Dear GCA,

You may remember me. Actually, I know you do—you care for each of your students with such appreciation. Although I can no longer say I am a Grace Christian Academy student, with great pride I can say I am a Grace Christian Academy alumna.

Upon first transferring to you in 2013, little did I know just how much my life would change—or should I say, begin. I wanted to become a part of you as a result of your proven academic excellence—the Christian environment was just a plus.

Of course, I enjoyed your uniforms (due to the ease of getting dressed for ensemble every morning), the variation in your lunches, early let-out on Wednesdays, and the “golden calf,” but those are all tangible things. In the long run, they mean nothing.

I am now an international business administration student at Lee University (they, too, use Moodle), and one of the things we are taught is that yes, an executive probably has the capability to do a task a gazillion times more efficient and quick than a first-day-on-the-job rookie, but that executive will eventually have to train him/her. That executive will eventually have to invest his/her time into that individual so he/she can grow on their own, consequently becoming an executive one day, too, and training additional employees—perhaps five, or maybe even hundreds. Grace Christian Academy, you do the same thing with your students. You have a staff who does not solely care about their paychecks. You have a staff who does not solely invest in their own children. You have a staff who does not think one must first be a distinguished adult to accomplish grand things. You have a staff who loves unconditionally—not only their family and friends but their students.

I am thankful that you pour into your students the Word of God—allowing us to sometimes make mistakes, but to never look at us as if we are worthless than before. If it wasn’t for your sweet reminders that we aren’t our GPA, the kind of car we drive, the brand of lunchbox we carry, or our score on 2k (it’s a boy video game), I’m not too sure where we’d be now. Encouragement goes a very, very long way. You aided in us finding our identity. You helped me decide what career field to go into—thanks to Winterim and long talks with teachers after class.

GCA, you taught me what the “G” stands for grace. God’s love is more than a definition. Perhaps it has been defined year after year by how you have “held it together” after the passing of multiple students and close associates. By the grace of God, you did not tremble; rather, you kept a steadfast heart and mind and prayed. You taught us how to have strength in the valleys, and how to still say grace over our food during the mountainous highs. Thank you for teaching us to never take a breath for granted.

These things are not tangible, and in the long run, they will still be with us; these lessons and morals.

Thank you for investing in me, GCA.

With love,

A 2016 Graduate