In his own words: How has Christian Education Benefited me?
Growing up in a Christian home, going to church on a regular basis, and attending Christian school for most of my K–12 education has given me an interesting, and hopefully insightful, perspective on Christian education. My opinion about Christian education before graduating high school was radically different than the opinion I have now. Often during my years at Front Range Christian School I thought about going to a public school, and at times even talked with my parents about it. After graduating and moving on to college at Colorado State University I have gained a different, more accurate perspective on my high school education.
Currently in my last semester in the undergraduate Mechanical Engineering program at CSU I can truthfully say that FRCS prepared me well for college. Many times in high school I felt that the small school atmosphere and Bible-based classes took away from my education in other areas, and if you can imagine it, even gave my teachers a hard time every now and then. I didn’t consider myself to have any advantage due to my Christian education, but during my freshman year at CSU I started to notice that a majority of my class work came easier to me than to other students in my classes. Reluctant as I was, I eventually had to admit that my high school education had prepared me well for a highly competitive engineering program.
Soon after that I started to see the ways that the Christian education and atmosphere I experienced at FRCS had a positive impact on me outside of the classroom as well. I feel that the most beneficial attribute attained from a solid Christian education is not something that can be tested in a classroom, written on paper, or even quantified. In Romans 5:3-5 The Bible says, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Often times I would have classified my experience at FRCS as a tribulation. I remember causing trouble quite often, and coincidentally getting in trouble quite often as well. At the time I cannot say that I saw the benefit of it all, but now looking back I can see the infinite worth of a Christian staff that cared about instilling intangibles as well as book knowledge.
To directly answer the question, I would say that a Christian education has benefited me by creating proven character in me. A Christian educator or even the perfect parent cannot always be there to guide someone through a tough decision, but biblical principles instilled at a young age paired with the Holy Spirit living in them can be there in every circumstance. The Christian values I learned about while attending FRCS have stuck with me, and have often given me an inclination about what to do in a tough situation. Since the beginning of college I have been faced with many tough decisions including the decision of whether or not to continue walking with Christ when I no longer had parents waking me up for church or Bible-based Education. As God promised in Romans 5 the character instilled in me in my high school years gave me hope to continue on.
Looking to the future I can’t tell you exactly what I will be doing, but I do know that if I continue to seek God I will not be disappointed. If you are wondering what to expect from Front Range Christian School I would tell you to expect to be challenged, in and out of the classroom.