Received a B.B.A. in Finance with honors from the University of Iowa. In 1997-2000 worked at Merrill Lynch. Currently working at Zimmerman Capital Group as an investment analyst.
“Attending Maharishi School was one of the greatest privileges of our lives. Looking back we are enormously grateful to all of the people who contributed to these happy memories and who created such an enriching and uplifting educational experience for us. One thing that makes the environment at Maharishi School so unique is that it not only encourages development of a student’s mind but of his or her whole Self, the development of enlightenment. This is an incredible thing as a young person, to grow up in an environment where all those around you believe and encourage you to believe that you have the ability to fulfill any desire, that you have all of the organizing power of the universe within you, that you are the universe. To grow up in this atmosphere of overwhelming positivity has allowed us as adults to aim high with our goals and go after these goals with confidence because we believe in and have experienced the infinite creative potential within ourselves.”
—Arjuna and Lucie Martlin (Mullenneaux) Class of 1993, USA
Arjuna graduated from the University of Iowa (1997) and has been trading stock ever since. He is co-owner of Marrott trading office in Vero Beach. Lucie graduated cum laude from Maharishi University of Management (1998) with a major in Maharishi Vedic Medicine. She is a full-time teacher of the Transcendental Meditation programme.
“After graduating from Maharishi School, I went through Northwestern University’s rigorous and competitive theater programme. Maharishi School provided me with more than just facts and figures. It taught me the ability to optimize my rest and maintain clarity and composure which are essential qualities for creating a compelling performance. In college, I did more than just keep up. I excelled. Maharishi School education directly led to my success in college and its teachers deserve to be praised and rewarded as society’s greatest contributors.”
—Sam Lieb, Class of 1993, USA
Graduated 1997 from Northwestern. Founding member of a theater production company in New York City. Currently co-creating a touring show to open in New York.
“Long after most of the nation’s students have forgotten the lessons they learned in school, the Maharishi School graduate has a unique routine structured into his being for life. I recently celebrated my 10-year reunion with the Maharishi School class of ‘88. I was deeply struck by how close we all were after so many years. Many of us had not seen each other since the day we graduated. We were engineers and salesmen, had been married and divorced, we had children and pets, had received honors and gone unrecognized, but underneath all of the societal trappings that now clothed us we knew each other as well as we knew our own families.
“An underlying unity connected us across the years and allowed us to feel deeply at home with one another, and to interact as easily as if we had never left. I wish I could better describe the sensation; all I can say is that this feeling of unity did not exist at my college reunions. I think many people go through life not even knowing that what they are looking for is that feeling of connectedness. I am very grateful for having had the opportunity to attend Maharishi School.”
—Angela Orange Koblitz, Class of 1988, USA
Graduated from Grinnell College and earned an M.A. in Russian Languages from Monterey Institute of Foreign Languages. Married to David Koblitz with two children and works as an interpreter in Pacifica, California. Thanks to the dedicated faculty at Maharishi School, every student learns amazing techniques for success in life and as a result the entire educational experience is one of deep knowledge and great inspiration.
“My education provided me with an incredibly strong foundation upon which to build my college career. I will always be grateful to my parents for having the wisdom to send me to Maharishi School and to the outstanding faculty for teaching me how to fulfill my dreams.”
—Tyler Cleveland, Class of 1997, USA
Three-time Class 1-A State High School Singles Tennis Champion, 2000 University of Iowa Athlete of the Year, Number One Big Ten Tennis Player of the Year 2000 and 2001, Big Ten Tennis Sportsman of the Year 2000. Tyler has worked for a seminar company, taught tennis professionally, and is now on the Professional Tour.
“My appreciation of Maharishi School continues to grow with every year. I think that Maharishi School instilled in us a sense of self-confidence, awareness and peace that becomes increasingly evident with the passing of time. In college, I realized that the comprehension, writing and presentation skills I learned were at or above the level of my colleagues from respected east coast prep schools. In the positions I have held since college, I have succeeded with creativity, problem-solving skills and the ability to develop strong, profitable relationships with customers. I feel that many of these qualities are the result of the unique environment created by the teachers at Maharishi School. However, I think that the most important gift that Maharishi School bestows upon every student is the belief that there are limitless possibilities in life, and that we truly can fulfill all of our dreams and desires. For this, I am eternally grateful.”
—Heidi Cleveland, Class of 1992, USA
Graduated cum laude, Dartmouth College, B.A. in Government. Currently working for Cable & wireless. Engaged to Rod Teeple, with plans to live in San Diego, California.
“I really enjoyed my Maharishi School experiences—the faculty and staff were always knowledgeable, helpful, and genuinely interested in my personal well-being and my fellow students were bright, creative, energetic, and lots of fun. As time goes by, my memories of those days grow in fondness and appreciation of just how special it all was. “I feel very strongly that the Consciousness-Based education at Maharishi School is absolutely vital if you desire to educate the whole person—about the nature of their inner reality as lively deep silence, as well as about the outer world of relationships, action, and the larger environments of community, country, planet, and cosmos. I know that when I have children, I want them to have the benefits of this truly holistic education. That is why Maharishi School is the only school that I would consider for their education.”
—Kyle Cleveland, Class of 1991, USA
Attended Maharishi University of Management, University of Iowa, and graduated Trinity University, Texas (1995) with a B.A. in Finance. Married Chandra Cain, April 26, 2001. Kyle has worked for a seminar company, taught tennis professionally, and has been trading stocks since 1997.
What Parents Say:
“Our oldest daughter Kelly is a recent graduate of Maharishi School. When we asked her what she enjoyed about her experiences at the School, she told us, “I really liked the deep friendships I made with the other students and with many of the teachers. It always felt like one big extended family. I also enjoyed being in a school where the atmosphere is saturated with the calming influence of meditation. For me it made the whole learning experience more enjoyable.”
“Everything my instructors taught us always had a wholeness point. This point would relate to the subject we were studying and to ourselves. This knowledge created a huge unifying experience for me because I realized how everything is connected to everything else, not only in nature but in my self.”
“As parents we are proud and deeply content with the education and beautiful experiences that our daughter had during her years at Maharishi School. We would encourage any parent that wants the best for their children’s education to consider Maharishi School, for its commitment to the highest standards of ideal education is impeccable. Our city is very fortunate to have this great school in our community.”
—Ed and Vicki Malloy, Mayor of Fairfield, IA
“Our son, Owen, attended a top day school in the Boston area through eighth grade. He did well academically, socially, and athletically. However, starting in middle school, he began to sense something was missing. First, his Boston School placed a very high priority on academics and provided excellent academic programs, but the students were so tired that they couldn’t take full advantage of these programs. There was absolutely no understanding of the importance of being rested for absorbing knowledge. Maharishi School did understand this very well and put that principle into practice very effectively.
“Second, Owen is an artist and values creativity highly. But his school had no way to develop creativity (though it had good art programs). Maharishi School offered the Transcendental Meditation and TM Sidhi programme for all students, and this programme could actually increase creativity (as is very evident in the activities of Maharishi School students—which Owen could see!) This was very attractive to Owen.
“Finally, through its unique programs for reducing the stress that accompanies both school and adolescence, Maharishi School’s programs removed the barriers to giving, generous, and heartfelt friendship among all of the students. This was in sharp contrast to Owen’s school in Boston, where personal relationships among the students were fragmented and otherwise typical of what we all know as a high school “community.” Owen made the decision himself to leave Boston and attend Maharishi School as a boarding student--with our support. In June 2007, after completing grades 9-12, Owen graduated with high honors from Maharishi School—we are all completely happy he made the switch.”
—Rob & Rosalind Stowe, Cambridge, MA.
“Our daughters were lucky enough to spend one year in a Maharishi consciousness-based school which laid the foundation for all their subsequent years of education in a private high school in New Hampshire (NH). Thanks to the powerful techniques they learned while at Maharishi School, they were able to maintain academic excellence, good grades, and high test scores effortlessly, without strain. Their creativity often amazed their teachers at their NH School. And just this one year in a consciousness-based school environment created greater depths of creativity and imagination for years to come. Our eldest, who is a wonderful poet, wrote her best poems while at the consciousness-based school, while our second child’s thinking grew ever more powerful and precise.
For parents it is a great comfort to know that their children are in a drug free, crime free environment where they are being nourished on every level, that their rest, and meals, and daily routine are supported at the highest level. With the practice of the TM technique and the positive, strengthening environment of the school, the children manifest these highest qualities in their own lives and find their own strength. There exists overall a feeling of comfort, safety, and fulfillment that is sadly lacking in many school environments today.
Our experience with the Maharishi School is that the expansion of the child’s thinking enables them to perform at levels well above average on standardized tests. Our oldest did so well that she had the luxury of choosing wherever she might want to go for college. Of course she chose MUM, having tasted the benefits of consciousness-based school education.”
—Greg & Linda Sptizfaden, Peterborough, NH
“It is not just that the teachers are all wonderful, selfless individuals who make it a priority to point out all the wonderful things about my child on a regular basis — they seem to love him as much as I do!! — or that the parents all share the same values as my husband and I, or even that the children are all from enlightened homes and families. It is that I don’t have to worry for one moment that my son is going to learn anything but positive and uplifting lessons and that he will treated with anything but kindness, patience, and love. There are lots of wonderful schools in this country and they all have something to offer. But can any of them offer a place for your child to grow and develop that feels like coming home?”
—Celeste Siemsen
“As a parent, I feel very fortunate my children attended Maharishi School and studied Consciousness-Based education. They have gained the value of inner knowledge as well as outer knowledge, which is unique to Maharishi School. They are bright, well adjusted, and prepared to enter their next phase of life with a strong foundation. As far as my knowledge, there is no better education in this country.”
—Harriet and Warren Berman
“It was hard for me to leave my friends and family on the East Coast, but the minute we got to Fairfield, it immediately changed. As soon as the kids started Maharishi School I saw how happy they were. After being in Fairfield for awhile… I realized how important it was to have this holistic education in our children’s life.”
—Nancy Incorvia, Mother of Valedictorian, Class of 2000
“I have six children ranging from six years old to almost 23. My oldest…started kindergarten here [at Maharishi School] many years ago. She has gone all the way through the system. I have felt over the years that this [education] is the greatest thing I could give my children.”
—Springli Johnson
“I feel the education my daughter receives at Maharishi School is invaluable to her personal growth. I would not consider her going to another school because it is not only the education that she’s learning, it’s what she is learning inside.”
—Katherine Walmsley, Moved from Canada to put her child in Maharishi School.
“We came from Arica, Chile to Fairfield in 1994, leaving behind relatives, friends, culture, language, job, etc.—just to enroll our children in Maharishi School. We are seeing them every day, growing in terms of wisdom, happiness and academic skills so much so that, we can not think of a better legacy to leave them for getting the best out of life. We have no doubt that Consciousness-Based education, offered by Maharishi School, is the best education for any child anywhere in the world. We wish that any parent could achieve these goals for their precious children as well.”
—Jose and Tina Morales, Twin daughters in 10th grade.