Eagle Magazine - Winter 2017 by Second Baptist School

EAGLE SE CO ND BAP T IST S C H O O L

WINTER EDITION 2017

OF ALL NATIONS THIS IS MY STORY

CLASSROOMS AROUND THE WORLD

Second Baptist Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international students and teachers share their stories.

The culture of education apart from what we know as students in the United States.

OH, THE PLACES YOU WILL GO Studying abroad has a way of making our big world a small one, after all.

SECOND BAPTIST SCHOOL 6410 Woodway Drive Houston, Texas 77057 secondbaptistschool.org Established in 1946, SBS provides a world-class education for the leaders of tomorrow. SBS is a learning community for over 1,000 students (PK12) who enjoy a breadth of educational opportunities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from customized learning experiences to travel exposure to technological advancement. Nurtured by a Christ-centered community that edifies the soul and an academically rigorous environment that enriches the mind, SBS graduates are armed with the character, confidence and capability needed to succeed in the world they confront in the 21st century.

The Eagle is published by the Office of Communications and is mailed free of charge to students, parents, faculty, alumni and friends of Second Baptist School. For more information call (713) 365-2310 or visit our website at secondbaptistschool.org. Disclaimer: Second Baptist School makes every effort to ensure that all names and listings are accurate and complete. If a name has been omitted, misspelled or listed incorrectly, please accept our sincerest apologies.

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LETTER FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL CAMPUS NEWS FINE ARTS NEWS ATHLETIC NEWS THIS IS MY STORY

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40 CLASSROOMS AROUND THE WORLD 50 OH, THE PLACES YOU WILL GO 56 ALUMNI UPDATES 72 CLASS OF 2016 SEND OFF 74 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS

“TOGETHER WE MAKE UP GOD’S BEAUTIFUL DESIGN. THIS IS THE LIFE WE ARE INVITED TO.”

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LIVING IN A MELTING POT CITY LIKE HOUSTON, WE ARE FACED WITH AMAZING OPPORTUNITY EVERY DAY. We live, learn, work and raise families right alongside many types of cultures and people. The Gospel brings together God’s people and unites them in love shown through Jesus Christ. This is the heart of the Father. This should change everything about the way we live. Inside the walls of Second Baptist School is a community of students, teachers and parents that come from all different places and walks of life. The desire to fit into a certain mold tempts every one of us. Yet it is necessary to look beyond ourselves, gaining perspective from those around us and embracing their differences and our own as strengths. The SBS faculty and administration stretch the minds of their students beyond the world with which they are familiar. With opportunities like Interim Term trips for upper school students, and lower and middle school students exploring other cities and parts of Houston, students learn how to connect with people. We do this in hope that our students will be best prepared for the world around them. We do this in hope that each one will have the courage to live his or her life based on the great principles and convictions of biblical truth. After all, when it comes down to it, we are all just people – unique, gifted and purposeful. And while it is more comfortable to seek out what is familiar to us, we have been asked to reach out to people from around the world. Together we make up God’s beautiful design. This is the life we are invited to. Let’s live it. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

To God be the Glory,

Dr. Jeff D. Williams Head of School

WINTER 2017

A Letter from the Editor It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to. — J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings If you know me well, you know that I don’t have the heart of a traveler. I am happiest at home. However, I am entrenched in a family filled with wanderlust. I believe this is God’s way of teaching me to let go…a lifelong lesson. As much of a homebody as I am, 2016 took me to places near and far, with destinations as glamorous as London and as familiar as Dallas. During these adventures, the actual stepping out of my home and venturing past the day-to-day gave me the chance to examine the whys in my life – why do I prefer a cheeseburger to lamb curry or why do I shake someone’s hand upon meeting him/her instead of kissing each cheek, or even why do I believe what I believe? Traveling is about risk-taking. It is about being a dreamer and imagining endless possibilities. It is looking around with curious eyes and understanding that, while we are different on the outside in the ways we look, live, work and celebrate, we are the same on the inside with hearts looking for connection and minds seeking new knowledge. As you read through this edition of the Eagle, you will see how our faculty and students have literally, and figuratively, stepped out their doors to learn more about the world in which they live. Whether leaving behind a beloved homeland to follow God’s calling or working on a class project to learn more about another culture, they have decided to be brave and open their minds to the unknown. So, now it is your turn to step out the door and onto the road.

Shari Durrett Director of Communications

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Campus News

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Campus News 1 THE ULTIMATE RETREAT With tossing a dead octopus like a Frisbee as the aim of the game, it’s no surprise when two girls sprint to hide behind a tree. The adrenaline and excitement ran high for the freshman class as they challenged one another in Octopus Frisbee, a fun take on Ultimate Frisbee, along with other energetic games at this year’s Freshman Retreat. If nothing else, what a great story to tell! Freshman TJ Johannesen’s favorite part of the retreat was, of course, Octopus Frisbee. Why, you might ask? “Because it’s Octopus Frisbee.” Apart from that, TJ “learned valuable lessons about upper school from the Prefects, who where once in the freshmen’s shoes.” Students participated in multiple breakout sessions to give them a better idea of what to expect in upper school and how to walk in faith through challenges. There was plenty of fellowship and teambuilding opportunities, such as time together at the pool, blobbing each other into the lake, tossing water balloons and much more. “I love seeing students outside of class discover each other’s names and form new groups of friends,” said Mrs. Laura Towne. “They have welcomed the new students with open arms and are getting to know them. They are competitive, but they allow each one to shine in his or her own way.” 2 BUT GOD Shortly after parents said their first day of school goodbyes, they headed to the Worship Center in anticipation of Convocation. Students joined their new classmates with great energy and joy for their first all school assembly. Students and parents hung on every word Head

Prefect Kate Steelman ’17 said as she challenged the student body to make each day count, rather than count down until the next big adventure. Kate shared Ephesians 2:4-7, calling attention to two specific words, “But God.” In every moment, challenges and triumphs alike, He prevails. Dr. William’s address to the school emphasized the importance of small choices in the mundane that prepare us for our defining moments. Are you ready for your defining moments? Convocation 2016 concluded with pastor Lee Maxcy closing us in prayer as faculty and staff gathered around the student body. He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 3 A HOUSTON EXPERIENCE “Texas will again lift its head and stand among the nations,” said Sam Houston. Fourth graders were Texas proud as they traveled to Huntsville to visit the Sam Houston Memorial Museum. Aside from feeling rather small standing next to the 70-foot tall statue of Sam Houston, students enlarged their minds as this tangible history lesson gave life to their classroom studies. Stepping off the bus, students were immediately greeted by docents dressed in early 1800s Victorian attire. As they walked through various stations, students learned about hunting, farming and making a living during that time. They toured a Victorian-style home that folks lived in, complete with a couch upon which Sam Houston himself sat! For Trevor ’25, the gun station was his favorite part because it was “cool to see how the guns worked. The loud gun was awesome!”

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Campus News 4 A DRIVE TO SERVE As the Service Prefect, senior Alyssa Aramburu spearheaded an unprecedented book drive for the library at KIPP Climb Academy. Her service committee placed collection boxes in each Bible classroom and gave all of SBS one week to gather as many books as possible. Boxes overflowed with contributions from students and families. Committee members excitedly collected books from lower, middle and upper school classrooms and the spirit of service came alive through an outpouring of generosity. Once all books were collected and sorted, the committee hand-delivered the gifts to KIPP Climb Academy and filled the shelves of their library. “When we arrived, the book shelves were completely empty, and they were abundantly filled when we left,” Alyssa said. “The school is somewhat new and did not have a library until our contribution. Our students did an unbelievable job. I am overwhelmed by and thankful for everyone who contributed books. KIPP Climb Academy was so grateful for all of the books. SBS made a huge impact!” 5 BORN TO BIKE With a brand new bike and his dad at his side, sixth grader Samuel Ireland was beyond motivated to train for the Bike Around the Bay charity ride. Samuel was this year’s youngest participant to ride in the 180-mile, two-day event the weekend of October 15-16. Bike Around the Bay benefits the Galveston Bay Foundation, an organization that collaborates with citizens and communities to preserve Galveston’s overall health. After watching his dad ride in the event last year, Samuel was determined to join in on “Houston’s toughest mountain stage.” He spent months building up his stamina, starting from 15 miles to eventually riding 65 miles before the big event. On top of training, fundraising serves a big purpose in preparing for the cause. Samuel’s family and friends’ support put him among the top 30 fundraisers this year, which is a huge feat for a 12-year-old. On the day of the race, Samuel’s young age wasn’t about to hold him back from the starting line. “I didn’t see anyone else under the age of 20,” he said. “I got a lot of encouraging comments ranging from ‘You are an inspiration’ to ‘You are a monster!’” Samuel pushed through all 180 miles like a champ. Along the way, he remembered to glance around and

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grasp as much of the experience as possible. The trek over the Fred Hartman Bridge stole the show when it came to breathtaking views for Samuel on day two of the ride. It also meant there was only 12 miles left until he would cross the finish line. Finishing the ride was a huge achievement for Samuel, and one of his favorite life experiences so far. His advice for anyone who signs up for a lengthy bike ride in Houston: wear lots of sunscreen and drink lots of water. The months of preparation are well worth it to accomplish your goal! 6 A DESSERT DEMOCRACY Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.” Democracy. Choose Wisely. Education. These words, which so closely align with our mission, were put into practice during this extraordinary election season. Leading up to Election Day, teachers educated lower school students on the importance of voting and all that goes into the voting process. The first step took place in the lower school homeroom classes, where our young students registered to vote. Once November 8 arrived, eager and informed students made a brief stop at the ballot box on their way to Bible class. As teachers submitted their list of registered voters (class lists) to Election Judge Mrs. Cherry, each student cast their vote and was given an “I Voted” sticker as they headed out. What was the better candidate: A Chocolate Chip Cookie or a Rice Krispie Treat? Throughout the day, lower school faculty sent out election reports to offer information on how the voting progressed, which dessert was in the lead and how much time there was left to vote. Students waited patiently until the next morning when the winner would be announced. Congratulations to you, chocolate chip cookie! The people have voted. They are proud to say you are a delight to their taste buds and are deliciously victorious! The highlight of the election occurred during Friday’s lunch when Chef Brian Duncan served the winning dessert in the cafeteria. What a great way to learn about—and “digest”—all that goes into the voting process. As we continue to walk out our freedom as Americans, let’s continue to exercise our right to vote AND to enjoy our beloved chocolate chip delights.

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Campus News 7 WE THE CLASS OF 2021… During a monumental time in history for our country, SBS eighth graders took on the nation’s capital. This traditional trip, typically taken during the winter months, was a breath of fresh air for our middle schoolers as they were welcomed to Washington, D.C. by its picturesque autumn colors. Without a moment to spare, 79 students toured from one landmark to the next, soaking in U.S. history at every turn. From The Museum of African American History to the FDR, Lincoln, Vietnam and Jefferson Memorials, and from the Library of Congress to Mount Vernon, eighth graders asked questions and found the answers at the source. Students even had the chance to meet with Congressman John Culberson who weeks prior spoke to the eighth grade class in Woodway Village. Not only did students experience great excitement and comradery as a class, but they grew in wisdom as well. Andrew Smith ’21, shared how the Holocaust Museum impacted him. “It was really touching because we were able to see things we couldn’t see in textbooks. We were more involved because of what we saw and I am a changed person.” There wasn’t a museum, monument or place these eighth graders missed. High morale and enthusiasm defined this group at every turn. Eighth grade algebra teacher, Brittany Clayton stated, “My favorite part about the trip was watching students grow closer to one another through their experience of spending time in our nation’s capital. That being said, they didn’t forget their roots. A man sharing the gospel on the streets with a megaphone quoted the first half of John 3:16, and without hesitation, nearly all of our eighth grade students enthusiastically responded with the second half of the verse in true Second Baptist School fashion!” 8 WHEN COMMUNITY BECOMES FAMILY If you walked through our middle school hallways during Community Reading Time (CRT) on Friday, December 2, you would have seen forty different small groups meeting together in various rooms for the very first time. These newly-formed, middle school families are comprised of two students from each grade: fifth through eighth. These uniquely blended families were the vision of Head Female Representative Anni Shewmake ’21 and Community Representative Jefferson Trammell ’21. According to Anni, “We wanted to see the middle school more unified instead of just separated by grade levels.” Originally, Anni was

inspired by last year’s representative, Victoria Ryan ’20, who shared her vision for family groups within the larger community. Anni and Jefferson had the desire to bring family groups to their Community Time. With the support and excitement from their co-representatives, Anni and Jefferson rallied the troops and managed to organize all 298 middle school students into individual families. Together, they came up with various questions and activities to help launch conversation and connection between each group. Anni and Jefferson’s vision thankfully became a reality when new families gathered on that first day in December. They began their time by reading and sharing various scripture on Advent and continued bonding over creative questions and impromptu discussion. The student groups meet together once every nine weeks during CRT and in the meantime, new families are growing. 9 LOVE DOES “Humble voices carry farther in this world, and we just heard from a couple.” These words were spoken by featured speaker Bob Goff as encouragement to our distinguished alumnus and distinguished alumni parents at the 11th annual Distinguished Speaker Luncheon. Chaired by SBS parents, Kimberlee and Andrew Johannessen and Kim and Lance Wright along with the Underwriting Committee, this year’s luncheon wholeheartedly celebrated the Second Baptist School community. When Chad Stubbs ’92, vice president of marketing for Pepsi Trademark, took the stage to receive the Distinguished Alumni award, he noted that SBS is still the school that loved him so well when he was a student. He thanked SBS for faith, friendships and fundamentals that helped shape the man he is today. Distinguished Alumni Parents Pam and Paul Thompson continued with their deep and sincere appreciation to teachers who daily poured into their two children, and to teachers who continue to do so every day. As Bob Goff took the stage, his larger than life personality and stories had audience members instantly engaged. The author of Love Does challenged each person sitting in the room to create a legacy filled with love. “What’s going to happen with Second Baptist School? I don’t know. But if you stay humble, you are going to see more in your students, families and teachers. Therefore, set absurd expectations, explore opportunities, clear the path, take action, expect setbacks, sustain belief and then land the plane.”

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Fine Arts News 1 WHEREFORE ART THOU, ROMEO? The upper school fall drama, Romeo and Juliet, was a huge hit. Over 1,300 people sat on the edge of their seats as they watched one of the greatest and most tragic love stories unfold. With this year marking the 400-year anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, it was only fitting to celebrate his life through the Second Baptist School fall drama. Robin Johnson from the Alley Theatre called Second Baptist School’s performance as good or better than most professional companies she has seen perform this show. The cast was exceptional and authentic in their characterizations of the roles they played, particularly the lead actors making their unique imprint on the already iconic balcony scene. The opportunity for our students to perform Shakespeare’s most popular play held them to an incredibly high standard. For one thing, the script called for actors willing to dedicate numerous hours to become fluent in Shakespearean English language. Furthermore, the cast joined a prestigious group of companies from across the U.S. who perform stage combat at an excellent level. Highly acclaimed New York City fight director, Jared Kirby, visited SBS to train our students in choreographed fight scenes. “The whole sword fighting process was really fun. I had never done anything like it before,” said Grayson Edwards ’18, who mastered the role of Benvolio, Romeo’s cousin. Volunteer parents worked tirelessly

to make the set and props exceptional and raved about this particular cast. “They were extremely supportive of each other throughout the entire production,” said one of the production assistants, Tracy Pedersen, mother of Caleb ’17. “They truly looked out for each other and worked together to help each other become better performers.” We are so proud of our students! 2 A JOYFUL NOISE More than 120 choir students practiced for several weeks under the expert tutelage of Choir Director Becky Martin to prepare for their annual fall concert. During the concert, audience members heard from Vision Choir, Ninth and Tenth Grade Choir and Middle School Choir. Their selections included songs such as “He’s Watching Over Israel” and “Dona Nobis Pacem.” Perhaps the most memorable presentation of the night was the combined choirs’ delivery of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” 3 WINTER WONDERLAND With a new wave of cold weather, the Christmas season finally began the week of the Festival of Christmas. Sounds of the season filled the packed Sanctuary as families and friends came to watch lower, middle and upper school students perform in the following: Eagle Band, Vision Choir, Upper School Art, Honors Theatre, Ninth and Tenth Grade Choir, Jazz Combo, Fourth Grade Handbell Choir, Middle School Choir, and the fifth and sixth grade music class.

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WINTER 2017

Athletic News 1 WORTH THE WAIT On a warm and breezy afternoon, the SBS community gathered to witness the long-awaited opening of the new Athletic Center. Chairs were filled and others stood as Director of Advancement Julie Applegate opened the ceremony. “This is going to be a huge blessing to our students and our families,” she said. Following Julie’s introduction, Head Prefect Kate Steelman led the crowd in prayer, asking the Lord to “make this a place for building relationships” and that, ultimately, “God would be glorified and praised through all that takes place here.” After thanking all of those who made this vision a reality, Director of Athletics Don Massey shared about the day when every SBS coach walked through the building before the permanent flooring was laid. Each one took a marker in hand and wrote scripture and prayers on the foundation. When Don walked through the building after everyone had gone home, he 2

FOOTBALL

ACADEMIC ALL-STATE – Austin Strozier, Scott Martin, Caleb Pedersen, Deion Smith, John Hildreth, Ryan Antona FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT – Austin Strozier, Scott Martin, John Hildreth, Fielding Davis, Anthony MacKenzie, Liam Bunnell, Victor Curne, Logan Hall, Zachary Heaton SECOND TEAM ALL-DISTRICT – Caleb Pedersen, William Vick, Ryan Antona, Andrew Young FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE – Austin Strozier, Fielding Davis, John Hildreth, Liam Bunnell, Victor Curne, Deion Smith SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE – Anthony MacKenzie, Austin Strozier ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION – Scott Martin, John Hildreth TOUCHDOWN CLUB HONOREES: Defensive Player of the Year (finalist) – Fielding Davis, Liam Bunnell Offensive Player of the Year (finalist) – Zach Heaton Ironman of the Year (finalist & winner) – John Hildreth

looked around and was deeply moved by what he saw. Among it all, nowhere did he see any reference on the floor mentioning the hope to win a state championship. Rather, Don shared, “What a blessing it is to have a coaching staff of men and women that has their eyes fixed on the Lord and furthering His kingdom! We will win championships and we will experience many successes, but if just one student comes to know Jesus, then we’ve won. Furthermore, we are blessed to have so many families that share this vision and have given generously to make this happen.” After continued thanks from Dr. Williams and a brief message from Dr. Young, the two cut the big ribbon. SBS alumnus Harris Huguenard ’09 closed out the ceremony, and the celebration commenced. The grand time was filled with tours, fellowship and new memories that will carry us into this new season of growth, opportunity and continued fellowship. 3

CROSS COUNTRY

VOLLEYBALL

STATE MEET Boys placed 15th Girls placed 15th DISTRICT MEET Boys placed 2nd Girls placed 4th FIRST AT DISTRICT – Cameron Watson Overall 22-12 District 7-3 Second in district Bi-district winners FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT – Madeline DeJong, Lauren Williams, Haleigh Inthavong SECOND TEAM ALL-DISTRICT – Kate Steelman, Emma Reed, Lexy Pettitte ACADEMIC ALL-STATE – Madeline DeJong, Lauren Williams, Haleigh Inthavong, Kate Steelman HONORABLE MENTION ALL-STATE – Madeline DeJong

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This is My Story Second Baptist Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international students and teachers share their stories.

WINTER 2017

ADRIANA SAAVEDRA B O G OTÁ , C O LO M B I A

It was a Sunday afternoon in Bogotá, Colombia, and Adriana and her friends were headed to Gina’s Pizza for lunch after church. At the last minute, her friend convinced the group to head to his house instead. They could grill out and save a little money, since they were all on a college budget. A short while into their lunch, the fun came to a sudden halt when a nearby bomb shook the home and rattled the hearts and minds of those around the table. The explosion occurred just six blocks from the friend’s home, inside Gina’s Pizza. There were no survivors. Needless to say, Adriana Saavedra’s childhood looked different than most. “It was normal to have at least four car bombs per week,” she explained. For most of Adriana’s childhood and teenage years, Bogotá, Colombia, was permeated by political unrest and internal conflict. But, Adriana said, “I knew God was protecting me. He was looking out for me going out and coming in, while constantly under threats.” During college, Adriana was part of a non-denominational youth group that met once a month on Fridays, from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. “We would pray for our country, fast and raise hands. It was very intense. Two of my friends were kidnapped for six months, and we knew nothing. We prayed 24/7. All of that contributed to my spiritual growth. It was a matter of life or death for us.” Her friends were returned unharmed and “at no cost.” They were even able to keep their Bibles and eventually led their captors to the Lord. Despite the chaos and violence around her, Adriana describes her family as privileged by Colombian standards, and they carried on, always putting education, work and each other first. Growing up, she attended a British private school “that had the level and quality of a SBS education but was not religious.” She then transferred to a Catholic, all-girls’ school in ninth grade. It was there that Adriana met her first, evangelical-Christian friend, proving to Adrianna that God

had moved her there. Church and Christian friends were high priorities to Adriana, especially after she became the first Christian in her family at age 15. Her high school journey was extended when she became an exchange student in Oregon after her Colombian schooling. She was 17 at the time and chose to repeat her last year of high school simply to experience living in the states. After a long season of working in various advertising and marketing jobs in Colombia, God ultimately led her into teaching and back to the United States—but this time, for good. When the opportunity to take a teaching job became available in Melbourne, Florida, Adriana prayed, “Lord, if you move me to the states, I never want to miss Colombia.” From the moment she arrived back on U.S. soil, “It was home. God answered my prayer.” One more move landed her in Houston to be closer to her sister and to the church and school that she would soon call home. Adriana and her husband, Javier, met in the SBC singles’ Spanish-speaking class, Vivé. Today, both Saavedras are teachers at SBS. They love having their beautiful fifth grade daughter, Natalia, on the same campus. Adriana is not fond of change. But, God continued to speak to her and continued moving her. When He said, “Go,” she went. As a result, she constantly reminds her students that when they stay close to Christ, they will not miss their destiny. “When we let God be God, it’s amazing,” exclaimed Adriana. Her life is a testimony to God’s protection and leadership. God has carried Adriana through life-threatening situations and conflict, shaped her heart and mind to love Jesus and to share that love with those around her. Simply put, the Lord brought Adriana safely to Houston and to Second Baptist School. Landing here has helped fulfill Adriana’s life-long desire to minister to others on a daily basis.

H O N O R S S PA N I SH I I I , SPA N I SH I V, A DVA N C ED SPA N I SH SEMI N A R PO N T I FI C I A UN I VERSI DA D JAVERI A N A – B . A .

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JAVIER SAAVEDRA B O G OTÁ , C O LO M B I A

When upper school robotics teacher and tech team member Javier Saavedra arrived in Houston at the age of 25, his first question was, “Where are all the people?” Born and raised in the capital city of Bogotá, Colombia, Javier was used to living in an area with twice the population of Houston, yet half the size. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, Bogotá was growing, but only one way—up. Eventually, Javier’s journey would lead him to grow up and out of the country he knew so well. Since his grandmother was raised in Europe, Javier “came from more of an international type family.” His great-grandfather was a Colombian diplomat in Brussels and had twelve children while serving in Europe. However, according to Javier, “he didn’t want to live with all of them at the same time.” He sent his daughter to live in London, and every female in the family attended the School of the Sacred Heart either in London, Paris or Belgium. WWII eventually brought his grandmother back to Colombia since the risk for foreigners was too great. “Life was even scary for diplomats,” said Javier. With a family history rooted in travels abroad, Javier’s parents insisted that he and his brother have ample opportunity to see the world. That, he did. When his family wasn’t traveling, Javier and his brother attended private Catholic school. Before and after school, Javier played his favorite outdoor game—cops and robbers—or took things apart, in order

to put them back together. He loved going on adventures, exploring the forests near his home and secretly sneaking through vacant houses near his neighborhood. No matter what he did, you would find him back at home for mealtime, since it was expected that everyone in the home ate together. Life was good for Javier. He was “comfortable,— never lacking for anything.” So he thought. Through a series of very hard and heavy trials during his mid-20s, Javier woke up one day and bought a one-way ticket to the U.S. With a college engineering degree under his belt, his frequently stamped passport and one credit card in hand, Javier headed north and eventually found his footing in Houston. While he thought he’d be back in Colombia within six months, God had other plans. Three years after living in the states, God met Javier right where he was. He reflects on his salvation experience by saying, “I had to get to my knees, and there, God removed my pride and my old lifestyle. He got me out, and for me, that was the greatest experience of my life.” Javier had discovered the missing piece—a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is on American soil, in the hustle and bustle of Houston, that Javier met Jesus, his beautiful wife Adriana and welcomed his joyful daughter, Natalia. From the Colombian plateau of Bogotá, through trial and pain, Javier Saavedra is now at peace and loves to serve from a place of deep history and profound life experiences.

RO BOTI C S UN I VERSI TY O F HO USTO N – B . S.

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WINTER 2017

GEOVANNA WYSS QUITO, ECUADOR

Born and raised in the heart of Ecuador, upper school Spanish teacher Geovanna Wyss had a strong bent for traveling. Due to a deep European influence in South America, Geo constantly met and saw people visiting and relocating to her country from other parts of the world. The allure of seeing the world was always there. Geo also loved reading books about travel, geography, various cultures, history and languages. All of those interests would serve her well inside and outside of her native Quito at just the right time. When Geo was 20 years old, her mom went on a sight-seeing trip to Washington, D.C. While there, her mom and a few others were in a serious car accident. With several broken ribs and the loss of a fellow passenger, a one-week vacation turned into a much longer stay. Geo’s mom eventually made it to Houston to be with her uncle while she recovered. It was there that she came to appreciate the life and care she received while visiting the United States. She returned home and convinced Geo and Geo’s father that “life was simply better in the States.” “I was so against the move. It’s not like we were dying or starving in Ecuador,” stated Geo. “But, my mom saw opportunity in the States.” By the time Geo was 21, her parents made the move north and began a new life for themselves. Not long after, Geo heard and responded to God’s voice telling her, “You need your family; you need your parents.” She made her own move to Houston and continued walking through the open doors that God put in her path. “We started with nothing in the U.S., but we embraced moving forward and started a new life.” God was paving her way in a country that had so much to offer. Since Geo’s father was an English teacher for a language school in Ecuador, Geo attended free classes growing up. She attributes her early knowledge of English grammar to her exposure to those lessons. It was after two years of living in Houston, however, that she became

extremely confident in her English. Geo worked at, attended and was sponsored by a local Spanish-speaking church as a do-it-all secretary. Eventually, she was invited to a social event with the Vivé class at SBC. Full of young professionals and strong believers, Vivé was a great way for Geo to meet people and enjoy fun salsa parties. The best part was becoming good friends with the director of the class, Ted, who eventually became her husband. Professionally, Geo left her position as the church secretary and became a private school teacher there. It was in this role when Geo discovered her “love for people, language and teaching.” She continued pursuing her state-side degree by attending college classes in the evening. In December 2007, God, once again, opened a door to satisfy Geo’s life-long passion for travel. Ted was given the opportunity to work in the UK in information technology. During Geo and Ted’s adventure abroad, Geo was able to obtain her Bachelors of Education from the University of London. “It was so interesting studying with people from all over the world like Malaysia, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. They actually called me ‘the American.’” She went on to say, “They all had heavy British accents, but I had an American accent.” It was upon her return to the States that she officially became a citizen of the Unites States. Once Geo and Ted were back on American (and Houston) soil, close friend and fellow Vivé class member, Adriana Saavedra, encouraged Geo to apply for a teaching position at Second Baptist School. She started working at SBS in 2010. After taking a few years off to have her two precious sons, Geo returned to SBS this year to teach Spanish I. Geo humbly states, “God has always prepared me and opened doors for me. Even though I love my home country of Ecuador, you have to see it with your own eyes to see just how good we have it here.”

SPA N I SH I & I I I UN I VERSI TY O F LO N DO N – B . ED.

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ANA KONUMA L A PA Z , CO LO M B I A

Within the heart of a country nicknamed the “gateway to South America” there is peace. A town officially named La Paz and a home that provided a special and serene childhood for lower school science teacher Ana Konuma. La Paz sits in the northwestern part of the continent where South America connects with Central and North America. Although Ana considered the United States home for quite some time, La Paz is where her story began. Ana loved everything about growing up in a rural farming town. She spent most of her time outdoors and cherished the area’s moderate and consistent climate. As a single mom to two daughters, Ana’s mother carried on the family business of farming, woven through three generations. Together, they helped oversee the farm and made frequent visits there throughout the week. Ana stated that “my mom worked very hard for my sister and me; she even paid for our college when we got to that point.” Ana grew up attending a Christian private school in La Paz. “Going to that school is when I learned the importance of having a Christian foundation in school, as well as in the home,” stated Ana. It made a huge impact on her life and relationship with God. The school also prepared her to graduate and leave home at the early age of 15. “Since there were no good universities in or near our town, it was normal to go away at such a young age,” Ana explained. Moving into the bustling capital

city of Bogotá and into her own apartment, she continued to embrace peace and immediately felt prepared, confident and curious. Ana’s innate need to discover the “whys” of things led her to study science at the university she attended in Bogotá. At first, she thought she wanted to be a doctor, but God had other plans. Instead, Ana studied to be a lab research scientist and continued seeking and discovering the answer to the “whys.” She soon realized that being in a lab, alone with a microscope, was not what she had in mind; she was bored. In her final year of college, Ana planned to move to Spain to earn a master’s degree. “In Spain, I wouldn’t have to learn another language,” laughed Ana. “But, once again, God changed my plans completely.” In that same year, Ana met her future husband, married and then joined him in Houston to carry out his job with a large oil company. With a permanent move stateside, Ana became fluent in English, found her passion for teaching combined with science, and became a mom to three beautiful children who are current students at SBS. Ana believes that “when you are happy and thankful for what you have, there is no reason to be sad or complain.” She added, “I feel so blessed to be in this country and that I have a job and supportive family.” Ana’s story started in La Paz and continues to be a testament to God’s love and peace.

LOWER SC HO O L SC I EN C E UN I VERSI DA D JAVERI A N A – B . S.

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TRACY TANG WUHAN, CHINA

Growing up in Wuhan, China, Tracy Tang’s childhood was very traditional. What was not traditional, however, was Tracy’s bravery and acceptance of change that led her to SBS. Back home, Tracy lived with her father, mother, older brother and younger sister in Wuhan, the capital city of the Hubei province. It is the biggest city—and a major transportation hub—in central China. According to Tracy, “Summer in Wuhan is hot and long, just like summer in Houston.” Her father, an engineer, worked on bridges and roads, while her mother stayed at home and took care of the family. Tracy attended public school, which means classes of nearly 70 students. “These classes are not hard to maintain,” she said, “however, students are very disciplined in China.” It wasn’t difficult for Tracy to decide on a major when it came time for college. She was always fond of reading—particularly reading in English—all things Shakespeare and Pride and Prejudice, to name a few. After four years of English immersion at Hubei University, Tracy felt more comfortable with the language. Immediately following college graduation, she put her English degree to good use as an English teacher at Hubei University with nearly 100 students. Tracy met her husband while in school and married upon graduation. They both decided to further their education and move to Montreal, Canada, to attend McGill University. While in Montreal, Tracy was asked to start the first Chinese school program of its kind at an all girls school. It was here that Tracy found a passion for teaching, not only the Chinese language, but the culture as well. “You learn how to under-

stand people who live on the other side of the world. I think it’s important to learn how to cooperate with people from different cultures.” After teaching in Canada for a few years, Tracy felt called to Houston, Texas, and more specifically, SBS. When Tracy and her husband moved to Houston in 2012, they were immediately welcomed into the SBS family and felt grateful for the Lord’s faithfulness. She loves that Bible class and chapel are a part of every day life here, and for that reason, sends both of her children, Alyssa ’27 and Antoine ’30, to SBS. At home, she speaks to them in Chinese and prepares traditional Chinese food for them. “I think it’s important that my children get some cultural experience.” Tracy is quick to point out that, “American Chinese food may look the same, but it tastes completely different.” Tracy has certainly found her way at SBS, in more ways than one. She teaches four different levels of Chinese and sponsors the Chinese Club. Tracy’s students can be found participating in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, eating Chinese food or even singing Christmas carols in Chinese throughout the halls of SBS. Tracy strives to inspire each of her students to appreciate and want to learn the Chinese language and culture. “As a language teacher, it’s most important to encourage and motivate your students. I don’t want them to feel the language is impossible to get.” Forward-thinking and passionate about her subject area, Tracy is an irreplaceable asset at SBS. Thankfully, the feeling is mutual. “At every school in which I taught before this, it was always about being a better teacher. At SBS, it’s about being a better person.”

MA N DA RI N C HI N ESE M CG I L L U NI VERSI TY – M. A . , HUB EI UN I VERSI TY – B . A .

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KAYA TREIBMANN D Ü S S E L D O R F, G E R M A N Y

Kaya Treibmann knew that the move from her beloved home in Germany to a new city and school across the world would require stepping out of her comfort zone. Having experienced a similar adventure, Kaya’s mom encouraged her oldest child to walk her own path of possibility and opportunity by studying in the United States. “I’ve wanted to come to the U.S. since I can remember,” said Kaya. “My mom moved to Oklahoma for one year in high school and later, went to law school in Indiana. She loved it.” Kaya grew up in Düsseldorf, Germany, a bustling city known for fashion and trade. However, the area in which the Treibmann family lives is smaller—like a “town within a city,” similar to the way Sugar Land is to Houston. It’s a place where everyone knows your name, and while Kaya loves that familiarity, she said, “It’s hard to step out of that box. I change...I grow.” In Kaya’s words, it’s a “very church-like town,” with many Catholic and Protestant churches. Kaya’s life in Germany revolved mainly around taking care of her two siblings, a natural talent she had as the oldest. In first through fourth grade, she attended a Montessori school, where children of varying ages were in class with her. Her father was adamant about this type of education, and Kaya found her niche with the younger students. “I was always helping them out. There wasn’t a huge selection of friends to choose from, so I did what was natural for me.” Kaya moved to a private school starting in fifth grade that runs through twelfth grade. The school requires an admission process, just like SBS, but a few interesting differences are that there is no tuition fee, no middle school and no school districting. “You can go to school four hours away from your home if you want to,” explained Kaya. Kaya’s mom recognized the value of her three children learning English, so she often spoke to

them in English, although Kaya and her siblings answered back in German. When she began taking English in third grade, Kaya had a leg up on the other students. “I always had As in English class! A lot of people had really weird accents. They weren’t used to hearing the language and practicing the way I had been.” Today, German children learn English as early as first grade. Kaya is familiar with everyone at her school in Germany and hugs just about everyone she sees. When she moved to Houston, not having these close friendships was difficult. “I was kind of lost the first couple of months.” Her friends at home sent her to the U.S. with a going-away gift, a book of notes expressing what they love about her and how much they will miss her. “It gives me energy and power, knowing that that’s me. Maybe not many people here know that yet, and I don’t know much about them. But by the end of the year, I hope to have the same thing over here.” In the midst of a rather tough transition, Kaya felt welcomed by her teachers and fellow classmates. The teacher-student relationships at SBS caught her attention right away, realizing just how much the teachers care. “My English teacher, Mrs. Towne, wrote me a letter saying how happy she was that I am making friends and told me that I’m a sunshine in her class. It was so sweet.” Kaya would grasp any opportunity to take her new American friends back to Germany if given the chance. Once there, she would take them to watch the sunset by the river, shop in the city and ride the train to any surrounding town. While she misses home a lot, Kaya is embracing her time here. “I’ve learned so much about myself,” Kaya said. “I’m getting better at being on my own. I’m much more free in what makes me happy. Friends from home tell me I already look more American. I’ll probably have a Texas accent by the end of the year!”

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MAX TIAN SHANGHAI, CHINA

From an early age, Shanghai native Max Tian was drawn to the life of the American teenager by watching movies and TV shows about day-to-day life in the states. Since he was 13, Max wanted to study and spend the rest of his life in America. “I thought to myself, ‘Wow, it seems pretty cool over there.’” Max was born in the most populated city in the world, Shanghai, China, and attended a private school there. In the U.S., private schools typically have smaller class sizes where teachers can focus more attentively on the individual student. Conversely, Max often had 50 classmates, with one teacher to teach the subject material. “It was hard to get the one-on-one help that you needed,” he said. Max describes Shanghai as an international city, similar to Houston. “You see lots of people from different countries, and there are so many different kinds of food,” he said. He loves the city and enjoys how easily you can travel from different areas, whether by car, bus, taxi, train or motorbike. Like most teens, Max has always looked forward to getting behind the wheel. “In China, you can’t get your driver’s license until you’re 21,” Max explained. “My mom allowed me to take a taxi once I turned 12. If I needed to get somewhere and she couldn’t take me, I would take a taxi.” Now that he’s living in the U.S., Max looks forward to the freedom of having his driver’s license when he turns 16. Max began playing soccer when he was five and started taking swim lessons when he was six. With very little time during the week for extracurricular activities, Max practiced these sports over the weekend and during his summer break. “I’ve noticed that soccer is more popular in China than it is in America,” he explained. Max first moved to the U.S. in eighth grade to live with his aunt and uncle. He attended Trent International School in Sugar Land during the first year, and he found it challenging to

persevere through the cultural differences and language barrier that he faced. “I can understand what others are saying in English, but it’s hard to respond to them in English. But I’m getting better. People have been really friendly. I feel welcome here.” In addition to developing relationships and navigating every day life in the states, Max is taking full advantage of some of the holiday traditions Americans are accustomed to. He especially appreciated the deals he found during Black Friday sales over Thanksgiving Break. “Everyone likes to look good,” he said with a laugh. While Max is happy to be here, there are many things he misses about his home country. During his trip to Shanghai over Christmas break, Max visited his old school to see friends and former teachers. “I was excited to talk about what American life is like, and go out to eat and take lots of pictures.” Back in the states, Max FaceTimes his parents and friends as often as he can, even with China’s clock running 14 hours ahead. Max also misses the cultural traditions he has known since his childhood. In 2017, the Chinese New Year fell on January 28, when Max was already back in the states from a trip to China. The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival as it is most often called now, is a time to gather with family and friends, eat delicious food and watch the elaborate Spring Festival Gala on TV. Students enjoy a break from school and adults enjoy a break from work. “I was sad to miss out on that with my friends, but I celebrated with my aunt and uncle here in Houston.” Max loves anything that reminds him of home. However, he jokes about his experience with Chinese food in the U.S. “American Chinese food is totally different than real Chinese food,” he explains. “You can’t get the same ingredients here that you can in China. We don’t even eat that much rice!”

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RONGKAI LIANG BEIJING, CHINA

Born in Beijing, China, Rongkai Liang grew up an only child. Families of three are common among Chinese families, considering the one-child policy that remained in effect from 1979 until 2015. Most of Rongkai’s friends in Beijing also have no siblings, so he doesn’t know any different. His father works as a salesman, and his mother spends her time at home taking care of their family and other household duties. Beijing, China’s capital and home to the Great Wall of China, has over 12 million residents. Like Houston, Beijing’s population is growing at a very rapid rate; however, it does not have as much land to accommodate the influx of people. “It’s pretty crowded, so the city has to build up,” said Rongkai, regarding the high-rise apartments that his family and most people live in. It was Rongkai’s curiosity about education in the U.S. that led him from one of the biggest cities in China to the biggest city in Texas. With his aunt and uncle being the only familiar faces in Houston, Rongkai buckled up for the unfamiliar path ahead in pursuit of knowledge and culture. When his plane landed in Houston this past August, Rongkai immediately noticed the difference in the air quality. “I love that Houston has a cleaner environment. The pollution in Beijing is not something I miss.” Ever since he can remember, academics were of the utmost importance to Rongkai’s family. He devoted most of his time to studying or going to tutoring lessons in and outside of school. Rongkai attended an international school in which most classes are strictly academic, leaving no room for electives. On top of that, a typical Chinese school day is much

longer than an American school day, with some schools dismissing as late as 8:30 p.m. “The long school days didn’t allow me a lot of spare time for anything other than schoolwork during the week,” Rongkai said. “Over the weekend I usually went to tutoring or sometimes played basketball.” At SBS, with more time after school to do what he wants to do, Rongkai sometimes kicks back to watch his favorite American TV shows: CSI and Breaking Bad. While adapting to life in Houston, it has helped for Rongkai to constantly be around the English language. “The language barrier has been the hardest part. It’s difficult to communicate here.” Rongkai lives with his aunt and uncle, who moved here 25 years ago. He is thankful for the taste of home he gets from spending time with them, and it’s nice to speak his first language after a long day of English. Within his first few weeks at SBS, Rongkai found a mentor in Mrs. Tracy Tang, the upper school Chinese teacher who is also from China. She understands, firsthand, the cultural shock that Chinese students experience in an American school and how hard it is to be so far away from familiarity. “Rongkai came to me with questions, like where to find the office and how to type a teacher’s email address correctly,” said Mrs. Tang. “I am able to see him almost every day and check on him. I can tell he is much more relaxed in school and talks more with his classmates.” Now that Rongkai has become more adjusted to life at SBS, he can dream about what it would be like to take his new friends on a trip to explore China. “I’d take them to the city of Guangzhou for breakfast. They have the best food,” said Rongkai. “And then to see pandas.”

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SANTIAGO APARICIO RUIZ B O G OTA , C O LO M B I A

Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Santiago Aparicio Ruiz joined the SBS family in August of 2016 as a junior in high school. He stepped away from the busyness and familiarity of home and school in Bogotá, Colombia, to explore opportunities and adventure in the United States. When asked about life in Colombia prior to living in Houston, Santiago is quick and eager to reply. “I had a pretty good childhood. I have grown up with the same friends all of my life and have a really big family.” No matter where he is, day-to-day activities for Santiago always include sports. “As a child, I liked to play Xbox, specifically FIFA,” he said. “ I like to watch and play soccer, but I’m not that good; I’m better at basketball. My brother taught me how to play basketball. It was something we did together.” Santiago’s older brother, Juan Aparacio ’13, has always been someone he’s looked up to. “I would dream about attending school in the U.S., since my brother attended here years ago.” In fact, he is currently studying for his masters at Texas A&M in College Station. Santiago has similar dreams of going to college in the states. He sees himself studying biomedical engineering because of his interest in medicine. In addition to the excellent education, Santiago has become increasingly thankful for his daily proximity to SBS. “In Colombia, I had a two-hour commute to the British school I attended outside of the city. That is common among students who live in Bogotá.” Moving to Houston has made an impact on Santiago. “I appreciate the education I’m getting

in the states,” Santiago said. “And the basketball; it’s so much better here. In Colombia, we play a little bit of a different style. Speed and athleticism are greater here.” Santiago has found a few other things he enjoys about living in the U.S. “I really like to watch superhero series, and there are a few comedians I really like too.” Houston and SBS may have many perks, but there are still things Santiago misses about home. “I really miss the food. We have the best beans, arrepa and chicharon. It’s all so good. I also miss the people; they are so kind.” He continued to say, “I would love to take a friend from SBS to Colombia back home with me. I would take them to a big party with my family. We are all very happy and like to dance; it’s very fun. I think I would also take them to a soccer match.” Today, Santiago has a newfound self-reliance. “Since coming here, I have become more independent. I no longer have the same friends I have had all my life. I must learn to do homework entirely on my own, among other things, and be more responsible.” Santiago is defined by thankfulness and a hardworking spirit. He has not only made a lasting impression on those at SBS, but it has made one on him. “I would be disappointed if I went back home before accomplishing what I came here to do. I came here to make a better future for myself.” He continued to say, “I would like to finish school here, and maybe return home to work in Colombia. If I have children, I would like for them to grow up in Colombia and attend SBS for eleventh and twelfth grade, just like me.”

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UCHE DIBIAMAKA S Y D N E Y, A U S T R A L I A

For Uche Dibiamaka, it’s always been about one thing: basketball. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Uche has spent most of his life in the country’s bustling capital. At age five, he picked up a basketball and started to play. “My cousin invited me out to play with his friends. That was the only time he ever played basketball, but I just kept on playing.” For Uche’s family, though, it has always been about education. He attended a private school in Sydney for several years until he decided to come to Houston this August. Education was the primary reason Uche’s parents wanted him to attend SBS, but he had a different incentive. “I’ve always wanted to come to America. There are better opportunities for basketball here. No one pays attention to basketball in Australia; they only care about cricket!” Although Uche may not appreciate his country’s beloved sport of cricket, there are many reasons he enjoyed growing up in Australia. His favorite part about home is holiday time spent with family. “Christmas in Australia is my favorite. All of my relatives come over and we chill, have a barbecue and go to the beach. It’s pretty Australian.” When Uche is at home, he lives with his parents and 15-year-old brother, Uzoma. “I really miss my brother and my parents I guess, but they call me every morning to tell me to brush my teeth before school. I’ve been staying busy, so I don’t have a lot of time to think about

what I miss.” Busy is right. Not only has Uche made his mark on the basketball court, but on the homecoming court, as well. This year’s junior homecoming prince stated, “I still don’t really understand homecoming. It’s just this thing where alumni come back, right?” Uche’s relaxed and calm demeanor is noticed and admired by his teachers, coaches and friends. In his own words, “It takes a lot to annoy an Australian.” Uche has great adoration for his time here in the states. Access to good television and watching his favorite team, the Chicago Bulls, are just a couple of the many reasons. “The best part about the states is opportunity, and that there’s more to do here. I appreciate that there are a thousand channels on TV. Australian television is boring; it only appeals to old people.” If given the opportunity to take a new friend back home, Uche would take him or her to the Australian countryside to pet kangaroos and koalas. That being said, this in no way means he rides kangaroos to school or has a pet koala. Interestingly enough, Uche had his own misconceptions about the states before arriving here. “Yeah...I really did think that everyone here would sound like the Kardashians.” Though the absence of time spent with family may leave Uche feeling sentimental, he is very grateful for this experience. “Here, I’ve learned I’m pretty self-sufficient. This has been the first opportunity I’ve had to discover that.”

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Classrooms Around the World BY L I Z B R OW N

If we were to travel beyond the American classroom, what differences would be noted? How are students learning in other countries? What is the culture of education apart from what we know?

hat I know about education, I know only from what I have experiencedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;as a student, teacher and now administrator. From grade school to graduate school, I have been in classrooms on the east and west coasts, and a few states in between. I have attended schools with snow, hurricane and earthquake relief days; been a student in both year-round and August-to-May systems and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve experienced some of the many cultural threads that, woven together, make our nation great.

Discovering common themes among their biblical studies has helped transform the focus of their world studies. Beginning with ancient civilizations in first grade and finishing with modern day in fourth, SBS students have been given the opportunity to travel the world from their desks. They have experienced in some way every continent and participated in activities that study many cultures, challenging each one to expand their thinking beyond the limitations of their school campus.

As I journeyed through my research, it was humbling to be reminded of the depth and diversity that we have within the walls of Second Baptist School. We have students that span the continents and subjects that travel time zones. Additionally, our curriculum presents students with myriad opportunities to experience the world beyond the boundaries of their classrooms. In lower school Bible, the curriculum invites children to study the history of the world.

Simply put, our students learn about the world and are encouraged to experience diverse cultures through thought-provoking activities, first-hand experiences and resources that provide unparalleled research. Every day, our classrooms are transformed into what can only be understood as the output of studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; critical thinking and developed teamwork. Research turns into environments where stories are shaped and lives are changed.

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Whether the differences are subtle or monumental, one thing remains true: classrooms are filled with unique and curious individuals. The Merriam-Webster definition of a classroom reads “a room where classes are taught in a school, college, or university.” The picture of classrooms, however, can look rather different when surveying schools around the world. One will find variations in supplies, location and celebration, to name a few. Whether the differences are subtle or monumental, one thing remains true: classrooms are filled with unique and curious individuals. T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

Most of us are very familiar with the oftenused phrase, “When I was your age....” It usually accompanies a story of adults comparing their challenging journey through treacherous conditions to get to school, uphill both ways and in the snow. While many schools in the U.S. rely on school buses or the well-oiled machine that is the lower school carpool line to get their students to class, around the world, every student’s

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journey to school is different. Students in Peru and Guatemala ride boats to school. A cart pulled by a bicycle or adult, also known as a rickshaw, transports students in the Philippines. In Bolivia, students get to school by horse-drawn wagons. During the winter, planes are used in place of ferries for island schools like the Kelleys Islands in Ohio and the Orkney Islands in Scotland. While it may or may not require walking uphill in the snow both ways, students around the world are headed toward one common purpose. L O C AT I O N

From well-resourced schools to pupils packed in corridors, students all over the world meet in a variety of spaces and places. Webster’s definition of a classroom insinuates a room, and yet some schools utilize other resources, largely dependent on the geography of their area. For example, in Bangladesh, classes are held on wooden boats tied to riverbanks.

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School Supplies In the United States, we are accustomed to supply lists and crowded store aisles filled with more options than we thought possible. We see variations of these supplies in classrooms around the world.

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FRANCE

In France, students write in small notebooks called cahiers. In third grade, French students write with fountain pens.

Exchange fountain pen for calligraphy pen and you have the writing tool of choice for elementary students in Germany. They write in notebooks called hefts.

GERMANY

THE NETHERLANDS

Students in The Netherlands use the kladblok, a scribbling pad with thin paper.

These options vary drastically from the chalk and whiteboard alternative used by students in Morocco. MOROCCO

GERMANY

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While many students in the United States use a more relaxed style of backpack, the carrier trend in some countries mirrors a more structured, defined shape. In Germany, students carry a large squareshaped backpack called a schulranzen.

Students in Japan use a firm-sided backpack known as a randoseru. JAPAN

Around the world, a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education is celebrated because it is something to be cherished. Similar classrooms are used in Brazil, as students work on floating docks alongside the Amazon River. Schools in Afghanistan use tents as classrooms because buildings are not always available. In Kenya, classes are sometimes held under large shade trees in the local villages. Staff children of Mercy Ships, an international charity that operates a global hospital ship, complete their homework in their cabin or in the shipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s library. When the weather is nice in Pakistan, students utilize local parks for their classrooms. Old school buses are repurposed in Chile to serve as creative alternatives to the classroom. Educators around the world use available resources to challenge the standard definition of the word classroom, proving that a school and learning can take place beyond four walls. C E L E B R AT I O N S

Around the world, a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education is celebrated because it is something to be

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cherished. Globally, academic celebration takes on all types and traditions, particularly for the first day of school. For instance, in Bulgaria, each town hosts a first day of school celebration that everyone attends. For those who are first-timers in school in Saudi Arabia, they participate in a three-day celebration in which teachers bring flowers and food. At the celebrations in Turkey, students bring flowers for their teachers. In an effort to encourage students to get to know their peers, students in Indonesia are divided into small groups and assigned school-related tasks. Similar to our Convocation ceremony, some schools in Japan participate in an opening ceremony, complete with speeches, student-led songs and an overview of the upcoming school year. A popular tradition practiced in Germany helps ease the transition from summer to the start of school, students receive school cones called schultutes filled with treats and backto-school gifts. Despite the varying traditions,

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When we focus on what makes us similar, we begin to forget the obvious differences. all classrooms encompass some of life’s richest blessings – and they are worth the pomp. SUBJECTS

Classrooms around the world share a common goal: curriculum within community. The differences arise when it comes to specific subject matter and the demands of the curriculum requirements enforced by the various countries. In Uruguay, for example, students learn skills such as milking cows, harvesting vegetables and cooking because of their largely agrarian economy and society. Courses in France include activities that encourage the development of observation, reasoning and imagination. Many schools in Australia integrate lessons across subjects, so that more than one subject is studied at a time. A study on coral reefs could include reading and science for research, writing for the essay and math for measurement and calculations.

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Grade schools in Iran teach their students basic hygiene and study skills, as well as math, reading and science. Some Nigerian courses include language, religious instruction, agriculture and home economics. All around the world, classrooms are filled with a variety of individuals—both students and teachers alike—that encounter educational experiences in their own personal way. Whether a classroom is a haven of safety and stability from a war-torn area, or an exciting place for the innately curious to explore the unknown, understanding education around the world is an eye-opening opportunity. Through firsthand experiences or extensive research, we expand our small world when we seek to better understand the way others learn and live, both near and far. When we focus on what makes us similar, we begin to forget the obvious differences.

When surveying the almost two hundred different nations stretching the twenty-four different time zones, a variety of school schedules can be found.* AUSTRALIA: Late January to mid-December (200 days per year)

9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. • 18 students per classroom BRAZIL: February to early December • 7 a.m. to noon

30 students per classroom CHINA: September to mid-July • 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

21 students per classroom FRANCE: August to June • 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

23 students per classroom

COSTA RICA: February to December • 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 4 p.m.

28 students per classroom IRAN: September to June (about 200 days)

7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. • 27 students per classroom JAPAN: April to March • 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

29 students per classroom MEXICO: September to June • 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

30 students per classroom RUSSIA: September to May • 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

16 students per classroom NIGERIA: January to December. School in session for thirteen

weeks with a one-month break in between terms. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. • 40 students per classroom SOUTH KOREA: March to February • 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

30 students per classroom

* These facts are based on general surveys. Sources:

www.chicagonow.com/raising-world-citizens/2014/08/school-supplies-used-by-students-in-different-countries-around-the-world/ kidworldcitizen.org/2014/08/26/first-day-school-look-like-around-world/ www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/11/13/how-classrooms-look-around-the-world-in-15-amazing-photographs/ www.kidsdiscover.com/teacherresources/schools-around-the-world/ www.takepart.com/photos/classrooms-around-world/santiago-chile www.infoplease.com/world/statistics/school-years.html

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Oh, The Places You Will Go Experiencing College Abroad

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“It’s a small, small world,” or so says the famous children’s song.

homas Friedman, author of The World is Flat and Hot, Flat and Crowded, says, “In Globalization 1.0, which began around 1492, the world went from size large to size medium. In Globalization 2.0, the era that introduced us to multinational companies, it went from size medium to size small. And then around 2000 came Globalization 3.0, in which the world went from being small to tiny.” For a student sitting in a classroom reading about world cultures or studying geography, though, the world may not seem so small. In fact, the world looms large, and perhaps even daunting, for many of today’s students, especially in light of the unrest and uncertainty that seems prevalent in our 21st century world. Opening the minds of students through a more globally-focused education can do wonders for those who might be initially intimidated by a world they perceive as big, unknowable and unconquerable. A great education will prepare students to venture out into our world with confidence. For decades, Second Baptist School has embraced this responsibility and strategically trained its students for such a challenge. Second Baptist School’s commitment to giving students unique experiences outside the classroom is an important facet of instilling a curiosity in them about the world and preparing them for success in it. This begins at an early age. Whether it is a daily trip across the big school campus in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten or a Houston-area experiential learning trip, lower school students begin to get a glimpse of the world by starting close to home. Middle school students expand their horizons by traveling a bit farther to Galveston or Austin, then set out on their grand adventure to our nation’s capital in the eighth grade. In upper school, students enjoy myriad opportunities to travel beyond the school and city lines. Interim Term, one of Second Baptist School’s most distinctive features, fosters national and international travelers each year. For decades, students travel near and far to visit historical sites and various world wonders to pursue their passions and often share their faith. In the last five years alone, upper school students did missionary

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“I was ecstatic when I saw the opportunity to actually study my chosen major of international relations outside the U.S.” work in Honduras; connected with sister schools in China; competed in Model UN competitions in Russia and England; studied history and literature in Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Germany, Austria and Greece; studied language and culture in Costa Rica and Spain; performed sacred music in cathedrals across Italy and marveled at the natural wonders of Iceland. Every trip leaves a lasting mark on our young travelers— sometimes in unexpected and life-changing ways. One alumna in particular, Grace Harrison ’16, walked away from her trips to Iceland and Italy confident that she had what it takes to go anywhere in the world and to do whatever she desired. Although she was already fond of traveling, “Interim Term helped give me confidence in traveling without my parents,” said Harrison. “I don’t think I would have felt prepared for the responsibility (of adventuring abroad in college) if I had not traveled to Iceland and Italy during Interim Term.” These trips, coupled with a memorable conversation in October 2015, fostered an idea in Harrison that developed into something spectacular. “I first considered studying abroad when I heard about St. Andrews in Scotland from their representative during SBS College Day. I have always had a passion for traveling, so I was ecstatic when I saw the opportunity to actually study my chosen major of international relations outside the U.S. I initially applied to St. Andrews as my reach school, just out of curiosity. I didn’t automatically assume I would get in, and my parents didn’t see the harm in sending an application. Once I was accepted, I realized how lucky I was to receive the opportunity. After praying about it and talking through it with my parents, I felt that God wanted me at St. Andrews and opened the door for a reason.” Harrison’s motivations and expectations mirror the many American students who choose international education over domestic. “The appeal of studying overseas for me is that I gain insight from different perspectives. My professors are from multiple countries and political backgrounds, which makes learning about international relations interesting and fresh.” This unique perspective in the classroom, along with the experience of living abroad in a new and interesting place, sets Harrison and students like her apart from her peers back home. “When I graduate from St. Andrews, I will be

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Knowing a second language looks great on a resume, improves vocabulary and reading comprehension, increases flexibility in thinking, strengthens interpersonal communication skills and increases job opportunities. more independent and prepared to either continue postgraduate studies or start my career. No matter which direction I choose, I know that being so far from home will have helped prepare me for adult life.” A growing number of high school seniors around the United States in recent years have opted to spend their college years studying internationally. What may surprise American parents and students alike is that it is often less expensive to send your student to college abroad. In America, the average tuition rate for freshmen at a private, four-year college is $31,231, but in Europe, the cost is around $25,000 a year. In addition to cost, other factors that influence the popularity of higher education abroad include exposure to a new culture and perhaps a new language. Immersion drastically influences second language fluency, which is invaluable for many reasons. Not only will knowing a second language look great on a resume, but it improves vocabulary and reading comprehension, increases flexibility in thinking, strengthens interpersonal communication skills and increases job opportunities. Another factor American students may consider is the time in which they spend in college. International universities focus only on core materials. This means that the general education courses required by so many American universities are removed. It is not uncommon for European students, particularly in the UK, to graduate from college in three years or less. Simply put, the time in college can be cut dramatically. The growing nationwide trend of attending college abroad seems to be catching on at Second Baptist School. Noel Oracheski ’16 selected McGill University in Canada as her college of choice. Emily Quach ’17 has already been admitted to two highly selective colleges in the United Kingdom. Additionally, a number of students from the class of 2018 have expressed interest in spending their undergraduate years studying outside the United States. Oracheski states, “The one piece of advice I have for any SBS student considering college abroad is to be open-minded. If you are genuinely contemplating studying abroad, be prepared to no longer go to a school where

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Harrison advises that it takes the right kind of student with the right kind of background to take the leap, but that the risks are—for those up for the challenge—worth the reward. everyone has pretty much the same background and beliefs as you.” She goes on to say, “There are so many diverse people in the world that students at SBS are not familiar with, and studying abroad might be an unfamiliar, yet positive, experience.” The sudden interest by Second Baptist School students in studying abroad should not be considered a coincidence. While the upper school has been supporting experiential education through international travel for years, the arrival of Ashley Wright to the upper school in 2015 marks a turning point in college guidance. Wright, in her second year as director of college guidance, spent time studying abroad and brings a fresh perspective and a passion for studying internationally. “I had the opportunity to study in Scotland and without question, it was one of the most formative experiences of my time in higher education and perhaps even my life,” says Wright. Students who study abroad are viewed as a risk-takers or adventure-seekers, qualities that are admirable for students applying to graduate school or to work for an international business. Many industries are looking for culturally aware employees who are unafraid to leave their comfort zone. Moving to another country, enrolling in their higher education system and making meaningful relationships with peers and professors abroad can all contribute to a student’s long-term success. While leaving home and heading to college remains plenty adventurous for many high school seniors, leaving the country to study internationally seems to be the right move for an increasing number of college-bound students. Harrison advises that it takes the right kind of student with the right kind of background to take the leap, but that the risks are—for those up for the challenge—worth the reward. “Studying abroad comes with huge responsibilities (such as international phone bills, registering with a new doctor on your own and keeping up with important travel documents). However, it can also be the most exciting and memorable time of your life.” Studying abroad really does have a way of making our big, big world, a small one after all.

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ALUMNI 1982 – 2016

1982 MISSY TREMBLE COTTON is the proud grandmother of two gorgeous boys from her oldest son. Her youngest son is currently a junior at HBU in the pre-med program. She is happily married to Scott. (1) Brant Durrett and Craig Moritz are busy planning your 35 year class reunion! Reunion Weekend 2017 is scheduled for March 31 - April 2. Stay tuned for details to come. 1983 MARYFRANCES MEADOR SIMPSON and her husband, Strother, live in Smithers, BC, for six months of the year and in Texas the other half. Their daughter and new son-in-law, Helengrey and Cole, live in Smithers. Helengrey is director of educational support services at the Bulkley Valley Christian School. Their son, Strother IV, his wife, Catie, and their baby, Strother V, live in Mertzon, Texas. He is a petroleum engineer with EP Energy. (2) 1984 HELEN BUCKNER and her family enjoyed the SBS middle school performance of Aladdin, Jr. after she won tickets to the show. Stay tuned for more alumni ticket giveaways in the spring! (3)

1986 DAN DILLINGHAM has lived abroad since 1997, mostly in London, but he also spent four years in Zurich, Switzerland. He now lives in a small village in Southeast England with his wife Julie and two children: Jessica (7) and Eleanor (5). He works as a software engineer specializing in large scale web facing distributed computer systems.(4) JOSEPH MCREYNOLDS served as a co-chair of the Iowa Strike Force for the presidential campaign of U.S. Senator TED CRUZ ’88, and traveled to other early primary states to assist Senator Cruz’s campaign. After also having worked on other state and local political campaigns, Joseph has since returned full time to his real estate investment business. (5) 1987 LISA HANSEN SHARPE owns Stylish Sparrow, which helps women discover their sense of personal style and enjoy fashion in an environmentally and socially conscious way. Lisa opened the store after working as a social worker for 18 years. She has lived in Denver for 20 years. She and her husband of 12 years, Jason, have a daughter, Marlee, who is 10. (6) No one has volunteered to plan your 30 year class reunion! Reunion Weekend 2017 is scheduled for March 31 - April 2. If you’d like to help out, please email sbsalumni@ secondbaptistschool.org.

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1989 MARCI FLAMING EAMON and KRISTI KAY FLOYD ESTES recently skyped classroom to classroom. Marci’s first grade class taught Kristi’s pre-k class how to draw a pumpkin. Marci teaches at Stanley Elementary in Katy, and Kristi teaches at the Hockaday School in Dallas. (7) LISA SPOELHOF SCHRA and her family lived in Vienna, Austria for the last six years working at the International Christian School of Vienna. The school is a K-12 school for 240 students from over 50 nations. Learning about many different cultures was a wonderful privilege and has forever shaped this family’s view of the world. The Schras moved back to the States and are now living in Grand Rapids. Both Lisa and her husband work for local non-profit organizations. (8) 1991 TODD DEEKEN channels his passion for cars as the co-creator and co-host of everydaydriver. com. He works on a lot of video in the cars, and has one of the top audio podcasts in automotive. His favorite recent post is a video of his latest venture – guided driving adventures to great race tracks of the world. (9)

1992 SLOANE FLECKMAN FINN and her husband traveled through Switzerland and Austria this summer, as well as Greece, where Eric base jumped. Her son, Hudson, spent seven weeks at camp. They are now in full swing at work, and Hudson is busy with school and tennis tournaments. (10) RICK HERSHBERGER and his family recently moved to Sarasota, Florida, from Chicago. Rick works as a vascular surgeon and is transitioning from an academic job at Loyola University Medical Center to a private practice position at Sarasota Vascular Specialists. CHAD STUBBS was recently awarded the SBS Distinguished Alumnus 2016 award, presented to him at the 11th annual Distinguished Speaker Luncheon. When Chad, vice president of marketing for Pepsi Trademark, took the stage to receive the award, he noted that SBS remains the same school that loved him so well when he was a student. He thanked SBS for faith, friendships and fundamentals that helped shape the man he is today. When not traveling for fun or for Pepsi or eating his way through New York, he spends time with his niece and nephew in Louisville. (11, 12) No one has volunteered to plan your 25 year class reunion! Reunion Weekend 2017 is scheduled for March 31 - April 2. If you’d like to help out, please email sbsalumni@ secondbaptistschool.org.

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1993 AMANDA KARES KOCH shares a fun story of Eagle alums all the way in Alaska: “Who would have thought when I was doing shoulder stands with CARRIE SKELTON HOLCOMB ’92 on the SBS cheerleading squad in Houston in 1987 that 30 years later her baby sister would be my little boy’s preschool teacher in Alaska! Too fun!” AMANDA SKELTON YOCUM ’99 is back teaching at Amazing Grace Preschool in Anchorage, Alaska, after eight years of retirement. (13) MARLO TURNER WISE, her husband, Paul, and their twin daughters, Vivian ’26 and Elizabeth ’26, returned home to Houston in May after living in Austin for five years. Marlo has carried her love and passion of photography into the SBS Office of Communications, where she works full-time. Even though the Wises fell hard for the Texas Hill Country, the love of Houston and home runs deep. (14) 1994 LUCIAN BUKOWSKI is blessed to have three healthy and happy boys with his wife, Sommer. GAGE ’29 and GRANT ’30 love going to the same school their dad attended, and Sommer stays busy with photography and volunteering at the school wherever she can! (15, 16) LARRY RABINOWITZ is happily married with two kids, a 15-yearold daughter and a five-year-old son. He has worked for Ferguson

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Enterprises, Inc. for the past 13 years, and he currently serves as a business analyst in their IT department in San Diego, CA. (17) 1995 BETH HOLSEY CLARKE and her husband, Brandon, recently had a baby, Emelia Joy, born August 28, 2016. Older siblings Cohen (2.5), Elaina (5.5), Harrison (8), Cooper (10) and Rebecca (12) are great helpers and love their sister a lot! The Clarkes live in Houston where Brandon is in commercial real estate with CBRE. (18) 1996 RACHEL WAGNER KOPPA continues to maintain and nourish her private practice in Dallas, focusing on teens, families and adults. Her husband, Lance, is currently a lieutenant in the Highland Park DPS, serving as the public information officer and community relations liaison. Her son, Elliott, loves pre-k at his new school, Good Shepherd Episcopal School. The Koppas love Dallas and are blessed by their community. (19) 1997 REAGAN FINCHER and his wife Shelly recently welcomed a little girl, Kennan West, born on June 24, 2016. (20) Katy Kyle and Reagan Fincher are busy planning your 20 year class reunion! Reunion Weekend 2017 is scheduled for March 31 - April 2. Stay tuned for details to come!

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1999 JUSTIN KATES and Lana are now a family of four, with the birth of their newest daughter, Evie Reese, in October 2015. The Kateses live in Cypress where they attend the Cypress campus of Second Baptist Church. (21) JULIE YAU-YEE TAM has been named a top 20 Under 40: Rising Stars in Real Estate by the Houston Association of REALTORS in 2016 and was featured on the cover of the November issue of the Houston REALTOR magazine. She is a partner/broker and accredited luxury home specialist, serving clients in residential real estate sales, leasing and property management in all price ranges at Lyn Realty, founded in 1981 by her mother. Julie continues to appear as a real estate analyst in various media, from TV to print, including a Houston Chronicle front-page story. She has enjoyed having fellow SBS alumni as clients! (22) 2000 JEFF CHERRY married his fiancée, Cameron Wheeler, on March 19, 2016. They reside in Bryan, Texas. (23) TOM HICKS, wife Gina and big sister Ryan love their laid-back little boy, Kyle Thomas Hicks, born April 16, 2016. He is enjoying his class of boys in the Discovery program at SBS, while mom teaches close by in the SBS lower school. (24) 2001 JOHN BRUYERE and family moved to Waco last year. His wife is finishing a degree in geology at Baylor University. John started a new job in August as a first officer at Southwest Airlines, and says it

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has been fun flying people all over the country. He still serves part time as a pilot in the Air Force Reserves and continues to flight instruct at Air Force pilot training at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas. (25) ANNE HOFER HOTZ and her husband, Isaac, are both doctors serving at a mission hospital on the northern coast of Honduras. Together they practice family medicine with surgical obstetrics in an area where most people live in poverty and have limited access to the medical services offered by the Honduran government. Their family has been volunteering in Honduras for the last two years and just committed to serving for three more years here. They have two children, Madelyn (4) and Josiah (2). You can follow along at their blog: hotzesbeyondtheborder. blogspot.com (26) ANNA BRADLEY FERGUSON and husband Ben joyfully welcomed a son, Benjamin ‘Bradley’ Ferguson, on August 3, 2016. They live in Rockwall, Texas. (27) JENNIFER MCKENZIE WELKER recently attended the University of Texas Cheer Alumni Weekend. Jennifer said it was amazing to be back on the field cheering for the Longhorns again, but most of all she enjoyed having her family watching in the stands! Her two oldest, Noah ’30 and McKenzie, were allowed to go on the field with Jennifer to meet Bevo. VAN WALKER ’04 was also at the alumni weekend, and the two of them ‘stunted’ together, representing SBS and UT with pride. (28) (29)

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2002 Kristin Hendee Blackford is busy planning your 15 year class reunion! Reunion Weekend 2017 is scheduled for March 31 - April 2. Stay tuned for details to come. 2003 MARY MARGARET PORTER BROLLIER and her husband, Clay, recently welcomed their daughter Kathryn Ann on July 1, 2016. Kate weighed 7 lbs when she was born, making Ben a proud big brother! (30) WALKER FRENCH and his wife, Ginny, welcomed a baby girl, Grace Martha French, on August 1, 2016. Walker works for BV Capital Advisors in Houston, Texas. Ginny is a speech pathologist and loves staying at home to be a new mom. (31) BRADLEY JACKSON returned to his alma mater for the SBS Book Fair as a featured author this year for his book The Naughty List. (32) ADAM SELWYN married Lauren Small on March 21, 2015, at Chapelwood United Methodist Church. They celebrated their marriage and danced the night away at the Houstonian. (33) 2004 AUBREY HUNSAKER BALLARD and her husband, Adam, had a baby girl, Johanna Scott Ballard, on February 13, 2016. They recently moved to Oklahoma City, and

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Aubrey started her own fashion blog called The Dandy Liar. (34) EMILY PRUET REEVES and DAVID REEVES welcomed the birth of their son, John David Reeves, on August 24, 2016, weighing 8 lbs 6 ozs and measuring 21 inches. (35) 2005 ANNABEL STEPHAN married John Brown Hardin IV in April 2016. They met at The University of Texas in Austin and are college sweethearts. RACHEL TWINING served as maid of honor and LAUREN ALLEN and LARA ZACCA were bridesmaids; ANDREW STEPHAN â&#x20AC;&#x2122;89 was a groomsman. They live in Fort Worth, Texas, where Annabel serves as a host and correspondent for the Big 12 Digital Network and appears frequently on Fox Sports Southwest. (36) MAEGAN TOUPS VINSON and her husband, Brett, welcomed their first baby girl on August 12, 2016. Her name is Kayla Mae Vinson, and she was 6 lbs 11 ozs and 21 inches. (37) ELIZABETH SUFFIELD WILHITE and her husband, Adam Wilhite, are proud to announce the birth of their first child, a baby girl named Emma Caroline. Emma was born November 21, 2016, weighing 8 lbs 1 oz and measuring 20 inches. Emma is a proud member of the Future Eagles Club. (38)

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2006 BROOKS SHANKLIN and his wife Angelina recently welcomed a new little girl to their family, Colette Kay, on October 6, 2016. (39) 2007 MARSHALL KERNS and MATTHEW KERNS ’09 are both living in Fort Worth and employed by Escalante Golf, a private equity golf management and hospitality company. Marshall runs their digital media sales platform, and Matthew is a financial analyst for the company. (40) Paul Thompson and Mallory Dixon Hickey are busy planning your 10 year class reunion! Reunion Weekend 2017 is scheduled for March 31 - April 2. Stay tuned for details to come. 2009 JENNIFER GRAVES married Byron Sullivan on July 30, 2016 at Chandelier Grove in Tomball, Texas. It was the most joyful day celebrating with family and friends! Lifelong SBS friends from the Class of 2009, SUSAN HAYSOM, ASHLEY CLARK, STALEY TOMFORDE, AMY PALMERTON, HAILIE DURRETT, JENNIFER GURNEY and SARAH HUGUENARD cheered Jen along as a part of her bridal party. The newlyweds now reside in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Jennifer is pursuing her masters in art therapy and counseling degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Byron is continuing his career in commercial real estate. Go Cubs Go! Jennifer is also the artist of this year’s alumni Christmas card! (41)

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JACY BURRELL HAWES was married on August 8, 2015, to Jeff Hawes in the Sanctuary at Second Baptist Church among family and friends. She and Jeff recently moved to Dallas at the end of August 2016 and are enjoying getting settled there. Jacy works at J.P. Morgan in the healthcare, higher education and not-for-profit banking group, and Jeff works at E-Spectrum Advisors. (42) CHRIS YUN married in June 2016 and lives with his wife in Atlanta since graduating from Georgia Tech in industrial and systems engineering. He is currently working as a consultant for Manhattan Associates. (43) 2010 KELSEY NOBLE ADAMS and her husband moved to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, at the end of December when God opened a door for them to live at the beach. They are both working at Benchmark Management, a property management company along 30A. You can follow along their adventures at emeraldcoasttexans.wordpress.com (44) 2011 MADDIE PEVETO and her fiance, Luke, won tickets to the upper school’s dinner theatre performance of Romeo and Juliet in the fall. Stay tuned for more alumni ticket giveaways in the spring! (45) 2012 Billy Arendt, SaraGrace Lee, Chris Leon and Ashley Petkas are busy planning your 5 year class reunion! Reunion Weekend 2017 is scheduled for March 31 - April 2. Stay tuned for details to come.

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2013 FEATURE

Kendall Tillman ’13

FOUNDING PARTNER OF SHEisFreedom

During my college career at Baylor University, I have had the amazing privilege of cofounding SHEisFreedom. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Central Texas seeking to provide comprehensive restoration for survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking. Our name comes from the idea that any survivor of exploitation must take ownership of her choice to be free. Freedom and empowerment cannot be forced upon anyone; they can only be chosen day after day by an individual. Practitioners estimate that 3,000 youth are victimized every year through prostitution in Texas. We have a lot of work to do and a long road ahead, but we are serious about reaching these girls. They deserve the opportunity to thrive in freedom. We have developed a plan to allow young survivors a fresh start and the opportunity for a successful future by providing a physical home for youth who have otherwise been classified as “throw-aways.” It will be a safe place to heal, learn, grow and dream. Children who have only known abuse, betrayal and exploitation will learn to make healthy choices and interact appropriately with others, as well as learn the skills necessary to live independently and successfully. SHEisFreedom’s main programs include academic success, vocational training and life skills, and therapy. To learn more about human trafficking or SHEisFreedom, please visit www.sheisfreedom.org.

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HOMECOMING 2016

Homecoming 2016 was a celebration that went down in history. As the SBS community bustled with activity and excitement, alumni enjoyed the game from the excellent vantage point of the Eagle Club in the new Athletic Center. The game ended with our Eagles soaring to victory over Lutheran South Academy with a final score of 70-24.

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HOMECOMING 2016

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Graduates from the CLASS OF 2016 gathered at the Schwinger home in August for one final hangout before heading off to college. They picked up their last SBS yearbook and were sent off in style at this event planned by their class agents: SAM BROWN, MEREDITH KIM, CORBIN SCHWINGER and LINDSEY WILLIAMS.

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AMY ROSENTHAL CLASS OF 2013 – ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Amy Rosenthal’s love of French culture leads her to experience the joy of taking a risk with God while sharing her faith in Les Jardins du Luxembourg and to enrich her education by studying French conversation, composition and cuisine in Lyon. W H E R E D O YO U AT T E N D CO LLEGE A N D WHAT DO YO U ST U DY?

After graduating from SBS in 2013, I began at University of Mississippi studying print journalism with a minor in French. Eventually, I would love to come back to Texas and pursue a career in public relations, event coordinating or fundraising. Though I feel like I’m always looking for an excuse to go back to France. This past summer I returned for a study abroad program. I spent a month in Lyon where I studied French conversation, composition and, most importantly, cuisine. After my program ended, I traveled for three weeks and explored the rest of the country from the French Riviera to the Loire Valley. I don’t have any plans as of now to return, but I have a feeling I’ll find an excuse. H OW E LS E A R E YO U I N VO LVED AT O LE MISS?

I’m a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, where I’ve been so fortunate to serve in different leadership positions. I’ve also been involved in College Republicans, an organization that has allowed me to participate in several statewide campaigns as well as a national presidential campaign. During my freshman year, I fell in love with an organization called CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ). CRU took the hand of a scared little freshman from Texas and showed me what it meant to apply the things I already knew about God into an everyday personal relationship that influenced my day-to-day life. W H AT LE D YO U TO T R AVEL TO FRA N CE? HOW DID YO U GET IN VO LVED T HERE?

As long as I can remember, I’ve had an affinity for French culture. The food, the fashion, the language – it all just seemed so magical to me. After I started studying French at Ole Miss, my affection for the country only intensified. When I found out that CRU would be sending a group of students to a summer mission in Paris for six weeks, I knew I had to go.

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The summer of 2015, I traveled to Paris with 21 new friends to make His name known. We spent every day going on college campuses, meeting French students and initiating gospel conversations with them. I had the most incredible time befriending these students and having these important discussions with them. There’s a stereotype that French people are snobby and unfriendly, but I found that summer that couldn’t be further from the truth. The French students I befriended were the warmest, most genuine people I’ve met. They loved meeting crazy American students, asking us questions, talking culture and religion with us and teaching us about their country. I had the most amazing conversations with these students and made some amazing friends. Every Saturday, we would host picnics (a favorite French activity) to spend time with the students we met and get to know them better. We spent hours in Les Jardins du Luxembourg and Les Tuileries eating bread and cheese, conversing and sharing. Most of the people we met had Roman Catholic backgrounds and were scarred by the requirements and pressures of church and family. What an incredible gift it was to sit with these students and explain the concept of grace to them – to tell them that there is a God who loves them and doesn’t require anything of them other than their heart. Those six weeks were full of so much joy, so much fun, so many tears and so much growth. W H AT A R E S O M E U N E XPE CT ED T HIN GS YO U ’ VE LEA RN ED A LO N G T HE WAY T HAT YO U WO U LD H AV E FO U N D U SEFU L WHEN STA RT IN G T HIS EN DEAVO R?

My time in Paris taught me to rely on the Holy Spirit in ways I didn’t even know were possible. Evangelism is a tough enough job in itself but becomes more terrifying when the person on the other end of the conversation doesn’t speak the same language as you do. When people ask me what I loved the most about my summer in Paris I have to tell them that I just learned so much. I learned about culture, I learned about the language, I learned about people (French students as well as my fellow travelers) and I learned about God. I got to experience God’s faithfulness first hand as I did His Kingdom work, I learned that successful evangelism isn’t about results but it’s about being bold, relying on the Holy Spirit and leaving the results up to Him. I learned how to answer the hard questions and how to take rejection from those you don’t want to hear what you have to say. I used to think evangelism was this thing reserved for the super Christians. The first time I went on a mission trip with CRU and was asked to evangelize, I was petrified. However, since then I’ve learned the importance of this calling – a calling that’s not reserved for theologians or professional missionaries, but rather something that we are ALL called to do. And, when we are called to share, we don’t

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need to be worried about having any special tools or eloquent speech, we have the power of Christ within us in the Holy Spirit and He is our guide. Any person who has been saved is sealed with the Holy Spirit and therefore has anything and everything they could ever need to share the hope that is in them. S H A R E A V E R S E O R Q U OT E T HAT HAS IN SP IRED YO U T HRO U GHO U T A LL O F T HIS.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience – among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—Ephesians 2:1-5 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 W H AT A R E YO U M OST T HA N KFU L FO R FRO M YO U R T IME AT SB S?

When I came to college I had a decision to make: whether I was going to take the things I had learned at SBS and make them my own, or if I was going to disregard them and choose to live in the world, coasting on my Christian foundation. Thanks to the Lord’s faithfulness, I chose the former and I am so unbelievably grateful I did. In my 14 years at SBS, I received a biblical foundation and knowledge of the Word of God that have helped shape me into the person I am. So often, I get to lean on that solid foundation and recall things that I learned at SBS that go far beyond reading, writing and arithmetic. W H AT PI E C E O F A DV I C E WO U LD YO U GIVE TO SB S ST U DEN TS?

Don’t be afraid to step out and do things that are different. When I decided to go to Ole Miss, I didn’t know a single person – I took a risk and it paid off in more ways than I could even say. I took a similar risk when I chose to go on the summer mission to Paris. At the last minute, I almost chickened out and chose to go with my friends on a different trip, I knew not one person that I would be spending the summer with. These experiences forced me to rely on the Lord like I never had before, and both times He was so faithful and rewarded me. I would love to encourage current students to take big steps in faith. It’s an incredible thing when you step out of our comfort zone to see the Lord meet you and work in you.

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ROCHELLE FERRARA TUCKER CLASS OF 2001 – ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

For Rochelle, life in Southeast Asia has brought a broader worldview, treasured friendships and a cherished son. W H AT D I D YO U D O A FT E R G RA DUAT IN G FRO M SB S?

I attended Houston Baptist University with a double major in mass media and Spanish along with a minor in marketing. I definitely had some plans for myself, but God has different ones. At the time I did not understand why it took 10 months after graduating from HBU (2006) to find a job but God knew all along working at Houston’s First Baptist Church was right where I needed to be. During those 10 months I continued waiting tables at Taste of Texas (I had worked there for six years). God had to take me through that 10 month journey of patience and trusting in Him to teach me some things. Although university life is wonderful, rewarding and educational, I believe one misconception graduates have is the belief you can have ANY job you want and you DESERVE it. Now that you have a degree who could possibly reject you. Well, personally, this was what I had to experience in order to trust God completely and to humble me. I worked at HFBC for 5 1/2 years and had the opportunity to travel a lot and lead teams. I had been traveling all my life but working at the church confirmed my desire to do life overseas. H OW D I D YO U E N D U P I N S O U T HEAST ASIA?

My husband used to live in this region, and when we had the opportunity to return to the same country, we decided to go to the capital instead. He was teaching at a language center for two years, returned to the US, we met, married, prepped for life overseas then left for SEA in the fall 2013. I traveled a lot and wanted to always live overseas, but never thought in a million years it would have been SEA. As we hear sometimes, God has a great sense of humor and his ways are bigger and better when planning our lives. And it’s even better when we trust Him and see where He takes us next. W H AT H AV E YO U LE A R N E D WHILE T HERE?

Well this is a fully loaded question and is hard to know where to start but one thing that comes to mind is friendships. I believe in the U.S. we have the luxury to have many friends/ acquaintances, but you also have the choice not to see certain people you don’t necessarily connect with or have anything in common. Here it’s not a luxury because when you find those true, rare friendships where you can connect beautifully, you treasure them. And those friendships you don’t really connect with, it’s inevitable to cross paths with them, so you learn to accept and love them for who they are with all their quirks and flaws. Something else I have learned is to be more flexible. Life here can be predictable but most of the time, not really! It’s to be expected when you need your AC serviced for the repair man to be late, like really late, and last minute tells you he has to come in the afternoon instead of the morning. Although it could be frustrating, you learn to be grateful in all things and to remember to keep your expectations low.

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W H AT I S YO U R DAY-TO - DAY LIFE LIKE?

My husband works at a Christian international school so that leaves my almost two-year-old son and me to ourselves all day! Honestly every week and month looks different. My biggest focuses are to the church and opening our home to anyone. I love hosting gatherings where it’s a safe place to eat and fellowship. It’s been a blessing and loads of fun to meet so many different people in the 3 1/2 years we’ve been here. I also am one of the worship team leaders for the local church we serve. I have a wonderful social life so every Thursday I get together with a couple of local gals and do dinner and a movie! W H AT W I LL YO U M I SS A BO U T LIVIN G T HERE IN T HE FU T U RE?

Hands down our friends and church. I wouldn’t say they are our lifeline overseas but most definitely it is these wonderful relationships we can trust and are encouraged by daily. Another aspect is the food and the beautiful places (beaches and sights) we’ll miss too. W H AT D O YO U M I SS A BO U T “ HO ME” WHILE A B ROA D?

Besides family, nothing much really. We LOVE life in Southeast Asia and I truly believe home is anywhere you have great friendships. Living in the capital also helps because we are not really deprived of things we have in the U.S. because most grocery stores sell peanut butter, marshmallows and even Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups! W H AT D O YO U S E E A R E T H E BEN EFITS O F A GLO B A L LIFE?

One of the things we have enjoyed being overseas has been the opportunity to adopt. My husband and I always wanted to adopt and talked about it even when we were dating. It’s the “how will this happen” we never anticipated. We always assumed the usual conventional ways but we know one of the reasons God brought us overseas was to be Matthias’ parents, and we are so very thankful for God giving us this gift. He is a joy, full on active boy, and we wouldn’t trade him for the world. Another aspect of overseas life I see as beneficial is the chance to have a broader worldview and perspective to life. Being exposed to other cultures allows you to really appreciate the little things in life as cliché as that sounds but really true. You realize how your American ways are not necessarily right just different. One could easily play the game of comparison when living overseas and have the tendency to elevate one from the other. But at the end, it’s your willingness to be open to new ways of life and connecting with the people in the country that makes it worthwhile! But don’t get me wrong! It’s not perfect here either, and there are moments cultural stresses can creep up. But what keeps us going is the fact that God has brought us across the world for a reason, and we don’t want to miss out on what He has to show and teach us. W H AT A R E YO U M OST T H A N K FU L FO R FRO M YO U R T IME AT SB S?

Goodness it’s been so long! I am thankful for the wonderful academic training and teaching. To this day, I know how to write papers because of the Jane Schaffer format. I also have fond memories of my AP English and humanities classes Mr. Tredennick taught us. His love for literature and thinking outside of the box was already shaping my worldview and prepared me well for college. And I still have all his notes too! W H AT PI E C E O F A DV I C E WO U LD YO U GIVE TO SB S ST U DEN TS?

Don’t over analyze God’s will for your life. Keep it simple, trust the Lord with all your heart and in all your ways acknowledge, understand, believe in Him with EVERY aspect of your life. This is not to say life will not be messy or you will be accepted to the best university, but to have Him at the forefront of your mind helps greatly when life gets crazy and confusing!

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AMY ALBERTY PALMER CLASS OF 1996 – ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Amy Palmer finds living in Montpellier, France as a mother and wife quite different from her time studying aboard but discovers the quality of life – the French focus on life outside of work and school – to be her favorite aspect of living overseas. W H AT H AV E I BE E N D OIN G SIN CE I GRA DUAT ED FRO M SB S:

After SBS graduation, I attended The University of Texas where I graduated with a bachelors in business marketing in 2000. Shortly after graduating, I landed a job as an artist manager and oversaw the careers of a few Austin-based bands. In 2002, Capital Sports and Entertainment bought our little agency. CSE’s core business was representing athletes, but this acquisition was CSE’s move to enter the music industry by producing events. That same year, CSE began planning a large-scale music festival, now called Austin City Limits Music Festival. Over the course of 11 years, our small staff grew from 10 employees to over 150. My main responsibility was event production where I used IT skills learned on the job. I set up the networks for CSE staff, sponsors, artists and patrons at our festivals. CSE expanded its operations beyond ACL Festival, and I traveled to Chicago to help produce Lollapalooza and to Washington D.C. to help organize Obama’s inauguration ceremony in 2009. My husband and I married in 2000. We have two spunky yet sweet daughters: Penelope, age 9 and Daisy, age 7. As career and family life became increasingly full, I decided to leave my job at C3 Presents. I continued to work occasionally as a contractor – sometimes for events and sometimes for small businesses and individuals – but now on my own schedule. H OW D I D W E E N D U P L IVIN G IN FRA N CE:

We had been living in Austin for more than 20 years when we decided it was time to branch out. My husband, Brent, whom I met at The University of Texas, is a design manager and works in tech.

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Zendesk offered Brent a position in March 2016. They wanted to relocate us to Montpellier, France! I studied abroad in Chaumont the summer of 1994 and was thrilled to have the opportunity to live in France again. We quickly sold our house in Austin, distributed all our possessions, packed up our kids and set out for life in south of France. LI V I N G I N FR A N C E

Living in Montpellier has been an adventure. I was somewhat familiar with the cultural differences, but life in France now as a mother and wife are considerably different from being a teenager or a tourist. Life overseas has shown me we are all God’s people – His creation. We have similar experiences that have shaped us, and we all desire to be known by Him. Even in our similarities, we have many differences in culture and thought throughout the world, and that has been one of my favorite things to discover living overseas. But the best part about France is the quality of life. Relationships are treasured, and that’s why mealtime is so important. They genuinely want to get to know you, enjoy good food and make a connection. The workweek is short, and the priorities are not on work and being busy. Markets close on Sundays, and few retailers are open late on weekdays. The French cherish life outside of work and school. My daughters attend school four days a week from 8:45 am until 5:45 pm. No school on Wednesdays. The children are encouraged to do their extracurricular activities on that Wednesday rather than after school. There are some downsides. The motorists are crazy! I can’t find Tex-Mex or spicy food. We miss tacos, queso and bacon. I am thankful for my seven years at SBS. I feel it gave me a good foundation in my walk with Christ and confidence to venture out and embrace new experiences. In some small way, SBS prepared me for life in France. My biggest piece of advice I would give any current SBS student is don’t be afraid to try and learn new and different things – you never know where they will take you.

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LAUREN HURLEY CLASS OF 2010 – ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Learning Japanese in high school began a journey for Lauren to explore the beauty of the Japanese people and their country.

W H AT D I D YO U D O A FT E R G RA DUAT IN G FRO M SB S?

After I graduated from SBS in 2010, I attended Austin College in Sherman, Texas. During my time there, I traveled to several countries including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Japan. My summers were spent working so that I could save up money to go to new and exciting places. I studied abroad through SIT Study Abroad to study Conflict Resolution and International Relations in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Then, I spent the spring and early summer with IES in Tokyo, Japan, improving my Japanese. During my time there, I truly fell in love with the country. H OW D I D YO U E N D U P I N JA PA N ?

Even in high school, I had found great enjoyment in learning Japanese, so it is no surprise that I would want to go there. I had an amazing host family and made many friends in both the Kendo club and my cultural studies class. I experienced Japan more intimately, and my Japanese improved greatly. W H AT D I D YO U LE A R N W H I LE IN JA PA N ?

I have learned that cultural heritage is not something to be taken for granted. Here, I have been able to visit temples and castles that are nigh a thousand years old. I have learned of the simple, and yet profound, pleasure in looking at colorful maple leaves in the fall or delicate cherry blossoms in the spring. In those moments, when all you do is reflect and breathe, you can feel serenity in your spirit that surpasses the bustle of day to day. I have learned how horrific war can be. It is one thing to read a history book; it is quite another to see where a child’s shadow was burned into the steps of a building during the A-Bomb. I have learned to be still, to live in the moment and to look at the world with eyes full of awe instead of glossing over it in a rush to get from point A to B. I feel, in many ways, I learned to live and be truly thankful for that life. W H AT I S YO U R DAY-TO - DAY IN JA PA N ?

I teach young children five days a week from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and they are by far some of the most entertaining people I have ever met. There is something to be said for being a language teacher – I get to laugh at the most ridiculous things and the children have no idea why “Miss Lauren” is laughing like that. After work, I will go to the grocery store to prepare for dinner and lunch for the next day. I study Japanese and often engage in speaking it with older women who teach a weekly class. On my days off, I like to visit my surrounding cities. Being so close to Kyoto is great because it means that I can see beautiful temples and shrines with ease.

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W H AT W I LL YO U M I SS A BO U T JA PA N ?

I will miss my coworkers and my students. I will miss the way that people engage each other with a sense of community and respect. I will miss the way that peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes would light up when I would reply in Japanese. I will miss the wonderful tea I have become accustomed to drinking. I will miss the ability to walk down a city street late at night and feeling completely safe. I will miss the trains that take me where I want to go, when I want to go there. I will miss the history that permeates the temples and castles and streets. I will miss the peace that I feel when I go to a little known shrine or temple and just sit, taking it all in. I will miss the way that the very air smells of cherry blossoms during those two to three weeks in early April. I will miss the cicadas and fireworks in summer. I will miss how the sun sets over the mountains. I will miss the colorful and interesting festivals that take place throughout the year. I will miss the freshness and flavor of the food that I eat on a regular basis. I will miss the feeling of belonging that I have experienced here. W H AT D O YO U M I SS A BO U T HO ME WHILE A B ROA D?

I have missed a few things about the States, but most have been matters of convenience. I have missed having a dryer and a dishwasher. I have missed reasonably cheap movie tickets when the movie is released in theaters ($20 for a movie ticket gets to be a big pain). I have missed being able to have foods not in season and cheap watermelons. I have missed large roads that do not make you feel claustrophobic when you turn a corner. At times, I have missed having a car and the convenience of it. I have missed my family and my pets. I have missed my friends. I have missed the number of churches and the ability to go to one of my chosen denomination whenever I wanted. I have missed how helpful people can be on the street. W H AT D O YO U S E E A R E T H E BEN EFITS O F A GLO B A L LIFE?

In general, I find that living abroad has made me more compassionate to those who have immigrated to the States â&#x20AC;&#x201C; especially those who struggle to learn and speak English. It makes me more aware of how blessed I was growing up. I have been so privileged in my life without even realizing it. I have taken holidays and events meant for family for granted and it took being unable to be at special events for me to really feel it. Living abroad opens your eyes to the lives of others in a way that you cannot even imagine. You start to recognize non-verbal communication and find yourself molding to that community without realizing it. You speak softer and listen more. You watch closely before making decisions. You consider your words and how they can be taken before you speak. W H AT A R E YO U M OST T H A N K FU L FO R FRO M YO U R T IME AT SB S?

I am most thankful for the blessings of a wonderful and challenging education from SBS. Without a doubt, I was able to excel in college because I was accustomed to the workload. I knew that I was capable of writing 40 page research papers without losing my mind. The education that I received from SBS, as well as the wonderful people I have met, has been unforgettable. I know that I would not have been anywhere near where I am today without it. Thank you for challenging me and making me work hard. W H AT I S YO U R A DV I C E FO R SB S ST U DEN TS?

Well, if someone offers you the chance to go somewhere, to leave your comfort zone, to live as you have never lived before, take it. Take it, knowing that it will be hard. Take it, knowing that you will regret it some days. Take those chances; see the places you have never dreamed of and watch with open eyes and an open heart. Listen to the toothless grandmother selling roasted chestnuts in the snow. Allow yourself to feel the sun on your face and the pure air in your lungs when you conquer that mountain. Thank God above that you were given that opportunity. Live.

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COLIN AULDS CLASS OF 2008 – ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Colin’s sojourn in South Korea taught him about how people live, work and think in the East but also challenged his way of thinking. W H AT D I D YO U D O A FT ER GRA DUAT IN G FRO M SB S?

After graduating from SBS, I attended Belmont University where I, along with my fellow SBS alumnus and dear friend Robb Lazenby, studied music business. I graduated in May 2011, and soon went to work for New York Life. I discovered how much I disliked working in typical corporate settings, and I decided to take a couple years to go teach abroad and travel as much as possible, which is ultimately how I ended up in Korea. W H AT A R E S O M E T H I N GS YO U LEA RN ED WHILE LIVIN G IN SO U T H KO REA?

While living in South Korea and traveling throughout Asia more generally, I, rather ironically, learned to appreciate the importance of western culture and its immense contribution to the world in terms of guaranteeing and normalizing economic and social freedom and human rights. Certainly, living in the East highlighted several values that we in the West are comparatively lacking in; namely an emphasis on aesthetics, as well as an appreciation for and a preservation of important historical and cultural landmarks. I also learned to podcast. W H AT WAS YO U R DAY-TO - DAY IN SEO U L?

While working for a Korean owned company, it will be made abundantly clear that Korean corporate culture does not share our enthusiasm for decentralized forms of management. As an employee, your opinion only matters to those who work underneath you. Merit is based on the amount of years worked for the company and what kind of official credentials you possess, as opposed to how productively you use those years and how much “real-world” experience you actually have. Appearing to be loyal and appearing to be hardworking is far more important than actually being loyal or hard working. Save for these differences, you would be surprised at how similar people ultimately are throughout the first world. W H AT D O YO U M I SS A BO U T SO U T H KO REA?

Besides the many dear friends I made, I miss the cheap and efficient public transit the

most. After coming back home to the States, I retroactively came to appreciate life without car payments, car insurance, gasoline and maintenance costs, and the traffic tickets that the speed-demons among us must chock up to a cost of doing business on the road. Beyond the public transit, I do miss the very reasonable cost of living. Even though Seoul is arguably the second largest city on planet Earth, I could live near the city center for as little as $300 per month. Mind you, I was living with a roommate in an apartment that could easily fit in most of your living rooms, but I learned to enjoy living in the small spaces. It forces you to prioritize purchases. You must constantly be asking yourself, “Do I need a third frying pan? Where will I store it? Is there a more universal option to save space?” Your life will be less cluttered, and your credit card statement will rarely surprise you.

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W H AT D I D YO U M I SS A BO U T HO ME WHILE A B ROA D?

Of course, I missed my family and friends, but almost as important, I quickly began to miss the food at home, particularly the variety. Don’t get me wrong: Korean food can be great, and a typical Korean meal is far less expensive than your average American dinner out, even when you live in the more expensive metropolis of Seoul. However, attempt to find a decent hamburger or an acceptable Pad Thai, and you’ll quickly be disappointed to discover these items are not only far more expensive, but also very poor substitutes for the real deal. W H AT D O YO U S E E A R E T HE B EN EFITS O F A GLO B A L LIFE?

While it’s not for everyone, global life is, in my estimation, the best life. Living abroad will shift your perspectives in more ways than one, and it will do so in a way that mere transient travel cannot. It’s a cliché to say, but it’s true that travel, and more specifically living abroad opens your eyes. You will meet people who challenge your deepest and most cherished ideas about what is good and true. Sometimes you come out of these interactions with a changed mind and others, with your ideas reinforced. Most often, however, your ideas just become more nuanced. You see that there exists more than one way to live well, but also that there are certainly ways not to live well. The only obvious truth to discover is that not all cultures are made equal; some cultures actually are better than others, at least when it comes to ensuring for the well-being of the people who have to live within it. Ideally, you will become more compassionate to those who have to exist inside of more onerous, less free cultures. W H AT A R E YO U M OST T HA N KFU L FO R FRO M YO U R T IME AT SB S?

I am most thankful for the emphasis that many of the SBS faculty placed upon personal excellence. This is particularly true of the English and humanities departments. Mr. Tyler and Mrs. Kersey come to mind as being among the most influential people I know to have helped me develop intellectual curiosity and a fondness for learning. I’d also like to give credit to Dr. Sinitiere for challenging me and the ideas I held during some of my most formative years. I didn’t know it then, but all of these people, as well as others I haven’t mentioned, would be instrumental in making me who I am today intellectually. W H AT PI E C E O F A DV I C E WO U LD YO U GIVE TO SB S ST U DEN TS?

To current SBS students, I am sure you won’t listen (I wouldn’t have), but I’ll say this: Get out of your comfort zone, whether that means trying new experiences that you wouldn’t normally be predisposed to try or moving to a place with a culture completely unlike your own. The truth of the matter is that, right now, you think you know everything. I assure you, you don’t. And more importantly, you don’t know what you don’t know. Realizing this fact is actually far more important than knowing everything, because the latter isn’t possible in the first place. Seek out people you disagree with. Surround yourself with opinions contrary to your own. The more sure you feel you are about the truthfulness of any given idea you hold, the more skeptical you should be about it. Poke at your ideas about God, or politics, or relationships and see if they stand up to the kind of scrutiny you give to the ideas you already doubt. Intellectual honesty is almost never comfortable, but it does tend to be more gratifying in the end.

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