Garris Thomas Class of 2017

5/4/2017

Garris Thomas

I was leaving behind all my friends. I thought starting a new school was going to be the toughest thing I would have to endure in my adolescence. But when I entered Mrs. Easterlin's 1st grade class, that feeling disappeared. At that moment I could tell that Calvary was not just a school but a family. I didn't have to search for people to become my friends; they found me.

During the school year, many different events are planned to strengthen student relationships. Homecoming week is a week where school is put on hold, and the students are brought closer together through Christ, competition, and school spirit. This is the week that I looked forward to the most. You get to show your love and appreciation for the school and all of the people in it.

Calvary has been a place that many professional relationships have blossomed for me. Career day is coordinated by the administration at Calvary for all of the high school. This event brings in professionals from all over the city of Savannah. They give us advice on what to do and how to get where they are in their careers. This event has broadened my network of relationships tremendously and has helped me decide what I would like to do with my life. Seniors’ last day on campus is May 5th, then we go to different professional business to work for a week. I will be shadowing Chad Dollander, the director of sales at Colonial Oil. I will get the opportunity to experience sales calls, tour the facilities, but most of all gain experience in a business that I know very little about.

Calvary Day School has made a huge impact on my life. I have grown very close to so many of the students, faculty, and administrators. The members of the Calvary family are some of the most positive and Christian individuals you will ever come to know. The atmosphere is incredible. A day doesn’t go by when we don’t have someone to lean on, no matter what is happening in our lives. It is not just a school solely based on academics but relies heavily on social and spiritual growth as well. For me, Calvary has been a home away from home. I know when I step foot on campus, I will receive love, discipline, and encouragement from people who really care about me.

In my time as a student, I made some decisions that I would not repeat. Those decisions caused stress and heartache to people I truly care about. I’ve learned more from those mistakes than the proud young man in me would like to admit. I am grateful to attend a school that gives grace when grace is not always deserved. I earned every bump and bruise I received during my twelve years at Calvary, but those marks have turned me into the man I am today.

Calvary Day School holds a special place in my life that I will never forget. I hope the relationships that I have built here are ones that will continue to grow. I know one day I am going to look back on my time at Calvary and laugh, but today, I am thankful to finish. On to the next chapter. Kennesaw State, here I come!

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