Open Letter From Senior, Callie Franks

General

5/4/2020

"We have been taught to look to meet the needs around us, to have compassion for those less fortunate, and how to face adversity and disappointment with grace."

To My Fellow Classmates of 2020,

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." This well-known quote perfectly sums up how we all feel at this time. It has been more difficult than we expected to let go of our senior year. This is partly because it ended so abruptly, and many things we looked forward to will now never happen. This is also because Westminster has become our home. Some of us have been lucky enough to be at Westminster since we were in PK4 and we've become family.

In high school, we learned how to study effectively, manage our time, and think critically. More importantly, we were taught to be men and women who honor the Lord. There were high expectations for us to have integrity, a hard work ethic, and to be kind. We will now strive to meet these standards for the rest of our lives. We have been taught to look to meet the needs around us, to have compassion for those less fortunate, and how to face adversity and disappointment with grace.

So, in the midst of Covid-19 when there is worldwide death and fear, we know how to respond. Together we will face our sadness, but choose to not let it control us. We have joy knowing the Lord is working this out for our good. We have peace knowing that our God is way more powerful than a disease, and we have faith that one day all pain, suffering, and sadness will be gone. We have been taught how to live extraordinary lives for Jesus Christ, and it is truly exciting to me that we are going out into a world that is desperate for answers and needs the love of Jesus like never before. The Lord wanted us to graduate at this time, so we must rise to the occasion and let our light shine in all the places we'll go.

While we may never have our senior spring sports seasons, play our teachers in volleyball, camp on the field, or have a normal graduation weekend, we have had an amazing high school experience full of memories. As we go on to the next chapter of our lives, we will take with us the lessons we learned, the bond we share, the memories made, and the love in our hearts for each other. Westminster will always be our home.

To the Westminster Faculty,

On behalf of the whole senior class, I would like to thank the faculty and staff of Westminster. It has not gone unnoticed how you consistently prayed and pursued relationships with us. You have been there to support us countless times. Thank you for giving us grace when we fall short of your expectations and forgiveness when we mess up. You have demonstrated to us how to live lives that honor the Lord, and we hope to make you proud in the years to come.

To My Fellow Wildcats,

Don't blink. It goes so fast, and you never know when it may be over.

With love,
Callie Franks