Column: Graduating senior reflects on WCS experience

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Worthington Christian School

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WORTHINGTON — As my senior year comes to a close and graduation draws near, I can’t help but remember some of my fondest memories during my earlier school years. Although I’ve gone to Worthington High School for the past four years, I attended Worthington Christian School from kindergarten to eighth grade. I made many memories in those years — some inside Worthington Christian, others outside — but I feel like they all have roots with the school.

Something I would look forward to every year as a student of WCS was the end-of-the-year roller skating party. The whole school would take the day off to go to the skating rink in Sheldon. Although most of the day was fun, one part of the day was anything but. While most of the songs were upbeat, once in a while the DJ would play a slow song. Everyone knew what that meant — the boys were supposed to muster up the courage to ask a cute girl if she would like to skate. Keep in mind it was custom for the couple to hold hands while skating, which was a very, very big deal at that age. Although in my mind I would love to think I had skated with many girls in my days at WCS, I know deep down that it wasn’t until my sixth-grade year that I finally found it in me to ask a girl to skate. Now I won’t disclose what the girl’s name is, which will probably save her from some embarrassment, but she does deserve a medal for not quitting on me halfway through the song. I know that between my sweaty palms and me falling over, it couldn’t have been that enjoyable (or romantic) to skate with me. As terrible as those three minutes were, I know now that an experience like that has made me a better person and hopefully not so nervous with girls.

Now that I’ve properly made fun of myself I can write about something I truly enjoy: sports.

At the Christian school, boys were offered soccer, basketball and track. For girls, they would play volleyball, basketball and track. I did have a lot of fun participating in both soccer and track, but I would be lying if I said that there wasn’t a special place in my heart for my basketball years as a Warrior. I might be embellishing a bit, but I can only remember losing two games in my seventh- and eighth-grade years. I guess we must have been pretty good seeing as in just the last year, 13 WCS alumni advanced to the Minnesota State High School Tournament in boys and girls basketball. Also, not to forget some of the people I looked up to as a youngster in school, seven students from grades above me were able to have phenomenal high school careers and went on to compete in various sports at the collegiate level.

Many other memories come back to me as I sit here trying to decide what I should write. Another favorite sporting activity was baseball. In the third grade, I remember one of my closest friends forgetting how a baseball glove works and getting hit in the face with a ball during recess. That ball gave him a nice black eye that he probably still hasn’t forgotten. Then, in sixth grade at recess, another friend tripped while running for a ball that ended with him going face first into the bleachers. As you could expect, he lost the battle between himself and the bleachers and was left with a few stitches above his eye.

Now that I have made fun of two of my friends, I feel obliged to do the same to myself. When I was a fourth-grader, our class was playing a fun game of tag in PE. I, sadly, had been tagged and was chasing my friends to hopefully tag them. My friend ran onto the parking lot and, as every genius competitive kid would do, I dove at him in the attempt of a tag. Not only did I not tag him, but during my dive, I landed on my left hand and broke four fingers. After a solid two-hour cry, my fingers swelled up like someone blowing up a balloon. They were so big that many people told me I looked like I permanently had a baseball glove on my hand.

Although sports were probably my favorite activity during school (and still are), I also participated in band and choir. I did enjoy both practicing for and performing in many concerts. I also participated in many plays. My finest moment was when I was awarded the lead role as Joseph in my eighth-grade year. After that performance, I was ready to write my ticket to Hollywood. After not receiving an Oscar nomination, though, I decided it was time to hang it up and finish while I was on the top.

With all the memories I have from my grade school years, they all have something to do with Worthington Christian School. I enjoyed every minute of my time at the school and wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’d also like to thank my friends and family that sat through my sporting events, concerts and plays. After going to recent events at WCS, I realize it might not have been as much fun for them as I had previously thought. But seriously, I would like to thank my teachers for helping not only with my schoolwork, but also helping me grow in my faith and teaching all of the subjects from a Christian perspective. I believe that the school molded me into the person I am today and I am sincerely thankful for everything it has done for me.

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