Testimonials: Students

Sadie

How would you describe your overall experience at Eastern Christian?

My experience at EC has allowed me to grow into the person I am today. Even though that sounds cliche, I do not think I would be the person I am today without EC and the friendships I have formed here. What I am most thankful for is the friendships and connections that I have been provided with. Along with this, I am also grateful for the memories that it has brought me, and the laughter. EC friendships have grown so deeply, as I have known some of these people for the majority of my life. Being able to see these people every day has brought me an immense amount of joy.

How did the EC community impact your life? 

When I was younger, my father was diagnosed with life threatening skin cancer, melanoma. This was a difficult time for my family, as we were unaware of what would happen next. My mom had to take on parenting 4 young children, and it was not easy. Through these difficulties, I witnessed from an early age how selfless, kind, and compassionate the EC community is. It was not only one specific person that helped my during this time, but the entire community. I remember countless times when dinners, gift baskets, and cards of encouragement were left at our doorstep. This allowed me to have a new sense of hope and joy, because I was simply sick of chicken pot pie and quiche every night. Even though I was younger, it has clearly impacted me for the better and is a constant reminder of how the EC community aspires to help anyone in any way they can.

In what ways have you grown in your faith as a result of your experience at Eastern Christian School?

I have grown in my faith at Eastern Christian in many ways. I have been able to have more opportunities that push me to strengthen my relationship with God. The many worship nights, chapels, and first-fives (student testimonies) during chapel have allowed me to gain a new perspective on my relationship with God. Having Christian friends from EC has also challenged me to grow closer to God. I have realized that it has been such a blessing in my life to be in a Christian school such as EC. My worldview now has been centered around God, and God alone, helping the decisions that I make and how I treat others. EC has assisted me into thinking about things Biblically in my every day life.

What’s an opportunity at EC that fueled a passion to learn and grow in? 

The three main classes that have helped fuel a passion to learn and grow are painting, drawing, and psychology. Painting and drawing have given me the opportunity to extend my talents. The teachers pushed me to do better than I believed to be possible. Not only this, but these two classes gave me a sense of peace and calmness. It gave me time to think and express myself through art. It is a way to express mere passion all through one singular instrument of a pencil. I have always loved art, but through these classes I have been able to distinctly realize what about art that I love; and that is that everyone has their own interpretation of art. I love the idea that everyone has different ways of thinking, or recall memories when looking at art. What relates to this idea is the class of psychology. Psychology helped me realize that I was interested in why people think the way they do and how ones genetics or upbringing impacts who they become. With the help of my teacher’s creative teaching tactics, I was able to learn, and take in information that was taught to me. It also challenged me to think more deeply about me and who I am.

What are EC’s top strengths as a school?

EC’s top strengths as a school are the teachers’ passion to have their students strive for the best future they can achieve. It is evident that EC wants to have their students become successful, but more importantly, better Christian people. Another strength is the Christian community that comes with EC. There are always people to talk to or opportunities to help grow your faith.

How do you feel that EC prepared you for graduation, college/career and life? 

EC has prepared me for the future as I can carry these Christian values I have grown in throughout my entire life. I am academically prepared for college, emotionally and mentally prepared for my career, and socially prepared for life.

How did EC make you a better person? What legacy do you hope you left at EC?

I believe EC made me a better person, as I have learned to put Godly principles into all aspects of my life. I aim to treat others with nothing but kindness, and to befriend everyone. I love getting to know people, and I have always aspired to understand people on a deeper level.

What would you say to a prospective student considering joining Eastern Christian School?

I would tell a prospective student that Eastern Christian is a great place to learn about yourself and create long lasting relationships with others. I would tell them that it is a blessing to be able to learn academics through a Christianity perspective. I would also tell them that the teachers are kind and compassionate, and they will always be there for you in any circumstance. Eastern Christian’s community is very understanding and has a passion to see their students strive for excellence.

Taline

Grade 12

How would you describe your overall experience at Eastern Christian?

Coming to Eastern Christian my sophomore year of high school after attending public school my whole life, was culture shock. I have come to be very appreciative for EC’s unique community and it’s tight-knit, encouraging, and God-centered nature. I can recognize that not many other schools have qualities such as this. From the education, to clubs, to sports, and the people in the community itself, I truly believe that it was a blessing from God to be able to attend a school like this and meet friends that have become family. I do not know what my life would look like if I had stayed at my old school but I do know that my relationship with Christ has also strengthened greatly in the past three years. I have learned so much about who our God is and what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ. While I am still learning how to navigate this, I think EC has given me a great, but of course not perfect, space to learn this. I think I am most thankful for the connections I have made not only with friends but also with teachers and faculty.

How did the EC community impact your life? 

I think the moment that sticks out to me the most when a person in the EC community positively impacted my life is probably this winter, when I was going through a loss in the family and just overall a very difficult season for me. Multiple teachers had reached out when I had expressed what happened and told me they were praying for me and my family and that they were willing to help. Knowing that I had this support from teachers, and also being able to be comfortable enough to talk to certain teachers provided a more comforting space for me to be in.

In what ways have you grown in your faith as a result of your experience at Eastern Christian School?

Although I had been raised in Christ and in faith, I used to look at it in the perspective of something I should be doing, and something to check off my checklist. However, coming to EC, God showed me that it is not only just to say you are a Christian, but to live as a Christian and to have a heart posture towards God. I have grown to have God as my rock and foundation for my decisions, thoughts, values, and therefore of my life. In my times of trouble, he truly has become my refuge and safe space. I can live now knowing that no matter what, I always have Christ as my rock and someone who loves me with no bounds. This fact also urges me towards sharing His grace with others. I recognize that it is not by anything I have done to gain his love, but it is only by His grace and compassion for his people that I am saved. God led me closer to him through the different people He placed in my life, the lessons I have learned through high school, and the constant encouragement at EC that is founded in Christ. I am forever grateful and I think I will always remember all the advice, encouragement, and words of hope that was shared with me at my time at EC.

What’s an opportunity at EC that fueled a passion to learn and grow in? 

A class that fueled my passion to learn and grow is Mrs. Westra’s English classes. I have always loved to read and write, ever since I was younger, but I had never realized how meaningful and profound literature could be. Her passion for literature was translated into her teaching and therefore her care for her students to also be able to understand it as she does. Through not only being able to express the meaning of literature successfully to students, but also through teaching lessons of life through literature, I have learned so much of writing and understanding literature but also understanding people, life, and leaning towards the meaning of life. It really inspired me to minor in English because she told us once to do what fuels your heart’s passion and to, instead of focusing on what you want to do strictly after college, to shift the focus onto what you truly are interested in. I have learned how to take comfort in literature and to understand life through its lens in a way too.

What are EC’s top strengths as a school?

I think EC’s top strengths as a school includes it’s community, small class size, and the focus on God.

How do you feel that EC prepared you for graduation, college/career and life? 

I think EC has prepared me for life in the way that I have learned to be disciplined and committed to my values and what I believe in, regardless of other worldly influences. Also, it has helped shape my worldview and perspective, while also helping show me what I am passionate for.

How did EC make you a better person? What legacy do you hope you left at EC?

EC made me a better person by leading me closer to Christ, guiding my path, and leading me to friendships which have helped me grow and become more confident in who I am. I hope that I left a good legacy at EC in the way that I impacted as many people as I could in showing love, and I hope that I was able to be a comforting space for people, while also being someone that could urge others towards God’s will.

What would you say to a prospective student considering joining Eastern Christian School?

Since I was a prospective student myself my freshman year of high school, and had done all the things in considering attending a new school from making a pros and cons list, to thinking for a whole summer about it, and talking to so many people. Now, I can confidently say that Eastern Christian has truly deepened my love for Christ, has shaped my perspective in being more centered in love and has connected me towards life long friends who I would not have met otherwise. I pray that God guides whoever is considering this school towards the right decision and brings peace, because either way, you are going to be okay!

Katelyn

Grade 12

How would you describe your overall experience at Eastern Christian?

I would describe my overall experience at Eastern Christian as positive. I met some of my best friends at EC and I have had some interesting yet impactful conversations with many of the students and teachers over the years I have been at EC. I am most thankful for the focus that EC had on preserving strong Christian worldviews for their students through all three campuses. This immensely impacted our education in a positive way.

In what ways have you grown in your faith as a result of your experience at Eastern Christian School?

I have grown in my faith in terms of knowing my theology and building long term relationships and friendships with others. I have been able to see the character of God in many of my peers and I have grown in my faith because of this.

What’s an opportunity at EC that fueled a passion to learn and grow in? 

Taking the Genocide and human Behavior class really sparked a passion within me that I never knew existed. Learning about the ways in which people think and how terrible events snowball behind our backs everyday continue to inspire me to make a bigger difference in the world. It is because of this class that I continue to want to learn about as much as possible and hear from as many perspectives as I can before making a final judgement or opinion.

What are EC’s top strengths as a school?

EC’s top strengths as a school is its sense of community and the way that the school always encourages the student body to get to know each other well. This is greatly communicated from the beginning and follows through to the end.

How do you feel that EC prepared you for graduation, college/career and life? 

Through the offered programs and through what the teachers bring to the school, I feel that EC prepared me for the next steps of life and higher education.

How did EC make you a better person? What legacy do you hope you left at EC?

From the challenging yet meaningful conversations, to the caring attitudes of the teachers, my spiritual health has grown and because of that, I have become a better person throughout the years at EC.

What would you say to a prospective student considering joining Eastern Christian School?

I would say that EC is a safe space where you can feel free to discover what your passion is. EC is a place where you can ask tough questions about your faith or faith in general and also pursue academic excellence. If you are a student who wants to become a more well rounded person with a developed and diverse worldview, than EC is the perfect place for you.

Siuneh

Grade

How would you describe your overall experience at Eastern Christian?

I am thankful for the education I have received at EC because I have been able to explore subjects such as science and English that didn’t interest me before. I have learned about the importance of keeping God at the center of everything and how He is in every detail from literature to our DNA.

How did the EC community impact your life? 

My freshman year of high school, I was struggling with a family member being sick and had some issues with friends. A Bible teacher at the time was willing to talk to me and pray with me whenever I needed. She encouraged me to seek God amidst everything that was going on and she helped me grow spiritually in my walk with God.

In what ways have you grown in your faith as a result of your experience at Eastern Christian School?

Throughout my high school years chapel has been a big part of growing in my faith. The ability to worship God and learn more about Him during the school week has been something I have tried not to take for granted. The opportunity to do this has helped me become stronger in my faith and through various speakers I have been encouraged to read my Bible more often and to seek God first.

What are EC’s top strengths as a school?

I would definitely say one of EC’s top strengths as a school is giving students the opportunity to come to Christ and to learn more about who God is. The teachers and staff show God’s love to their students and are willing to guide them and help them in any way they need.

How do you feel that EC prepared you for graduation, college/career and life? 

I feel that EC prepared me for college and the block schedule with 80 minute classes will help me transition to the long classes and lectures during the next four years. Through my WINGS Internship I have also learned how to interact with people in the outside world and how to properly communicate with them.

How did EC make you a better person? What legacy do you hope you left at EC?

EC has made me a better person because it has helped me grow in my walk with God and I have been able to help others because of that. When it comes to the legacy I leave behind, I hope that I inspired people to be kind to others and that people remember how much Jesus loves them.

What would you say to a prospective student considering joining Eastern Christian School?

I would encourage them that there is a Christian community here that cannot be found at other schools and that they will be able to grow and learn here in new ways.

Sydney

Grade 12

How would you describe your overall experience at Eastern Christian?

My experience at EC is positive. I am most thankful for how EC surrounded me with a Christian community which could uplift me in both my faith but also life. It provided me with genuine friends and relationships, along with a community of teachers who genuinely cared about my success in academics and my faith.

In what ways have you grown in your faith as a result of your experience at Eastern Christian School?

I have definitely become a stronger Christian. Going to a public school for most of my life, I was taught to keep my faith hidden in order to fit in and not get made fun of. This made me ashamed of my faith and often kept me from pursuing it further. At EC, I was able to start exploring my faith again, instead of just ignoring it. I appreciate how many conversations I have had about my faith here at EC, with friends and teachers. I have no need to be ashamed about my faith here.

What are EC’s top strengths as a school?

EC’s top strength is the community. I came to EC from public school specifically for the community as I needed to get away from the bullying and toxic culture I was facing. The teachers here are great. They really care about their students and how they are doing outside of the classroom, not only how they are doing in school subjects.

How did EC make you a better person? What legacy do you hope you left at EC?

EC helped me in my faith and learning life skills. I hope that I left a legacy of hard work through all my classes and service through my many leadership positions in clubs and school activities.

What would you say to a prospective student considering joining Eastern Christian School?

It is a great place with amazing teachers and a good environment to grow. It depends on what you are looking to get out of school. If you are looking for a great community, then I would definitely encourage you to come. I am very grateful for EC and the years of high school I experienced here. Nothing is ever perfect, but EC did help nurture and mentor me throughout high school and provide me with a great community.

Holly

Grade 12

How would you describe your overall experience at Eastern Christian?

This school created me into what I am now. Before Eastern Christian I was so confused with who I was as an individual in society. This school opened my eyes to so many opportunities and experiences. Personally, I believe God sent me here for so many reasons and I believe I wouldn’t be where I am today without the amazing students and faculty. I’m so thankful that my teachers never gave up on me and always supported me. ALWAYS. I don’t think I’ll ever find that type of kindness elsewhere.

How did the EC community impact your life? 

I would say every time I reached a low point in my life, someone was always there, and I know many other students at EC that can say the same things. Even when things are hard and you’re struggling, someone is always there.

What’s an opportunity at EC that fueled a passion to learn and grow in? 

Anchored, the girls’ bible study impacted me in ways I can’t even describe. That community of girls changed my perception of so many things and encouraged me to read my bible, which I was struggling with at the time.

How do you feel that EC prepared you for graduation, college/career and life? 

I would definitely say EC prepared me for all of these things. There have been so many clubs and classes that have helped me so much with marketing and business and that has been what I want to pursue.

What would you say to a prospective student considering joining Eastern Christian School?

I don’t regret any of the time I spent here. It was probably the best decision I ever made and I don’t want to leave after graduating. 

Jordyn

Grade 12

In what ways have you grown in your faith as a result of your experience at Eastern Christian School?

I’ve definitely learned what it means to have Christian relationships and developed my mindset as a Christian. It also allowed me to see how different a worldly mindset is. If I hadn’t transferred out of public school, I never would have understood this side of myself, it might have just faded into the background, so I’m glad for this experience and the things I learned about myself and the world around me.

How did EC make you a better person? What legacy do you hope you left at EC?

EC taught me to be understanding and to live life more present based, and to look up from my phone and face what’s in front of me. I hope to leave behind success when it comes to Dancing with a Purpose (DWAP), and a good memory of my relationships and how I treated people. I am thankful that I can be remember by my personality and the relationships I formed.

What would you say to a prospective student considering joining Eastern Christian School?

I would say that EC sets you up for a positive mindset. It gives you a comfortable and friendly community to grow up in, and supportive staff to guide you. It opens your mind to understanding and allows you to look deeply into who your are and how you handle things. It’s a great place to grow your faith, and to spend the final moments of your childhood. It’s the best place to be to prepare yourself for the real world.

Cade

Grade 12

How would you describe your overall experience at Eastern Christian?

I’m most thankful for the teachers who are dedicated to making sure that we have a good education and that we feel seen and appreciated. Each and every teacher at Eastern Christian is dedicated to all students, and are considerate of student needs.

How did the EC community impact your life? 

I would say that the Boys Cross Country team impacted me the most. The nature of cross country is very difficult, and it has given me many physical and mental benefits, specifically of perseverance and endurance. Further than that though, the people on the team have been there for me in difficult times in my life more than most people, always being the first to support me in trouble.

In what ways have you grown in your faith as a result of your experience at Eastern Christian School?

Eastern Christian puts you in a setting of being surrounded by other growing Christians, and allows you to develop in your faith together with others. For me, one of the most impact things that I have participated is a Bible Study consisting of EC students.

What’s an opportunity at EC that fueled a passion to learn and grow in? 

Something that I didn’t expect was how the incredible impact of the Music program would be on my life. My second semester of Junior year, I saw a concert and it sparked an interest in me to rejoin band playing the trombone. Since then, I’ve actively participated in Concert Band and played as a pep band at high school games. In addition to that, I’ve joined a local jazz band, and I have been able to learn such an incredible new passion for music that I had no clue that I had.

What are EC’s top strengths as a school?

I would say that EC has great academic opportunities in conjunction with extracurricular. I have been able to participate in various activities at the same time, which has allowed me to have a diverse range of activities. For example, I was able to participate in Band, Model UN, and Track, all at the same time.

How do you feel that EC prepared you for graduation, college/career and life? 

EC has given me the ability to be social and make connections with my peers and also be able to schedule my time well to make sure that I can do many different things that I would like to do, but also know my personal limits.

How did EC make you a better person? What legacy do you hope you left at EC?

I hope that I have left a legacy of patience, integrity, and loyalty in the way that I have conducted myself at Eastern Christian.

What would you say to a prospective student considering joining Eastern Christian School?

Eastern Christian is the school that will allow you to find and develop both your academics and any talents or passions you might find that you will have. My advice is to just try new things, because you might enjoy them more than you think.

Elizabeth

Grade 12

How would you describe your overall experience at Eastern Christian?

I would say my time at EC has been rewarding because of the challenges that EC offered me, and I am most thankful for my teachers because of that. Thanks to my teachers, I was able to grow immensely academically, but also within my passions.

How did the EC community impact your life? 

At a worship night I got to see so many people who came out to just worship and be in the presence of God on a Friday night rather than doing something else. Seeing other’s passion for Christ allowed me to feel comfortable being outspoken and proud of my relationship with God.

In what ways have you grown in your faith as a result of your experience at Eastern Christian School?

Though I was raised in a Christian family, I struggled a lot with feeling like my faith was my own. In my senior year, EC had chapel speaker talk about what to do when we doubt God. In that moment I felt God calling to me, and I stopped running. The friends I found here at EC, the worship team, and my teachers have all encouraged my journey with Christ from that point and for that I am endlessly grateful and feel strengthened for when I go to college.

What’s an opportunity at EC that fueled a passion to learn and grow in? 

I took Media Production in the spring of my Junior year, and it is thanks to that class that I am going to college for film. Through many obstacles, our teacher taught us everything we needed to know and never missed an opportunity to help any of us in our films. Every day I was excited to create in that class, and every time I look back on it I feel that same excitement towards my future as a film major.

What are EC’s top strengths as a school?

Lovingly pushing students to be the best they can be, nurturing a strong sense of community, and offering the resources needed for success.

How do you feel that EC prepared you for graduation, college/career and life? What legacy do you hope you left at EC?

EC has offered me a chance to truly find myself, and to push myself to become the person I want to be. I learned quickly at EC that your life is only what you choose it to be, whether it was through the courses they offered that I could choose, letting me test to switch to an honors class, or through the numerous clubs offered I made my high school experience everything it was with the help of my teachers and peers. As I prepare to face the real world soon, I understand that I don’t have to simply hope for the best, but rather I can make my reality the best.

How did EC make you a better person? What legacy do you hope you left at EC?

EC taught me what I consider to be one of the most important life lessons: to treat others with kindness because, at the end of the day, we are all human. The testimonies shared in chapel opened my eyes immensely to how everyone has something going on in their life, and if we can respect that then it makes all the difference. I hope as I leave EC, people can look back and remember even just one good moment shared with me, whether it be big or small.

What would you say to a prospective student considering joining Eastern Christian School?

There is not a moment here where you are not being cared for and looked after by the staff and the community. Whether it’s academically or mentally there is always someone praying for you, and ready to help you achieve your goals whatever they may be.