Additional Coverage:
- I moved my daughter from a small private high school school in Hawaii to a larger public school in Seattle. Now she’s thriving. (businessinsider.com)
Defying Doubts: Seattle Move Ignites New Chapter for Hawaii Teen and Grieving Mother
Seven years after a profound loss, Lisa Sparrell and her daughter embarked on a journey that challenged conventional wisdom, leaving the familiar shores of Hawaii for a fresh start in Seattle. What some might have considered a risky move for a high schooler has instead become a testament to resilience and the power of a new beginning.
In September 2024, Sparrell moved her then 16-year-old daughter from a secure private school in Hawaii to a public school in Seattle, a decision met with understandable apprehension from friends and family. “Are you sure?
She only has two years left. Why not wait until college?”
Sparrell recalls hearing frequently.
The move, however, was born out of a deeper need. Seven years had passed since Sparrell’s husband died from colorectal cancer.
The family home overlooking the Pacific Ocean, once a place of comfort, had also become a painful reminder. “My daughter and I needed to let go of that space and move forward,” Sparrell explained.
Initially, Sparrell considered simply finding a different apartment in Honolulu. Her daughter was thriving in her private school, participating in the swim team and school plays within a peaceful, sprawling campus.
But as college approached, Sparrell worried about her daughter’s transition from a sheltered island environment to the faster pace of a mainland university. Her daughter had expressed a desire to leave Hawaii for higher education, citing dissatisfaction with the weather and a feeling of not quite fitting in.
The idea of Seattle emerged during a July 2024 visit. Sparrell’s daughter, accustomed to summer camps in eastern Washington, was staying with a family friend.
A casual drive around a Seattle neighborhood sparked the conversation. To Sparrell’s surprise, her daughter embraced the idea almost immediately.
“They have those in Seattle,” her daughter responded when asked about her classes and theater. “You like Hawaii more than I do.
And it would be good to be closer to Oma.”
Despite her daughter’s enthusiasm, Sparrell admitted to significant nervousness. Her own experience in a suburban public high school was years in the past, and the prospect of a large urban school filled her with dread. She feared her daughter might feel lost or overlooked by teachers.
Rather than dwelling on these fears, Sparrell chose to reframe the opportunity. She spoke to her daughter about the advantages of a larger student body-the increased chance to find like-minded individuals, new avenues for self-expression, and the unique chance to reinvent oneself in a completely new environment.
“You’re not automatically the girl whose dad died. You can choose whether or when to tell people,” Sparrell shared, a perspective she admits offered her comfort as well.
The promise of “reinvention” resonated with her daughter. Sparrell recounts purchasing Doc Martens and arranging a new haircut as part of this fresh start.
While her daughter now playfully dismisses the idea of “reinvention,” her actions speak volumes. She has seamlessly integrated into her new life, making friends, joining a “Dungeons & Dragons” after-school club, and independently navigating public transportation to attend her first protest-a city-wide high school demonstration regarding school lunch times.
Most weekends find her recognized and welcomed at local cafes.
Her daughter’s happiness and sense of belonging in Seattle are, Sparrell notes, “all a mother can hope for.” The bold move, initially fraught with apprehension, has blossomed into a fulfilling chapter for both mother and daughter, proving that sometimes, a leap of faith is precisely what’s needed to thrive.