Testimonials

Valerie

Grade 12

How would you describe your overall experience at Eastern Christian?

My experience at EC is something that I wouldn’t trade for any other school. I came from a public school where I struggled so much with social anxiety due to bullying. I transferred to EC in 9th grade and coming in, I was terrified, but the amazing community quickly helped me open up. I am thankful for the opportunity that EC gave me to help me grow socially, spiritually, and mentally through the family-like community.  

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

My faith has grown as a result of my experience at EC because the community and values has helped me become comfortable with building up my relationship with God. Unlike a secular school, EC promotes an environment that does not tolerate or give leeway to influences of the worldly values, which is something I believe helps every student in the school in a way.

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

Culinary arts was a class that I took last semester that grew my love for cooking and baking. We learned a lot about the basics of cooking, and growing up helping my mom cook, I already had a skill for it but it was able to grow into a passion through this class.

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

The opportunity of taking classes like Chem Honors, Anatomy, and Stats has helped prepare me to be confident going into college for premed. I also feel like learning about career choices early in high school and even finding internship opportunities through volunteering (while complete my FIA hours) has helped me navigate what I want to do in the future for my career.

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

EC made me a better person because I believe that being in an environment that promotes Godly values in many things including sports, clubs and education, will slowly change you into a better person than you would’ve been if you were in an environment that did otherwise. I hope that I left the legacy of kindness and resilience in sports, specifically track.

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

I would say to definitely give it a try. I did not know what to completely expect when joining the school and I was nervous, but quickly realized when I came that EC has many of the things I looked for in a school. The community is very family like, which I believe brings us all together as one body in Christ.

Destiny

Grade 12

How would you describe your overall experience at Eastern Christian?

I feel that the people at EC come together as an almost family. It seems that there is always someone willing to listen to me whether it’s a teacher or a student. I feel that the teachers at EC have been especially encouraging because they have never let me believe that I am not enough or that I cannot reach the goals I have in mind. The teachers, students, and coaches I have met here have helped me understand that I have the ability to reach wherever I have hopes to be, and I have a community that is always welcoming to myself and my family whenever I am here. 

How did the EC community impact your life? 

When I was in my junior year of high school, I was worried about my grades and if I was really where I was meant to be. A class that showed me my true place was in Psychology, where my teacher would ask us to journal based on a positive idea and explain how we had been impacted by it. I remember not being excited to do the class work then, but now that I am finished with the class I am grateful that I have a journal filled with my good memories that I can always come back to when I think of high school.

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

I feel that my faith has grown tremendously through the sports that I have been involved in at EC. I was never a star athlete, yet I always put in my best effort and came to as many practices and events as I could because I knew my mom was always the top in all her sports events. I knew that I had big shoes to fill, and softball was the place that I thought I could show my hard work off in. In years prior to high school, I had been a part of my town’s softball league so, naturally, I chose to join EC’s softball team. Here, I was able to find out what hard work meant, and we were pushed to work to our best ability. I later found that my passion lied in another sport, so my softball career came to a close. Although it seemed sad at the time, I found that this was simply growth. I no longer felt that I had a trophy or medal to chases after, and with the help of some great teammates and wonderful coaches, I was able to find my passion for track and field.

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

In Earth Science Honors my freshman year, I was shown a unit on space and how our planet affects and is affected by the bodies in our solar system. For the first time, I felt an immediate pull towards this subject and I began researching it to find out what was so fascinating to me. Through this class that taught me about Earth, I was able to find my passion for what lies beyond and soon find my calling to research and astronomy. 

What are EC’s top strengths as a school?

I feel that EC’s community is a very vibrant, welcoming place to be. Whether it’s against an opponent in a game or on the sidelines during a community night, you can always know that you have the support of others. EC sets students up for success and truly shows them what independence is through its many clubs and vast choice of classes.

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

I feel that the classes offered at EC set students up for higher education. Teachers at EC have a “what comes after” attitude rather than a “here’s what we have to finish up now” which gives students a push a way that makes them eager to learn. Being able to earn college credits in certain classes have helped prepare me for the course load that college will have and guide me towards which classes truly matter to me. 

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

Eastern Christian is the place to be if you want to grow and foster a close connection with teachers, peers, and EC families. Here, the community wants each and every student to succeed in any way the student chooses. Flexible scheduling, college preparing classes, and fun events are just small pieces of a bigger portrait of EC’s blessed community.

Elliana

Grade 12

How would you describe your overall experience at Eastern Christian?

My experience at Eastern Christian was rewarding, coming to EC truly brought me closer to my faith and showed me how having friends with the same/similar religion to you helps with your walk of faith. Praying in the morning with the class starts the day off right and the different opportunities during SOAR and in electives brought me to new things, hobbies, and classes that I never thought I would enjoy. I’m most thankful for the many elective options available and the WINGS internship program.

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

I really enjoyed fishing SOAR, being in nature surrounded by God’s creation and being blessed that we can go to a simple lake and enjoy the outdoors and get a nice fresh air.

What are EC’s top strengths as a school?

Encouraging students to walk in the way God would want us to and encouraging us to get relationship with him. The student body is a close community and everyone looks out for each other.

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

It made me a better person because I got closer to God and got more confident in myself and who I am. I hope to leave joy and encouragement behind, laughter is the best medicine and EC has caring teachers who make it easy to be honest.

Rachael

Grade 12

How would you describe your overall experience at Eastern Christian?

I would describe my overall experience at Eastern Christian as constructive. My time here has taught me about both the love and blessing of a truly Christian community as well as the chaos and brokenness of the God-less world. In the midst of events like Covid-19, EC education has both tested and confirmed my faith in Christ Jesus. I am most thankful for the compassion and Christian teaching that my EC education has granted me. Not just in Bible classes and chapel, but in all of my classes I have been taught and shown what it means to exemplify Christ in the Christian life. I have been blessed with teachers that are devoted to glorifying God, and I have been greatly inspired to live my life in the same way — not for my own gain, but for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom!

How did the EC community impact your life? 

Earlier this year the stress of the close of the semester, including school work, club responsibilities and events, maintaining work hours, college applications, and more weighed heavily on me as they do many high school students. I remember a teacher taking time to talk to me, and having a really deep and meaningful conversation with me that I will never forget. She reminded me of all the truths that had slipped my mind amidst the stress of senior year: It’s okay to not be okay all the time, perfection is literally impossible and failure is normal, and God is in control of it all. I so appreciated this moment in that it reminded me that there are struggles throughout all walks of life. Just like students, teachers struggle too! We are all experiencing an imperfect world as imperfect people, and to be able to talk freely about the goodness of God in the midst of it all is truly an amazing part of the EC community. 

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

I have gone to EC since pre-school, so my faith has grown as I’ve grown up throughout my many years at this school. Looking back on the time I’ve spent in this community, a big theme I see that has strengthened and confirmed my faith is that of experience. I use the word experience in an expansive way. Eastern Christian has presented me with many opportunities and challenging, faith-building circumstances in which I have had the opportunity to share the gospel with others. Yes, EC is a Christian school but that doesn’t mean that everyone coming here has their own personal and deep faith. Students come from Christian families of all different backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life. I have had many interactions, conversations, prayers, and more with people that have clarified for me exactly what my faith is rooted in. Now that I am at the end of my senior year I am confident in saying that I faithfully believe in Christ Jesus who died for my sins and the sins of the people of God from all over the world. EC has contributed to this confidence by providing and nurturing experiences — such as the WINGS program, service days, field trips, and more — to share what I believe with believers and non-believers alike in both the EC community and beyond.

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

Dancers With A Purpose, otherwise known as DWAP, fueled my passion for praise dance and glorifying God through the arts. I joined this group at the beginning of my sophomore year and have stuck with it throughout the rest of my high school career. We meet twice a week during SOAR as well as lunch practices at times, and we perform at chapels for holidays and more. This year I served as the organizer of the group alongside dancing with the group, helping to plan sales, order costumes, schedule practices, and most importantly help keep the purpose of the group alive and well. Before we begin dancing during SOAR practice, we always have devotions and prayer time. The general phrase that I always try to consistently add to my prayers over the practices and dances has always been “for the glory of God.” Through our passion for dance and love for God, this group has served as a great outlet for worship in my life. I have learned so much through this experience, including leadership, patience, and above all what it means to praise God passionately!

What are EC’s top strengths as a school?

EC’s top strengths as a school include a growing diversity and sincere faculty. From the time I first started in pre-K, EC has always been open and even in search of a wide variety of students. International students make up a large part of our community, as do students from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, birthplaces, family dynamics, and more. Tying into this is EC’s strength of sincere faculty. Just like the students, the faculty also come from a wide variety of backgrounds, which helps to make them all the more understanding and caring of all students. The teachers and staff at EC have always felt genuinely passionate about their jobs, being wholeheartedly driven by their devotion to Christ Jesus.

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

I feel that EC has prepared me for graduation, college/career, and life in general in numerous ways. EC has thoroughly helped me to find the career path that is right for me. I feel that various elective choices, SOARs, the WINGS program, and more have provided me with ample opportunities to get to know myself and my interests, and so be able to jump right into college and beyond confident in what I want to pursue. Additionally, dual enrollment classes and honors classes have given me a small taste and a helpful preview of the next period of schooling to come in my life. Though I have definitely had caring teachers, I have also been made fully aware that this is not to be expected from the world. EC has both shown me what a Christ-centered community looks like, and prepared me for a world that is largely not so.  

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

EC made me a better person by teaching me the power and importance of my voice. For a very long time I was a quiet and self-conscious person who did not share my beliefs or thoughts very often. I am still self-conscious from time to time, as is everyone, but I know now that my voice is good and I have grown confident enough to use it to share the good news of Jesus! By “voice” I don’t simply mean in the physical vocal cords way, but also through art, dance, music, writing, and more. My voice is a product of the One who gives me lungs, breath, and an imagination, singing and praising His name in all I do. I create to glorify Him, my Creator, who first created me! 

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

I would say to a prospective student considering joining Eastern Christian School that though I can’t guarantee EC will be the right fit for you, I can guarantee that it is a community united in Christ Jesus our Lord! It is a school that bridges the gap between public and otherwise private schools, being small in number but diverse in population. Regardless of where you’ve come from, EC has a place for you in its many clubs, classes, community events, extra-curricular activities, and more! 

Caleb

Grade 12

How would you describe your overall experience at Eastern Christian?

My experience at EC has been truly wonderful. I’m grateful for the incredible teachers who have invested in me both personally and academically.

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

Throughout my EC experience, both my theological understanding and personal relationship with God have grown immensely. Whether through conversations with teachers and peers, Bible classes, or chapel, I have encountered God’s love in countless ways and deepened my understanding of Him.

What are EC’s top strengths as a school?

Eastern Christian has integrated faith into every aspect of the institution, providing countless opportunities for students to encounter Jesus personally.

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

EC academics have taught me discipline and pushed me to work harder in all areas of life—academically, spiritually, and athletically. It has also instilled values that guide how I live.

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

EC’s faculty has shown me what it truly means to live out Christ’s teachings. I hope that I have left a lasting impact on the community.

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

EC is a great place to explore your passions—whether in robotics, music, golf, or countless other areas. It offers endless opportunities to discover what you love within a nurturing and supportive community of faculty and students.

Rebekah

Grade 12

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

Being at EC opened me up to different ways to view God, religion, one’s own faith, and myself. Being able to talk to different teachers and classmates about Christianity and points of contention within the faith opened me up to a new world of apologetics and gave me the space to explore my own relationship with Christ on my own terms.

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

I would say that Model United Nations helped me the most. Our head sponsor was a great help with everything and was always there when we needed to discuss anything at all, regardless of the topic. Model UN allowed for me to be more involved at EC when it came to planning school-wide events such as Cultural Week, as well as helped me grow in fields of public speaking, collaboration, leadership, and debate. It helped fuel my passion for international affairs and allowed me to take one step forward closer to my end goal. Model UN inspired me to stand out and learn more about the world around us and be proper global citizens.

What are EC’s top strengths as a school?

EC’s teachers are dedicated to their subjects. It is clear to see the passion in their teachers no matter the subject. Passionate teachers are good teachers. I can confidently say that in the classes where the teachers were passionate about what they are teaching, I was able to learn and appreciate the content, no matter how difficult the material. From English 12 Honors to Calculus 2 to Art 1, the passion of the teachers shown through and was portrayed in the energy of the class.

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

The classes at EC are very similar to college classes. The academic rigor and structure of EC prepared me for my future academic pursuits. Meeting people from different walks of life and treating them with the love of Christ has allowed me to recognize what it takes to fully connect with others, no matter what differences might exist between myself and them.

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 12

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.