SJS News

Susan “Susie” (Bloom) Hudgins ’85 challenged herself to climb to new heights—personally and professionally. In March 2023, she left her teaching job in Richmond, VA, to open Blooming Brains Coaching as an independent educational consultant. In August 2024, she tackled the steep, rugged terrain of Mount St. Helen’s in Washington state. 

“Starting a business reminded me I could still do hard work,” Susie said. “Climbing Mount St. Helen’s reminded me to challenge myself.”

Susie went on the Mount St. Helen’s trek with two friends from Kenyon College, where she earned her undergraduate degree. 

“A friend of mine was helping to organize this trip, and she encouraged me to go,” Susie said. “We had played field hockey together at Kenyon and remained close friends.”

Susie said as soon as she signed up and paid her deposit, she had an ankle injury that required surgery. Her physical therapist gave her the positive encouragement she needed.

“Part of the motivation for this trip was wanting to still feel strong, and I didn't want to be defined by bumps along the way in terms of aging,” she said.

Susie trained for the climb for three to four months but said training on the East Coast doesn’t fully prepare you for the height of the mountains in the West.

“It was really satisfying to train. Richmond is a relatively small city. You'd see me with a pack that had 30 lbs. of weight in the summer, walking from one side of the city to the other, around the Capitol and back again,” she said. “I would go to Charlottesville or Albemarle and climb some bigger trails, but I just didn't have as much access to what you see on the West Coast. So, that was the real baptism by fire.”

Many people do the climb in 8-12 hours, and Susie’s group completed it in 14. She said the ash field, left from the 1980 eruption, was as difficult as sand to walk through while you’re also climbing uphill, but it was the descent that was the hardest part. 

“Getting down was a real struggle for me because I hadn't had any practice and there were about eight people were telling me what to do, which was overwhelming,” Susie said. “I finally grabbed my friend and said, ‘You need to stay with me and show me what to do because I am done.'”

Susie said they met some nice people along the way, and she was impressed by the kindness of strangers. It wasn’t a clear day so they couldn’t see all four mountains when they reached the summit, but it was still a magnificent sight.
“I wasn't doing it for the view,” she said. “I was mainly doing it to prove to myself I could do hard things.”

Susie said she still can’t believe sometimes that she completed the Mount St. Helen’s climb.

“The mountain teaches you a lot. The difficulties teach you a lot and they put you smack dab in front of any fears you have,” she said. “I was in a state of shock for probably a solid three weeks. Everybody was congratulating me and I'm like, ‘I still am not totally sure that I did that.’ Now it’s exciting though.”

About a year and a half prior to challenging herself to Mount St. Helen’s, Susie took a leap professionally and opened her own business. Susie has been an educator for more than 30 years, teaching both in public and private schools. She had most recently been at The New Community School, which serves students in grades 5-12 with dyslexia in Richmond. 

“I decided I can serve people better on my own. I can meet the students where they are and push them where they need to go, and that can't always happen in a classroom,” she said. “Most people don't start a business at 55, but the demand was there. I immediately had clients.”

She founded Blooming Brains Coaching where she works as a college consultant and executive function, writing, and reading coach. Her goal is to build confidence and help students build a scaffolding of skills that will help them succeed. 

“I find it very satisfying, and I especially love the parent who calls and says, ‘He does not want to come. He doesn't think you're going to have any help,’” Susie said. “And I say, ‘OK. That's not unusual.’ Typically, before the first 30 minutes are through, the kid turns to the parent and says, ‘I would like to come back to see her.’ And that happens when you meet them where they are.”

While helping students with the college application process or current college students who struggle to manage due dates, she said she emulates the supportive instruction with high expectations she had at Saint James. Susie said she would not have passed Mr. Hoyer’s geometry class without the generous guidance and instruction from her Latin teacher, Mr. Carden.

“I love Saint James, and people like Mr. Carden have made an indelible difference on my life,” Susie said. 
Susie is from Frederick, MD, and said Saint James was a predictable environment for her when her home life wasn’t.
“Learning was predictable, even the hard things, and it was a safe place for me and helped me launch myself after that.”

At Kenyon, she double majored in English and Sociology. She had inklings she wanted to go into education even though her family wanted her to go to law school. She ended up earning her Master's of Teaching at the University of Virginia. 

She said she has “stepping stone moments” with various people who influenced her path towards education, including Don and Mary Woodruff, Bruce Barton, and Mr. Carden.

Susie has two grown sons, William and Lindsey. She said she is sticking to East Coast hikes for now and looks forward to returning to Saint James for Alumni Weekend for the Class of 1985’s 40th reunion.