Keeping up with Ascend means getting to know our staff and learning more about what happens behind the scenes in our residential and outpatient treatment facilities. Every month, we introduce you to someone new who makes Ascend a great place to work — and an effective treatment center for teens and their families. This month, we’re excited for you to meet Hernst and learn what he does as an Educator with us!
Follow along for another day in the life spotlight with one of our most essential team members!
What Is An Educator?
Even though they’re not living their regular lives, teens who come to Ascend still have to keep up with their schoolwork and prepare for going back to the real world — which means going to school. Our educators run the classroom, giving lessons, guiding students in their individual homework assignments, and communicating with any of our client’s teachers who provide additional work and instruction while they’re with us.
Hernst fulfills his responsibilities as an Educator at the Trails House in Santa Clarita. He typically has two classroom sessions per day, which provide our neurodivergent population with a break from some of the tasks they might find tedious — allowing them to come back to class refreshed and refocused.
Why Ascend?
Hernst found Ascend after he was referred to us by another Educator, Anjuli, from Kallos House. He continues to work with us and our clients because he loves the safe space we provide for them. Hernst sees that our teens feel comfortable being vulnerable and opening up about their personal growth, which makes it easy to connect with them and help them learn the skills they need to thrive. Hernst views Ascend as a place of transformation — he’s seen it happen in our clients time and time again. He believes Ascend teaches everyone about resilience, overcoming challenges, and seeing beauty in every moment.
Hernst has also experienced great personal fulfillment while working with us, learning skills that he can use in both his personal and professional life. He loves that so many people from such different backgrounds have come together in one place to connect and achieve a single mission. For him, we have the Same Vibe/Same Tribe mantra going on.
We Love Hernst
While Hernst may feel like he has found a home with us, we also appreciate his hard work and dedication to our mission. His experience and wisdom help him create a space of empathy and understanding for our clients and staff. Hernst has helped many people on their personal journey with his unique brand of guidance and support.
Rooted in his belief that a major part of his life is about helping others, he sees every day that he achieves this goal as a success. No matter how big or small his actions for the day, he focuses on helping someone else thrive. Following this creed makes Hernst a beacon of positivity for all.
Life Before Ascend
Some who join the Ascend team come from a mental health background or have experienced their own struggles with mental health. Hernst, however, has a completely different story. Once upon a time, he was a Grammy-nominated songwriter and record producer. With over 10 million records sold and 30 years of experience in this field, it’s no surprise that he infuses his work here with a creative twist to delight and engage our clients.
In fact, Hernst has a current passion project that is all about encouraging everyone to explore and develop their own creativity. His intention is to create a space of mindfulness for every individual he comes into contact with, helping them unearth their genius and allow it to flow limitlessly.
A Day In His Life
A typical day for Hernst starts pretty early. Up at 6 am, he takes time to focus on himself and meditate on how he plans to contribute to the world that day. He may also take some time to read or journal, setting specific intentions for each day. When his meditation is done, sometimes, he manages to make it to the gym before heading into the classroom.
When he arrives at Ascend, he prepares for his classes, reviewing the lessons for the day and organizing each client’s schoolwork. His first session with the clients means getting homework done before breaking for lunch. Between sessions, Hernst catches up on paperwork and documentation, writing class notes for each client. Then, he starts his second session and finishes this class by speaking with anyone who feels they need a little extra guidance.
Before heading home for the day, Hernst may also teach a coaching session or record some music. But, he always prioritizes unwinding with a little self-care. Right before bed, it’s time for some more meditation, considering the intentions for today and whether he achieved them.
A Place for Learning
Hernst believes that Ascend has become a place for learning. He has both received and imparted invaluable knowledge that changes lives every day. For him, one of the key lessons is collaboration. Without the wealth of knowledge from others, like Assistant Director of Education Kyle Silva or Clinical Director, Katy Castronovo, Hernst wouldn’t be able to craft the ideal experience for our clients.
Until Next Time!
We hope you enjoyed this brief glimpse into Hernst’s world and Ascend’s classroom. Take a look at some of our previous spotlights, including facility management with Aida or therapy with Kristina, to get an insider look at life here. And as always, check back next month to see who’s going to give you the next look behind the scenes!
