As seniors wrap up, and a chapter closes, it is time to look towards the future.

If you asked me the summer before my freshman year if I was excited for what was to come, I would have told you absolutely not. I have never been someone who accepts change very well. I would rather live in my little bubble of comfortability and stay there forever. When I found out I was coming to Fresno Christian instead of Bullard, leaving behind everything I knew including my friends, connections and future that I had been planning my whole life, I lost it.

What followed was nightly arguments with my family, tears, frustration and resentment from my friends. I remember crying in my bed one night and my mom coming in and saying that if I did not want to go, I did not have to. Of course she did not really mean that, but in the end she always knows best and I would be enrolled next fall for my freshman year. That summer was a strange one for me. I had a few connections at FC, but in general was not sure what was coming.

Meeting my soon-to-be friends for the first time, I thought everyone was strange and I would be wrong if I said they were not a little. We often think of people as “strange” simply because they are different from us and during that time, that was true. They were proud of their faith, had a deep understanding of the Lord and knew the Bible better than I knew was possible. I had a very blessed upbringing, went to a good school filled with good people and teachers who helped me along my journey, but through middle school God was not a part of the curriculum. Unknowing to me, these people who I thought were strange over the course of four years would completely change my life. 

Writing this reflection I am trying to encompass four entire years, or when broken down, 28 classes, four Sadie’s, four formals, four soccer seasons, three volleyball seasons, two Spanish videos, four homecoming floats, too many tests to count and a whole list of senior activities including prom, retreat, sunrise, trip, sunset, parties, hangouts, ditch day and an epic prank that’s on its way. Trying to sum all of that experience into one article is simply impossible, but I am here to try.

To anyone who does not know me, my name is Jacob Christensen. I am 18 years old and looking for a job so hit me up. I was born on August 16, 2007 to a family of three including two very hardworking parents and an annoyingly good at everything sister. I love sports and everything in that world, especially soccer. I also love all things creative including art, music and more recently, story telling and writing.

I grew up in what I think was the perfect way, always outside pretending to live off the land on some great adventure doing my best impression of Indiana Jones, making weapons, climbing in trees, running around, and using a brown purse my aunt gave me as my very own “authentic” satchel. When I was not outside, I was playing with Legos and action figures, or somehow watching almost every classic tv show of my generation. My dad made sure to show me all the good stuff of his time which shaped me into the 80’s-loving person I am today. I am incredibly hard on myself, setting out of reach expectations and feeling like a failure when I don’t meet them. Although it might not be the healthiest thing, I think it is what made me such a hard worker.

A little about me that people don’t know is that I was born with a condition called nystagmus, which has affected my eyes and vision for my entire life. This uncommon diagnosis causes my eyes to shake constantly. I have gone to Stanford optical since before I could remember, questioning whether surgery is worth it, but in the end settling with glasses and no surgery until I felt it was something I wanted. My eyesight has always been something that has made my life harder, being forced to sit in the front of every class, getting a special form to be able to drive and a whole list of other inconveniences. Another thing I have struggled with in my life is my height. I was set up for failure with my 5’0 mom and 5’7 dad, but since I was young there has always been something off. In my 7th grade year I went to a specialized doctor after a day of getting my blood drawn at valley children’s and she said that I had a growth hormone deficiency. I don’t know all the scientific terms, but I was not on track for my expected growth chart.

Later that year, I started taking a type of steroid every night. Although I knew the result would be worth it, if every night your dad came in to give you a shot, rotating around your body, and almost without fail bruises, welts, and blood would cover my body, it is hard to stay persistent. Now needles are not a big deal to me, but if you were a kid and had to get a shot every night for three years straight, just for every appointment to get ridiculed from your doctor because it was not working well enough you would hate it too. These things in my life have not been easy, but because I have faced diversity and obstacles since I was too young to remember they all made me stronger, leading to the person I am today.

I have gone to FC for four years, participating in every activity I could cram in my schedule. Leadership, ASB, varsity sports, being a middle school small group leader, brother to brother mentor, AP and honors student and, of course, a journalist for The Feather.

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Childhood lays the foundation of the person you become.

Before continuing my story at FC, there is someone I want to talk about who is not here to read this reflection. My freshman year unexpectedly on a Tuesday afternoon, my grandpa passed away. I vividly remember every second of getting a call from my dad handing my phone to my mom and the reaction of when we both found out. I am not not writing this to detail a story of heartbreak, but a piece would be missing if I shared my journey without mentioning the man who loved me so much. Unknowingly to me, he shaped so much of who I am, passing down his love for collecting, his fascination with the outdoors and a middle name which I will hold pride in forever. He was loud, ridiculously funny and never once failed to put a smile on your face. To anyone who has experienced loss, have faith because even though they might no longer be by your side you can always count on them cheering you on up in heaven, just like my grandpa has been doing for my family. We all miss you, but know you are fishing the lakes of heaven and saying hi to everyone you see.

From your first day at Fresno Christian, there are a few guarantees. Silva Emerian will say hi and ask you how your day is going. Scott Falk will cruise by on his golf cart and Kori James will greet you with unmatched energy and a contagious smile. Her positive attitude and enthusiasm to teach was all it took for me to know I would like her, and I was not wrong. My sophomore year U.S. history was one of my favorite classes.

I was recruited to The Feather and asked to join alongside some friends and my girlfriend who I dragged with me. She might not say it but I know she’s grateful. 

For me and many others, The Feather has been much more than a classroom. It has been a place of laughter, fun, games, so much food, and a true family, while at the same time it has also been an environment of unparalleled stress, heavy deadlines, continuous pressure and dreaded conversations. It is a class like no other. One day you can be taking a nap in the back and the next you will be meeting the mayor. One week you will be wasting time with friends and another you will be in New York teaching a session at Columbia University. The Feather gets a bad rap and for good reason. It is hard, like really hard. It is similar to a job where you do not get paid, you are required to put in work outside of class to meet due dates and expectations. You play your part because you have a whole team of people counting on you. If it were easy then we would not be nationally ranked, winning CSPA gold crowns, beating teams of hundreds across the country, being one of two journalism teams in California to win gold, being the only high school journalism team left in the valley and now having a day named after us in the city of Fresno. Work is hard, but the result is so worth it. I joined not really knowing what to expect. I knew I liked the teacher, telling stories and I was going in with some friends to get our VPA’s, but I got so much more out of it than just that. 

Yes, I am an athlete. Yes, I am an AP student. Yes, I’m in leadership and an ASB officer, but here at FC above all of that, I am a Feather journalist. During my time at Fresno Christian I have done a lot, but in each activity I am a part of, I am always one in a group. I’ve worked so hard to get where I am and if I can be blunt, I do not always get the satisfaction nor recognition for my achievements. Fresno Christian is so much more than the same few students who are always seen, and joining The Feather for the first time I got to be an individual, expressing my opinions and shining a light on things I thought were important. I wrote stories covering football controversies, a beloved soccer coach battling cancer, surveyed the entire high school’s population of athletes, asking them questions and tallying up over 150 responses, wrote about A.I. in education and took everything I learned to present at Columbia in New York. God gave me The Feather to tell the stories no one else would and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.

As I wrap up my time here at FC, there are a few people I want to thank for helping me along my journey. First of all my family, especially my parents for the endless support and countless number of rides every morning and all the events, games and practices throughout the years, and my sister for being the greatest role model in my life, and always someone I can talk to. Next I want to thank Coach Hope Vilines, Angie Counts, Mrs. Emerian, Evangelina Escovedo, Robert Foshee , Scott Bucher and Brian Butler as well as all my teachers who guided me along the way, and through the mountains of homework turned me into a patient and resilient young man. I want to especially thank Kori James for giving me an opportunity no one else could and completely changing my high school experience for the better, and Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young for all the help and gentle pushes, turning me into a better and more capable writer. To my mentors on the field, from under eight days with coach Jason, to high school seasons with Jacob Bynum, Jakob Rieker, and Zach Aguirre, you helped develop me into a capable player, but most importantly instilled values I could take off the field. My friends Caleb Eldridge, Austin Kinzle, Drew Russo, James Emerian, Matt Tacchino, Benson Elbert, Hudson Mott, Sarah Guglielmana, Natalie Garcia and Georgia Karlson for walking through every year of high school with me, without them it truly wouldn’t have been the same. And finally, my girlfriend Kyleigh Baca for being my number one cheerleader. She’s always in my corner and is there when no one else is. Thank you for three amazing years, I love you.

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Behind the scenes look at abc studios is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Through my time at Fresno Christian I have gained so much. I have strengthened my relationship with the Lord, made friends and connections that will last a lifetime, smiled, laughed, cried, and maybe even all at once. There are too many memories to count but a few that stand out are time spent out on the soccer field joking with teammates, scoring against Sierra, team trips, making crazy tackles and hearing the crowd’s reaction or feeling so blessed and honored at my senior night. Playing volleyball for three seasons, going through all the ups and downs, but overall enjoying time on the court with friends playing a sport I love. Spending a week in New York running around the city nonstop, seeing iconic landmarks, watching a Broadway show and staying up until two a.m. to finish an article, I created a hundred stories that I don’t have the time to tell. Taking BeReal’s, going on side quests and playing Codenames in leadership and doing anything but lifting in strength. There are so many moments in and out of the classroom that have made my high school journey what it is.

Similar to that summer four years ago, I am unsure of what the future has in store for me but this time I am okay with that. Now as I am headed off to college and once again leaving behind everything I have ever known, I am ready. It might be scary, but every good adventure is. 

I am going to Cuesta Community College in San Luis Obispo studying business finance, taking the next step towards my future. In five years I hope to be out of school, working a stable job, looking to start my own business, but most importantly helping others and making a positive impact on the world.

If I were to give advice to anyone in a similar situation as myself I would say to enjoy every moment, good and bad, because it goes so much faster than you think and all the things you thought were so important actually mean so little. Finally, in the wise words of Indiana Jones

“I don’t know, I’m making this up as I go.”

To read more from The Feather check out Senior Reflection: Hayden Spurrier or Has Cinema gone soft?