It is very common for private schools to be given a bad reputation. As a kid in the Christian school system, I was constantly called a rich kid or stuck up just because I had to pay to go to school. Neither of these were the case for me; however, the stereotypes preceded me. Even though this was the case, I could not ask for a better school experience.

I went to Holland Christian Schools from preschool through my senior year in high school. Each day, I learned the normal things every public school student learned: math, science, reading. But there was one other thing I learned about every day, and that was the Bible. The teachers wove lessons about the Bible beautifully throughout our day without missing a single piece of information. It's a feat that only completely mastered teachers who absolutely love their jobs can accomplish. Through these days, I was surrounded by peers who loved the Lord just as much as I did. It was an environment so full of love and compassion you could almost taste it.

I didn't think it could get any better until I went into high school. There I was greeted with a chapel three times a week, where the whole school would meet together and worship the Lord. This feeling of love escalated exponentially, especially when it was a singing chapel. Those events are simply something you must experience to truly understand. The atmosphere in the room makes it feel like everyone is a single being, that you are all one voice. The classes taken in high school challenged me to think deeper about my faith and grow closer to the one I believe to be my creator.

Growing up through Holland Christian changed my life for the better. Not only did I cultivate my faith and grow close to the Lord, but I also created a network of teachers and peers who will always be there for me. My school took me from being a believer to being a disciple. Yes, Christian schools may shelter you from the world more than public schools, and they may lack some diversity; however, my experience allowed me to go from a completely Christian environment to a secular college while still holding firm to my faith. If you are Christian, I encourage you to take that leap of faith and enroll in a Christian school today.