Education
New School, New Perspective Students Share Their First Adventist Education Experience at Sandia View Academy Chandra Castañeda is the principal of Sandia View Academy (SVA) in Corrales, New Mexico. She recently sat down with two students who are new to Adventist education. Britney Malaque is a senior and serves as class secretary. She moved to New Mexico from Cebu City, Philippines in July 2019. SVA is her first American school as well as her first Seventh-day Adventist school. Edwin Lozano is 14 years old and is a freshman. This is Edwin’s first year in a private, Christian-based school. Now in their second semesters, Britney and Edwin share about their experience. How did you hear about Sandia View Academy?
What was it like starting at a new school?
How was your first day of school?
Britney: I heard about SVA after a Texico Conference Asian Convocation celebration at the Heights Church in Albuquerque last summer. After I sang for the church program, I was introduced to you!
Britney: I felt nervous because this was a very different environment. I came from a school that had a lot of students. I’m not really used to the family tightness that Sandia View Academy offers and I was also nervous about fitting in.
Edwin: A friend of my mom’s knew a student who graduated from SVA last year. She said the student was really happy with the school and she told us about SVA.
Edwin: I was nervous because it was an Adventist academy. I didn’t know how it was going to be–I knew it was going to be different, but I didn’t know how exactly.
Britney: I first met students just outside the school building. There were some girls there, and they were very welcoming. They immediately took me into the friend group. Then I met some of the rest of the students at the cafeteria. I guess that it’s been going smoothly ever since then.
How does Sandia View Academy differ from the other schools? Edwin: Well, in the other schools they don’t teach about God. They don’t pray and they would rather not talk about religious stuff. The teachers here help the students deal with problems. They ask about our problems and the students talk about their problems with each other as well. The teachers in the other schools didn’t really ask about your personal life. Britney: Those schools weren’t very spiritual. There was little to no room for my spiritual growth. But when I came here to SVA, my spiritual growth has accelerated. I felt that I could breathe because I didn’t have to go to any programs or activities on Saturdays, like I used to at my old non-Adventist schools.
6 RECORD MAGAZINE
