Dear Seniors,
“It’s not easy, but, then again, it’s not supposed to be easy.
It’s all about perseverance, self-discipline and time management. Will you be able to say “no” when your friends are going out for the evening and you have a paper due or a test to take the next morning? Will you get out of the bed and go to class when you’re tired and nobody is there to tell you to get up and go to class? When you have some spare time are you going to be able utilize that time to do work for your classes, or are you going to sleep all day or just chill with your friends? It will take some time, but you will figure it out. Just like life, some people will take longer to figure it out than others. Persevere and get that degree no matter how long it takes.”
-Dennis Stromie
Senior Grade Chair
“There are so many organizations available to you in college: Greek life, service opportunities and campus ministries, and it’s important to jump in and be active to create a full college experience; however, the one aspect of college that I hope you new freshmen will remember is that on your campus, you have many experts in a variety of fields who are choosing to spend their lives sharing their knowledge with you. Take advantage of the fact that this is the only time in your life when you have ample time and virtually unlimited accessibility to top thinkers, scientists and artists. You will value the relationships you will form when spending the extra time getting to know your professors and allowing them to broaden and deepen your intellectual life. Get involved in a church group or Bible study within the first 2-3 weeks of being on campus. Start good habits early; find other people for whom faith matters. Don’t make a habit of staying out until 3 a.m. every night; in fact, in your first semester when you are establishing your reputation, be more conservative with your time and your activities. You only get one chance to establish your first impression on your campus, and you will never regret being known as dependable, responsible and mature. Try not to eat too much pizza after midnight; it will just make you all bloated and gassy in class the next day, and no one enjoys that.”
-Kendra Morris
Senior Grade Chair
“Hold on to your faith. Pursue your personal relationship with Jesus. It will become weary at times doing the right thing, but you will be so thankful you did. Find a community to connect with about Jesus Christ (if you can’t find one, you let us know and we will send you weekly encouragement). Speak the truth. King David wrote in Psalm 15, ‘LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart.’ Speak truth to your friends, to your teachers, to your parents. You will not regret being honest with people. Treat the opposite gender with respect— always, every time. Guys, you must treat every girl with utmost respect. Every single girl. In your words, in your actions and physically. This will be different—you will be set apart. This is being “holy.” You will benefit on this one! Girls, don’t settle for anything less than any guy you meet not treating you like a queen in every way.”
-Glenn Archer
Senior Bible Teacher
“I think my advice would be to take more risks; don’t just settle for what everyone else is planning to do. I missed out on opportunities by playing it safe and trying to become the adult too quickly. I wish I had taken more time to explore opportunities like studying abroad or working out West. Find ways to stretch yourself and become friends with people who are different than you. Sure, you may already know many people who will be in school with you next year, but be open to branching out. Lastly, choose a career and a life based on what you (and ultimately God) desire—not just what is practical but what you are passionate about. Take hard classes in subjects that interest you, and you will encounter some of the best people in the field.”
-Katie Wischerth
Senior English Teacher
“When you get to college, the most important thing you can do is to find an encouraging community immediately. You are going through so much change at one time, and you’re experiencing more freedom than you’ve ever had before. Without friends who hold you to a high standard, you could cave in to the pressures to make bad decisions. Finding a good Christian community is really important; don’t wait for it! Get plugged in. Go to everything and figure out where you fit best. That is where you will find your people, and some of those people might just turn into life-long best friends.”
-Cameron Alexander
English Teacher
