Current | Volume 1 | October 2017

Vol. 1 // October

THECURRENT ELDEE PROFILE | ART CLASS | TIPS AGAINST RACISM | TIDBITS

THE BEGINING OF A YEAR TO REMEMBER START

Move-in Day is the first memory for most students, where life-long friendships started forming.

The Phelps Mill Picnic saw students overcome fears in heights with bridge jumping, and fears in reaching out to new friends.

Valley Fair was more than a bus ride for many, as students spent their Memorial Day weekend laughing and screaming at the amusement park.

Boys Soccer is kicking up grass and looking to playoffs with only 1 loss on their record sheet.

Jowell Seymour tackled an opposing football player and then put the opponent in a headlock. Ryan Garvin went home to change into an outfit that matched Wayne Stender during homecoming. Jenn Heikes is deathly afraid of bugs, but not bats. Camden Hoganson calls his father, “President Dad.” Hunter Christopherson sprained his ankle after his foot fell asleep in class and he tried to stand when the bell rang, spending the rest of the day in a wheel chair. Simon Kandal fell backwards in Danny Isaac’s wheelchair while showing off for a camera in the boys dorm. Kyle Tran thought Mr. Zach Nersten was talking about a Christian mango when Mr. Nersten was explaining the dating site Christian Mingle. Maria Jennings scored a goal from midfield thanks to the opposing goalie’s butterfingers.

TIDBITS

I.C.Y.M.I.

The I.C.Y.M.I. ( In Case You Missed It) is a little throw back to the early days of this publication. It goes over a few things that you might’ve missed over the past few weeks.

Youth Group is a favorite hang time for students as they get to play games and have a Bible study with their friends.

The Juniors and Seniors from Hillcrest rode a bus to NDSCS for a college fair to widen their future opportunities.

Over 40 students gathered around the flag pole to pray for the nation, community, and school for See You at the Pole.

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The Lady Comet Soccer team set the best record in program history last week.

SARAH HAWKINSON Someone knocked on my door. I wiped my tears away, working to sound happy as I said “come in.” It was Tina Hellum, and I didn’t realize how much I needed a hug until I was given one. I started bawling. Tina asked what was wrong. Somehow, through the tears, I told her. She hugged me and told me it was going to be ok. We prayed. Our time together lasted about an hour and I started to see that God is my refuge, and he’s using my friends to show me.

“I am realizing how great God is at Hillcrest.”

Hurricane Irma hit my house last week. A tree crushed part of my home and our dock washed away. My parents sound stressed and tired, and I feel terrible because I’m not home to help with cleanup.

Story By: Sarah Hawkinson

I feel helpless and not in control. God knows I struggle with control, and I believe He is teaching me a lesson in this moment. After I spoke to my parents about the Hurricane last week, I went up to my room crying, feeling like God was giving me too much in teaching me this lesson. I hoped and prayed that no one would notice I went to my room crying.

Picture by: Wayne Stender

After Tina knocked on my door, gave me a hug, and started talking to me, I was able to speak through my sniffles. She asked if we could pray, and that prayer was one of the most beautiful prayers I have been a part of. In our prayer time I realized that God sees my pain, and He hates it. He sees the hurt, and He feels it.

I believe He will use the hurt and pain and make good and beauty come from it.

At school this week I had a hard time focusing. The lessons I learned through my prayer time with Tina didn’t completely resolve my stress.

In class I began thinking how the stress of fixing and rebuilding our home must weigh on my father, who already works hard to enable me to attend Hillcrest. My mother and brother are bearing additional stress without me home to help. I somehow felt responsible for the stress on my family. This bothered me throughout the day. Finally, I broke down in tears. I left class to talk with someone. I ended up talking with the school nurse.

Mrs. Venberg, the school nurse, helped me realize that the stress wasn’t my fault. She reminded me that God has me here for a reason. I realized that if my parents need me at home they will tell me. God has me here for some reason, and I believe this is only a small part of what he is teaching me here.

Mrs. Venberg and Mrs. Heikes prayed with me after I talked with Mrs. Venberg in her office. During the prayer I felt a calming sensation.

I felt at peace, like a weight was lifted off. I believe Jesus is comforting me as I finally gave him all of my pain and all of my worry. I feel content and grateful.

I am realizing how great God is at Hillcrest. He is loving and kind. He teaches us lessons through the biggest and smallest things. I have sensed God close to me, wanting to hold me and through sorrow and pain. God is my refuge in the storm.

“My class spoke to being intolerant of racism, stereotyping, and racial profiling...but how can we show this?”

Story by: Paige Schultz

3 WAYS TO COMBAT RACISM We sat in silence, a foreign sound to our class. We just finished reading a letter written by Martin Luther King Jr.. He was arrested for his involvement in nonviolent demonstrations against racism and segregation. King’s letter was a response to unjust laws opposing African-Americans. He encouraged, confronted, and changed the hearts of a nation. Sadly, even today, there are still those refusing to love their brothers and sisters of varying races. In light of the movement “Black Lives Matter” and others speaking against racism, Mr. Undseth challenged us with this question: What can we do?

My class spoke to being intolerant of racism, stereotyping, and racial profiling. We believe that all people are equal, but how can we show this? Here are three habits to combat racism and change the world.

Listen. Those in the minority need to know their voice is heard. We have a responsibility to hear, process, and react. Physically showing we’re listening and want to do something against injustices still occurring is more than simple head nods. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out against racial injustice. In light of King’s stand, we are called to go out and ask questions, actively listening and seeking the truth. Some questions to ask are: “How does this affect you?” “Do you see law enforcement differently when we see a 15 second video on Facebook?” “Do you believe the reports are fair and trustworthy?” The answers to these questions can determine the behavior in our communities when injustices do occur near us. We must listen.

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Our actions should testify to the fact that we’re listening and we view everyone as made in the image of God. This means being intentional when conflict arises, which is my second tip. Invitations extended to various groups must be deliberate. We can’t brush by those different from us, but instead see who they really are; care for the things they feel for; support them when injustices do occur; and show support for their passions, lives, and hearts. This means giving a hug when there is a sense that someone’s feelings have been hurt, inviting someone to go to coffee with us and a group of our friends, and simply living in honest community of laughter, tears, and the mundane aspects of our life together, intentionally seeking out those with different perspectives to share community.

Lastly, these habits need to be permanent. Those around us should never question their role and status in our community. Together we will support those still feeling oppressed. Teaching those different from us that we are one together, we need to call our friends who are different to listen and be intentional with us, deliberately inviting others to stand up and make a positive impact rather than being a negative presence in our communities.

Spread helpful advice and encouragement to those affected, share love in the media, and in our communities. Let them become part of the solution by listening, being intentional, and making it a permanent reality.

DIVERSITY IN ART CLASS Pencils click and scratch. Papers rustle. Water tinkles in the background as paintbrushes are rinsed. Mr. Peterson approaches a seated student, hands waving, talking in a soft, excited voice, detailing the differences between Chinese and Japanese architecture. I am learning more in the first few weeks than many art students will in an average school year.

The Art Foundations class meets every day during fifth period. The seven students work on a variety of art projects, interacting with a sprinkling of art history studies. In this group of seven students, three continents are represented. Norwegian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean are all spoken in Mr. Peterson’s classroom.

“It’s an exciting group,” says Mr. Peterson, known as Mr. P to students. “It’s a nice variety...Americans, Norwegians and Asian students all together in the same class. Each group really brings a different set of strengths.”

Let this be known: not all countries have art in their schools.

Story by: Jack Nordick Picture by: Jack Nordick

Mr. P. illuminated the ways the students’ nationality affects the way they express themselves. Americans, he said, are profoundly creative. They are encouraged to revel in pure creation, never checked in their search for something new to say. The Asians, however, stress technical training and know-how. They will teach you how to draw, but not necessarily what to draw, and they stress good execution and methods. Finally, the Norwegians are skilled planners and organizers, and place a strong emphasis on design.

And let this be known: not all countries have art in the schools. A Norwegian girl who joined the class was surprised and delighted. They have no art classes in her Norwegian school, and she self-admittedly would have done anything to get into Art Foundations.

This desire for self-expression unites us all. Some foreign students struggle with American classes. English is hard to master sometimes.

Different systems of learning frustrate people who are forced to re-learn. But art is universal. And those things that differentiate us also mutually hone all student’s skills. I can thus say with confidence that I am becoming a better artist for the experience I am having in this class.

ELDEE FOUND HILLCREST AFTER PRAYERS Eldee grabbed her shoes out of the small dorm closet and slowly laced them up. She walked over to the dresser and grabbed her necklace; red, green, and yellow beads with a tooth hanging from the middle. It represents an African flag.

A reminder of home. She looped it around her neck, grabbed her backpack, and headed for her dorm room door ready for her first day at Hillcrest.

Eldee comes from Nigeria. She spent a lot of time in America growing up.

Coming to an American school seems almost natural. Her decision to attend Hillcrest came from the desire to learn more about the Lord as well as to prepare herself for the future in an American college.

“My family and I prayed a lot about going to school in America. We prayed about all the schools I was considering, but something just seemed as if the Lord was directing me to Hillcrest”. Trusting in the Lord’s plan, Eldee and her family called the school, scheduling her for her year in America.

“It is much different here then what I was expecting. I didn’t expect the people to be so friendly here. In Nigeria maybe one person would have introduced themselves. But, here everyone was coming up to me the first day”. With people surrounding her, and seemingly endless introductions, Eldee feels welcomed to Hillcrest Academy. Many hours away from her home that she knows so well, all in the pursuit of knowledge and Jesus Christ.

Being so far from home has brought its challenges. Constant reminders of friends from Nigeria come to mind, as Eldee speaks freely about her necklace, a piece of jewelry she and all her friends from home own. Yet, being so far away from home is giving new opportunities to learn the culture of America and rely on the Lord.

“My family and I prayed a lot about going to school in America... the Lord was directing me to Hillcrest”.

Story by: Anna Murray Picture by: Elias Pribbenow

A PUBLICATION OF:

DESIGN | ELIAS PRIBBENOW EDITORS | HANNE YNDESTAD | INGA-LIESE HANTHO | ELIAS PRIBBENOW | ANNA MURRAY STUDENT JOURNALISTS | LEVI CHASE | SARAH HAWKINSON | CAMDEN HOGANSON | DANIEL ISAAC | SHANTANU MALLICK | JACKSON NORDICK | JULIA OLMOS | PAIGE SCHULTZ | SAMUEL STROMMEN

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