I’ve spent every day of my summer counting down the days until school started and here we are – four weeks into school here at Great Lakes Adventist Academy. As I’m writing this, I hear lockers being closed, students laughing, and the string ensemble learning a new piece. These are the small moments I missed over the summer, and I hope that through my writing you are all able to catch a glimpse of what it’s like to be a student here. It is a huge privilege to be here, and also the most fun I’ve had in my seventeen years of life. So without further ado, let’s get into what you’ve missed so far.
Are you indecisive? I am. I actually wondered whether or not I wanted to lead with that question at first. By coming a few days earlier to school, you can get a taste of what being a part of the Music Department or Aerokhanas Gymnastics team might feel like, without the full commitment. If you didn’t know, I play percussion for the Wind Symphony. Have you ever been to a music concert and covered your ears due to the big crash cymbals? Yeah, that’s me playing them. Because I already know what being in music is like, I decided to go to the Aerokhans clinic for the second year in a row. It’s so much fun being held up in the air, you catch a glimpse of what flying feels like. My favorite part was doing an instant dismount from an elevator, which is when your bases lift you up by holding your feet, and throw you into the air as they get ready to catch you. It sounds a little scary at first, but it’s the best kind of adrenaline rush. Gymnastics isn’t the only thing we did, we also had worships and song services. It’s so amazing to me that we can use our bodies as a way of witnessing and glorifying God. Every day I am amazed at what God is doing for us here.
Every week has been jam-packed with things to look forward to, which is my motto for happiness. After the first few days of school, our SA (Student Association) team planned a welcome week for us. If you’re wondering what this looks like, picture getting a blue piece of candy and sitting down at the blue-themed table with other random students in different grades from separate backgrounds. Or finding someone with the same birthday month as you to receive a treat at dinner. It’s not all about students though. There is one magical night that my friends and I look forward to – pizza feed! Yes, pizza is delicious and all, but who doesn’t love to be served? Every year the faculty and staff dress in black and white, take our orders, and hand-deliver our food. All while we get to sit back and color on the butcher paper table clothes with crayons like in the good old days of kiddie menus. We also had our first SA activities this year including SA Scavenger Hunt and SA Picnic. Students were cheering on other students; new kids were getting to know their classmates, and the seniors were dominating (did I mention I am a senior?). One of the things I love most about GLAA is the constant “merry-go-round” of life here. It can be easy to feel homesick or lonely when you have a lot of free time on your hands. That’s why the staff makes it a priority to plan enjoyable activities every weekend; whether it be an ice cream social or roller skating, there is always something to do.
We are so spiritually rich and privileged when it comes to all the opportunities we have to get closer to Jesus here. One day I was really curious as to how many worship opportunities I have in a day. Whether it be at the start of a class, chapel after lunch, or dorm worship, I counted six in total! Following that, I think the most important events to happen on campus are our Weeks of Prayer. You’ll often hear some of the staff say that they are soul winners first, teachers second, and that’s exactly what they are. Of course, we want students to graduate, but the number one goal here is to develop a strong and firm relationship with God. Week of Prayer is a time when we come together twice a day as a school family and focus on the importance of God’s love for us and that love can change us for the better. Pastor Thomas came to us from the Detroit area and preached about the importance of finding your own relationship with Jesus and not basing it off of others. My favorite talk was his worship thought about relationships and the significant point that we should “be in a Christian relationship, not be Christians in a relationship.” The week was a spiritual high for us and once again made me grateful to be a part of this school.
We try to follow Weeks of Prayer with specially planned weekends to solidify what we have learned. This year, we followed the spiritual week with a trip to Camp Au Sablefor Junior Senior Camp Out. I can not wait to tell you everything that happened in the span of those four days, and show you all the pictures we took, but I am running out of time as our first home leave bell of the 2022-23 school year is getting closer. While I am excited to go home for our first break, I’m also excited to get our next blog posted and share all the fun of our camp out. As always, it’s been a joy to write to all of you. Happy home leave!
With all the love in the world,
Stephanie Martinez
The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. Psalm 145:9
Great Lakes Adventist Academy 