Tara
Grade 9
What do you love about Eastern Christian School?
There are so many things I love about Eastern Christian, but what really stands out to me is the love that fills the building. The teachers truly care for each and every student, and I have made some incredible friends. New students are welcomed with open arms, as I was when I first came to EC. We learn about God and His love for us in every subject and have times to praise Him and serve as His hands and feet.
Describe one of your favorite teachers and tell why he/she is a favorite.
I honestly could not pick a favorite teacher. While they all have their different personalities and fun quirks, they share the same goal: to see us succeed and help us grow in our relationship with the Lord. The teachers come up with the most creative ideas to help us learn. I love learning about science and history from teachers with the same beliefs and values as me, as opposed to a public school where the state required teachers to teach us history and science from an evolutionary perspective. Also, I love how in High School’s SOAR program, we are encouraged to explore our inner creativeness and discover so many God-given talents that we may not have realized we had.
In what ways have you grown in your faith as a result of your experience at Eastern Christian School?
EC incorporates faith into every aspect of school. We always start and end our day in prayer, but every moment in between we are learning and growing in our faith, whether through discussing our beliefs in our classes, devoting an entire class to studying God’s word and understanding it, or putting what we learn about God’s word into action. The teachers model wonderful examples of what having faith in God is like and are people who I look up to, not just as a person, but for their faith in Christ.
The Eastern Christian tagline is “Engaging. Nurturing. Transforming.” How did you experience an education that is engaging, nurturing and transforming at EC?
When I first considered transferring to EC, I was worried that the grass seemed greener on the other side from where I was standing at the time. But the truth is, they water the grass on the other side! They give us the tools we need to achieve our goals and be the best we can be. And while we are getting to our goals, they nurture us along the way. The teachers at EC truly want to see us succeed and are willing to put the effort and time into helping us reach our goals. When they say “Engaging. Nurturing, Transforming.” they truly mean it. They engage you in service to God’s people and dive into the Bible, teaching you all about it. They nurture you, encouraging you and always being there for you. And transform you, giving you confidence, knowledge, and faith.
How do you feel that EC prepared you for graduation, college and life?
EC has provided me with a fantastic education. They gave me all the tools I need to succeed and are willing to put extra time in, other than just class time, to see me succeed. Not only have they given me such a great education, but they incorporate faith/character building exercises to make sure that we continue to grow in our relationship with the Lord. EC teaches the importance of being the hands and feet of Jesus, while also showing us that serving can be fun too! They teach us how we can serve and then encourage us to get out there and actually serve. Having faith/character building exercises incorporated into school has really provided me with such a well-rounded education. I realize the financial sacrifice that my family is making to send me to EC, and I truly do appreciate and value my Christian Education.
What would you say to a new student considering joining Eastern Christian School?
When I was considering switching schools to EC halfway through 7th Grade, I shadowed at EC, LOVED it, and then started having second thoughts about whether or not I actually WANTED to switch schools. Thinking about it is one thing, but actually doing it is another. Its tough, leaving everything I’d ever known to go somewhere completely different. My mom, an EC alumni, asked me if when I was in EC’s school building, if I felt like I was home. At that time, it was hard for me to think of any school as home, but once I actually got to EC, and experienced school from EC’s perspective, I could absolutely say that I was home. EC is my home away from home. The students and teachers are all one big family and it’s so nice to know that they are all there for you always.
What opportunities do you experience at EC that you don’t think you would have gotten to experience anywhere else?
EC is such a tight knit community where we all care for one another, praying for each other, comforting one another in hard times, and celebrating the good times. While we are such a tight knit community, it’s not hard for new students and their families to become a part of that tight knit group. When I first came to EC, I was welcomed with open arms and have become part of our big EC family. I had never experienced such a wonderful group of people and am so thankful to know them.
