High school is a time of transition. Students come to learn, grow and achieve a level of education that allows them to face the ?real? world. A big part of this process involves hearing stories and taking advice from those who have experience in navigating adulthood.

Brad Kreller, a businessman from Pismo, Ca, graduated from Fresno Christian in 1995. He agreed to talk about his time at FC and how he established his career afterward.

“I came from Madera High School as a sophomore,” Kreller said. “[The change] was awesome. I grew up in public schools, so I loved the one-on-one connection I got from the teachers and staff at Fresno Christian.”

He quickly integrated into the small school atmosphere, and involved himself in sports as well as academics. He was a member of FC?s first 11-man football team in 1994, and continued to play football through his senior year. His favorite part of high school, however, was the atmosphere and members of the staff, specifically the former principal Gary ?Papa? Schultz.

“My favorite memories are of “Papa” Shultz,” Kreller said, “He is such a great guy. I just liked the whole atmosphere. It fit my personality. And I loved the classes; they prepared me for my future career.”

After graduating from high school, Kreller attended Fresno State and got a degree in accounting. By then, he and his girlfriend, Wendy Imrie, who was a classmate of his at both Madera High School and FC, were already talking about marriage. Kreller promised to marry her in the year 2000 and, sure enough, she held him to his word.

“I said we?d get married in 2000,” Kreller said. “On Jan. 8, 2000, she had it all ready and we got married.”

After their honeymoon, Kreller moved out of his parents? home and moved in with his wife in Sacramento. He found a job as an accountant, and she practiced physical therapy. Although he liked the job at first, he eventually became tired of the political forces that moved his professional community.

According to Kreller, people who did not deserve higher positions were promoted because of the connections they had, and those who deserved the positions rarely received promotions. Because of this, Kreller quit after ten years in the business, and moved to Pismo as soon as his wife got a job transfer.

In Pismo, Kreller attained his real estate license and opened up a business called Kreller’s Island Getaway. As part of the services offered in his business, Kreller helps the vacation home managers, in Hawaii, find visitors.

He enjoys the job so much that it sometimes feels to him as if he is not even working. Even through this time of economic challenges, he feels blessed with almost too much business; he credits his success to God.

“To this day I get on my knees and say [to God] that I am not worthy to get this job,” Kreller said. “I don?t deserve it.”

Besides working, Kreller is involved in charitable organizations like the Big Brother Big Sister program. He believes that, by living in order to help others, people fulfill an important purpose for living.

“There?s more to life than the accumulation of wealth,” Kreller said. “We have to ask ourselves, ‘what can I do for others?'”

Kreller gave a few pieces of advice to the FC seniors regarding how they look at their futures.

“First, keep your eyes on God,” Kreller said. “Look for ways to actually help people, and keep your focus. Don?t say ‘I?ll take a year off.’ Have a plan. Have it in your head and stick to it.”

This writer can be reached via Twitter: @JohnathanNyberg. Follow The Feather via Twitter: @thefeather.

For more features, read the Feb. 5 article, FC increases technology use, involvement.