Chad Dearey

Josiah,

This is such a monumental day for you, your Mom and I. Couldn’t you stay young forever? Can’t high school wait? I know it is just the beginning..but it is also the end. A beautiful season of homeschooling is coming to a close and a new season of opportunities awaits you.

I will miss seeing you at lunch time. I will miss watching you interact with your siblings throughout the day. I will miss kidding around with you and making each other laugh at random moments. I will miss seeing you work on your school with excellence and independence. I will miss seeing your face light up when Mac wants you to hold him 🙂 I know this isn’t closure to all of these, but these are moments that I will miss throughout the day.

You are a great young man Josiah. I am so proud to be your Dad and your friend. Your commitment to school and music challenges me to use my talents wisely. Your confidence, joy and leadership are a gift to live with. I know that you are open to suggestions and you often take our advice with such humility..so I thought I would share some reflections regarding your new journey:

Love everyone- especially those without friends. Everyone is someone – students, teachers, younger kids, the janitor, the principal…everyone is equal. Make it a mission to make other people feel important. Ask questions, learn about others and you will create amazing relationships.

Respect your teachers. Honor them and help them. Ask questions. Engage. Bring value. Many are moms and dads that are away from their kids too.They may have a rough day or week just like us. They have their own hurts and pains that they are walking through. Give them grace. Love them anyways. Love them always.

Bring joy wherever you go. Be positive, believe the best, build trust, bring peace. Whether you are picking up random trash in the hallway or competing for an audition- give it your all and make every moment better because you showed up.

If you are like me, you will eventually ask the question “when am I ever going to need this?” You probably won’t. However – the spirit of excellence will be with you forever. The ability to process and find answers will stick with you throughout your life.

Surround yourself with people in life that you want to be like. The friends that you choose to associate with right now can make or break your high school. As I have shared, my high school years were filled with poor choices. Hanging around partiers, doing and saying things to be popular, looking at women as objects and not the daughters of our King. Find people that stretch you. Find young men and women that really love the Lord, that pursue Him and want to reach others for Him.

It isn’t likely that you will marry a gal from high school so don’t get overly distracted by relationships. Be a gentleman- open doors for them, allow them to go first in lines and treat them with respect. Create friendships and treat the ladies like your sisters. Remember- they are most likely someone elses future wife. Avoid conversations where young men objectify women simply by speaking of their body.

Your words have power. Bless others, encourage them, and speak life into them. Humor is fun and funny but sarcasm can be a disease. It begs for more and eventually someone gets hurt. Be careful how you speak.

Lead. Anyone and everyone follows the crowd. Choose to be a leader in your conversations, in your relationships, and in your class. Leaders serve. Leaders listen. Leaders sacrifice. Leaders share. Leaders put others first. Leaders grow. Leaders don’t give up.

Forgive others and ask for forgiveness. Big men are able to admit that they made a mistake and ask for forgiveness. Forgive others, even when they don’t ask or deserve it. By doing this- you will avoid the trap of offense.

Most importantly- pursue the Lord. Pursue a relationship with Abba Father, surrender daily to Jesus and seek wisdom from the Holy Spirit. Your relationship with Christ is far more important than any book you will read. Dedicate time to spend with Him, just like you would any realtionship.

I love you, Josiah. No matter what you do, I will always be here for you. Through the next 4 years there will be victories and challenges-embrace both. God will use all things for His glory.

Lastly- I asked some amazing friends on Facebook if they would take some time to give you their suggestions from their high school experiences,  you will find their responses below.

Frank Schwarz Those things in High School that you think will ruin your life forever…won’t. Enjoy the fun things. Enjoy your friends. Appreciate your teachers (they really do know some cool stuff.) Smile. Cheer. Run. Walk. Hug. High-five. Learn.

Kelly Harris Enjoy it goes by too quick!!!

Ryan Larimore Be kind. The kindest kids aren’t always the coolest kids, but in hindsight they are the most remembered and respected.

Gordon Wong 1. Don’t worry about what the other kids think about you. They’re too busy thinking about themselves. 2. Imagine everyone has a small sign on their forehead that says, “Make me feel important.” And then do it.3. Don’t eat the green jello. Trust me, don’t.

Jesse McCracken Be consistent in your beliefs and actions. Many people will change the way they act and speak depending on who they are around. If you are the same person around everyone and treat them with respect you will gain the confidence and respect of those around you.

Kelli Green Kalthoff Enjoy yourself buddy… For you it’s a whole new world. Participate in activities, hit the homework right after school if possible ( my high kiddos have 2hrs a night), meet as many friends as you can!!!

Jennifer Lynn Jeffries Arnold Be “That Guy”
Everyday do something nice for someone… Ask the lunch ladies if they need help… Be nice to the custodians..Love every group.. Yes I mean the groups and clicks that naturally form in high school..Find things in common with every click, trust me if you do it will make high school absolutely wonderful!And ask your teachers about their lives…( they do have lives) and listen to their stories they tell. Teachers have much more to offer you then just what’s in the books😘❤️

Kathi Tanzillo Josiah, you are already a step ahead of me because you are entering high school as a child of God! You have so many gifts and talents placed inside of you and now is the time to start using them for the glory of God! Have fun, be a friend, don’t compromise the truth that is deep within you and know that this is just the beginning of your God-given destiny!

Chrissy Ellis Ponce My oldest son is entering his sophomore year at CFAA. After being at St. Paul since he was 2, I was nervous about this huge jump from private to public school. He is still just as amazing, caring, sincere, God loving, and honest, and I am forever grateful that he has continued to follow God’s path! You’ve received such encouraging words and wisdom…Many Blessings as he starts this new adventure!

Danielle Casselberry Youmans Awe! Best of Luck! Enjoy these days. My last baby is preparing for Kindergarten. Amazing how quickly these years go by. The days are long but the years are short. Will keep you all in my prayers!

Michael Loftis My biggest regret in high school was my attitude.. I thought I was better than others.. I wish I could have been more loving, serving, and helping others rather than being only focused on myself!

Chelsea Lynae Crites Don’t conform to the crowds! I didn’t want to lose my friends by disagreeing with their behaviors so it turned me in to an ugly person! I was too full of myself to acknowledge those around me!

Laurie Ducharme Sounds like he’s going into high school with a great foundation of what’s important – faith, his personal relationship with the Lord, the importance of family. I wish I’d kept in better contact with some of my friends. Going our separate ways to college, etc. I lost track with a few friends.

Denny Hall Well, Josiah…. One of the things I look back on as adult ?…. Most of those people you try to look up to, be like, be around in High School…. Never change, they just age…. Some of the greatest people I’ve been contacted by or re-contacted with are those that, to be quite honest, I never hung around and now regret that.. I’ve found they were and are the greatest people, have matured, raised families had careers and carried on with life, (After High School) . I’ll leave you with this; Never compare yourself to anyone else…. “Always remember if you compare yourself to others, you are comparing your worst to their best..” Because we all know, we don’t tell others of our worst…..Nor do they… : ) God Bless, Buddy…. AND Rock! that High School……..

Andrea Fraker Join a club and or sport. Don’t be afraid to go for it, take chances and make friends. You will meet so many new people by getting involved and form friendships that last for years to come. Go to sporting events, pep rallies, and dances especially prom and homecoming. Miss out and you will regret it. Don’t worry what people think of your pimples, they’re too worried about their own break outs. People will be more interested in what you have to say, how smart you are and funny you are, if you’re confident. So don’t let embarrassment, fear or a pimple etc hold you back from anything. Don’t be afraid to be the smart kid in class. Befriend those who seem lonely. Get along with the teachers. Smile at everyone.

Carolyn Beckman Tell him about friends in school….how they seem so very important now but in reality only one or two will be lifetime friends, and warn him about his friends actions having consequences that can alter his life if they have drugs on them and he’s in their car….remind him to have fun work hard but be smart and most of all to not only make his parents proud but his heavenly father as well….maybe find a prayer or verse he can reflect upon if he’s in doubt about something

Tamara Sigler Vrooman When I was in high school I had 2 friends that I did everything with and I didn’t need any more than. But when I went to my 20th class reunion the Lord challenged me with the thought that even though I didn’t “need” anyone else’s approval or acceptance there were others around who would have benefited by my friendship with them. You can’t be everything to everyone, but look for those divine moments when the Lord will use you to water the seeds in someone else’s life.

Paul Olson God is most glorified in us when we are most delighted in him. Meaning…we are most satisfied by Him, more than any other thing, i.e., friends, sports, hobbies, etc… Everything else falls into place when He is #1!

Angel Sumner- Curtis Whatever dreams you have in your heart remember this God has bigger dreams, so dream big my friend…you will never out out dream him!

Tony Hernandez Live outside your comfort zone, often.

Jon Otterstrom Hang out with the kids that are known in high school as not cool. Cause there the smart ones in the long run.

Heidi Roberts Gatzmeyer Take chances that may scare you now yet will be an experience of a lifetime!!! Even if you do things that embarrass you don’t worry it won’t be talked about for that long someone else will do something more embarrassing next week….Join everything you possibly can!!!! The more people you know the better off you will be….this continues on after high school…..MOST IMPORTANTLY: HAVE FUN
Be yourself, love yourself and enjoy this great time in your life where your responsibilities are minimal in comparison to what the future holds!!!

Veronica Quiroz Josiah, enjoy the ride, “don’t let the ride enjoy you” 😉

Katie Burns Terry Experience it. Stay true to yourself no matter what. Be open to trying new things. Don’t be in a hurry to get out. One day you’ll look back and realize how good you have it now.

Nola Chesley Lovitz Listen to your parents! They always have your best interest at heart!

Kimberly Busse For Josiah: Always share the truth in love. Others may not always want to hear it but they will know that your voice will always be truthful and with their best interests at heart. For Chad and Krista: This is the season for parents that seems like a constant push/pull with your child. Josiah is growing into a man and while you want to protect him, sometimes the hardest and best thing to do is let him make the mistake or take a different path. Rest assured that you both have shown him what it means to be a Christ follower and that his choices will have a foundation in that.

Suzy Coffman Listen to him. hear him😍💕. Love him unconditionally and HUG him😍

Kathy Smith Do your absolute best in every class. Put forth the effort…it will be worth it in the end. Grades count now! Get involved in sports or other activities/clubs. You will meet many new people. Enjoy!!

Mary L Cardona You have a team behind, and beside you….

Kathleen Ketola Always remember God walks with you! Commit to your studies, enjoy making new friends, do not forget any old friends and find many new exciting activities to participate in!

Natalie Kipka Know who you are and be yourself!!

Jill Rhue Penny Be you!! Focus on your studies!!Have fun!!

Ashleigh Donahue From Luke: spend time studying and focusing on your schoolwork instead of friends and trying to be popular and cool because none of that will matter when you get to be an adult

Ashleigh Donahue From Ashleigh: Don’t take your eyes off of God! Follow his lead so you don’t miss out on any opportunities he may have for you. Always put God first and wait for an answer before you make any decisions. Have fun but stay away from the influence of others that are harmful and not what the Lord would have you do. I pray you have an amazing school year!!!

Byron Watts Be the best you that you can be, for you! Don’t settle for what someone else tells you you must be or should be. Discover who you are. Develop your bent. Learn for yourself who the amazing person you were created to be really is. Don’t be lazy because it’s enough to get by. Never let yourself believe that a bad attitude or negative outlook has no side effects or consequences. Understand that at every moment of your life you are given the choice to be exactly one of two things:. You can be bitter, or you can be better. There are no other choices….but your choice this time will directly impact any future choice. God is God. You are not Him. He created you for a very special and amazing purpose. We don’t always understand what that purpose is from our limited viewpoint. Trust the evidence. People care. They just don’t always know how to express it.

Barbara Tower Enjoy every moment of this special time of your life. You are transitioning from child to teenager to young adult. You are making special memories and laying a foundation for the rest of your life. Never forget that you are uniquely made by God to be you and He is always by your side to guide you, protect you and to keep your feet planted on the Solid Rock.

Kelechi Esoga Be ready, in and out of season. Enjoy it and make it memorable.