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Paloma Christoff Class of 2017

8/18/2017

Paloma Christoff

After going through the application processes and testing, I was blessed to be accepted at Calvary Day School. My parents gave their full support, and I am grateful for the sacrifices they made. The atmosphere and vibe that I felt during my first year at Calvary was unreal. I was confident that choosing Calvary was the best decision I’d made for my future.

Without attending Calvary, I would not have the same academic success or spiritual life that I have today. Teachers have pushed me to strive for the best grades and work for what I want. Because of those teacher pouring into my life, I was able to succeed in honors, AP, and Armstrong dual enrollment classes, all while keeping a high enough grade point average to be inducted into the National Honor Society.

Outside of academics, Calvary has allowed me to be centered around a Christian environment. Attending chapel every Tuesday and celebrating Spiritual Emphasis Week was very new to me in the beginning. Now, I can’t imagine what it was like to not have the constant spiritual uplifting from fellow classmates, teachers, and faculty. My spiritual life has grown and become a big part of who I am. Throughout my years at Calvary, my teachers prepared me to keep my relationship with God strong in college.

I want to thank all the teachers who have spent extra hours helping and preparing my classmates and I for the future. Mr. John Locke had the biggest influence on me during my years at Calvary. He has been there for me whether it was related to classwork or not. Mr. Locke has seen us cry, made us laugh, given life-changing messages, and is someone that I can trust. I knew I could count on him if I were ever in need of help. He made it known to his students that we could trust him with what he tells us about everything relating to school, religion, relationships, or advice in general. After the senior’s last chapel, he told a group of us that no matter where we were, if we needed help or someone to talk to that he would be there for us. The relationships that the students have with teachers at Calvary has a tremendous impact on our lives in and outside of the classroom. This is what makes Calvary special.

Throughout my high school career, I have made long-lasting relationships and friendships with students and teachers that I will never forget. It seems cliche’ to say that the school you attend is almost like your second family, but at Calvary, we are more than that. We are a true “Calvary Family.” Every student can walk the hallways and see friendly faces on every corner. We have a supportive and trustworthy group of teachers that are easy to speak to about anything. At Calvary, we’ve made friends that have impacted our lives. I have been around the Calvary class of 2017, almost every day, for the past five years, and words can’t describe how much I am going to miss them. Going to college is going to be such a life-changing experience, but I am so grateful to have spent my high school career at Calvary.

As I prepare to begin my freshman year at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, I want to tell the Cavaliers still on campus to take no time for granted. Go to every sporting event, participate in the Calvary Crazies, attend every dance, participate in every Student Life event, join every volunteer opportunity that Calvary hosts, and get involved in as many clubs and organizations as you can; because sooner than you realize, you will no longer have that opportunity.

Everything I did my senior year was “the last.” My last cheerleading competition, football game I will cheer at, homecoming dance, prom, chapel, and so much more. Senior year holds a lot of change, and it goes by insanely quick. I didn’t realize how fast it went by until we had ten days left of school, and graduation was right around the corner. All my friends have gone in different directions, and I’m not sure when I will get to see them again. So, take advantage of all the time you get with your friends, make memories, and savor every moment of it.

My time as a student at Calvary has come to an end. It is sad to think that I will no longer have my best friends minutes down the road. I am struggling to imagine that I won’t be able to take that short drive to be on the Calvary campus where I have probably spent more cumulative time in the last five year than at my house. While that chapter in my life is over, I’ll carry with me the memories I made and lessons I learn forever. Once a Cavalier, always a Cavalier!

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