Robyn (Largent) Wise graduated from Front Range Christian School in 2007 after transferring during her teen years. Robyn currently works for FRCS as a history teacher. Following is her story, in her own words.
A Priceless Education
Christian education is priceless. I can truly say this after having personally experienced the strain private education can put on one’s wallet during college at Colorado Christian University. It was the difference that Front Range Christian School made in my life that encouraged me to continue on in Christian education and taught me the value of an academically strong and spiritually formative education.
I transferred into Front Range as a nervous and shy teenager. However, it did not take me long to find friends among my peers and mentors among my educators. I have always been a strong student, but FRCS provided me with teachers who challenged me to think deeper, study beyond what was required for the test and provided leadership opportunities that prepared me for life outside of the classroom.
I can say without a shadow of a doubt, that it was mentoring relationships with certain teachers that led me to the decision of being a history teacher. My passion for studying history was encouraged through meticulously crafted lectures and activities, as well as guiding conversations of “What should I do with my life?” When I came to realize that I can take my love of history and pair it with my motto of “pay it forward,” meaning I would take the guidance and encouragement I received from my mentors and give back to the next generation, I knew teaching was it! Furthermore, I was given the opportunity to take challenging classes and receive college credit before ever leaving the comfort zone of high school. If it had not been for passionate teachers, willing to push students to reach below the surface, I would not have been entering my freshman year at CCU with almost a semester’s worth of credit and a scholarship.
The education I received went beyond preparing me to be a college student. It prepared me to be student of life. On top of excellent academics, the faculty and staff at Front Range Christian School poured their lives into teaching students how to bear their hearts, strengthen their souls and exude Christ-like character. Character formation came from not only from my teachers, but from coaches as well. I still remember my volleyball coach asking me to step into the hall with her, mid-practice, just because she could tell something was going on in my life. She gave me her undivided attention to explain and cry, before speaking encouraging words of how I can come out of my problems a stronger Christian woman and, then, lifted me up in prayer. Moments like that defined my formative teenage years. They were not few and far between; instead they were a daily occurrence by multiple influential adults.
It is because of those important memories, the strong education and the mentoring relationships, that continue to this day, that I truly believe my education in a Christian school was priceless. The value of it, which I found as a teenager, led me to the decision of continuing on at a Christian university and continues to define my life’s decisions. The building blocks that were laid in high school gave me the opportunity to dig deep in college, where I learned, not only academics, but about myself, my character and my faith. I am constantly a student, eager to learn and dive deep into all areas of life. My passion and character are owed in large part to Front Range Christian School.