Ethan graduated from Front Range Christian School in 2009. His story, in his own words, follows.
Looking Back with 20/20 Vision
Since graduating from high school, I have been able to look back with 20/20 hindsight and see what an impact Front Range Christian had on my life. The Bible courses prepared me for a myriad of debates with my atheist college professors, as well as giving me a firm base in apologetics for a variety of opportunities I’ve encountered. I went to school in Massachusetts in 2010, which is a very cold place spiritually. Much of the encouragement I received there was both from a strong supporting church group and the lessons learned in high school.
While the teachers at Front Range Christian instill in all the students a firm worldview while letting them find their own faith, they still know how to have a good time! The dances, sports, and other activities outside of the 8-3/M-F are what really made the difference to me. A great example of this was the trip we took to New York City my senior year. We had a load of fun romping around the city, but at the same time, our teacher-guide made sure we learned about the history of this legendary city. The teachers know every one of their students by name and I have maintained relationships with some of them.
Academically, I found my classes in Massachusetts to be significantly easier than I was expecting, specifically, English. Thanks to my AP Literature class, I was able to skip the first required English class in college and went straight to English Comp 2. Even though I was the youngest student in the class, I was the one struggling the least with it. The instructor frequently commented on how I was much better prepared for the class and clearly more advanced, thanks to “wherever I went to high school.” My math classes and the Chemistry and Physics classes at FRCS also prepared me to excel in those college courses.
The weekly chapels are another thing that I enjoyed. It was always encouraging to hear from the speakers and to see how they were impacting their communities for God.
Last year, I went on a sixth month tour of the Southern Pacific rim with Youth With A Mission. I was able to see God’s hands at work right before my eyes as we prayed over people and took food and clothing to those who had none. So much of the history and context from the Bible that I had learned at Front Range Christian helped me relate the stories to those I encountered on the trip.
Since that missions trip, I have grown incredibly in my spiritual life and have been seeing God use me in several ministries back here in Colorado. FRCS continues to support me, by letting me speak in chapels, and I hope that I have some influence on current students, and getting involved in the downtown Denver ministry I started with my friends. Front Range Christian School was a great influence on my life while I was in high school, and it continues to be so.