Neerlandia Public Christian School Class of 2019

Neerlandia Public Christian School (NPCS) teacher Dallas Lee is confident this year’s Grade 9 graduates will continue to inspire the people they meet as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.

The reason why she is so confident they will be able to inspire people is that they continue to inspire her.

Lee was the class of 2019’s Grade 2 teacher and was the special guest speaker at the school’s graduation ceremony June 14.

She was fresh out of university when she walked into the classroom and met them for the first time.

“I was so excited, but I was even more frightened,” Lee said.

Moreover, she said she was scared of not what the class would do to her, but what she would do to them.

“I was scared that I would break you in a way that I couldn’t fix,” she said.

She added, it is clear that she did not break the class, because over their tenure at the school they had gone on to achieve many things and was confident that they would continue to do so.

However, she noted the tables had turned.

“Now as you step forth, you may feel what I felt so many years ago, the nervousness, uncertainty, the feeling that you are taking a step into a brave new world alone,” Lee said. “I’m here to tell you that isn’t the case because you are Neerlandians. Whereever you go we will be watching, praying and we will be here. But even more importantly remember that God is faithful, call on him.”

Lee told the graduates to not to be afraid to reach for their goals and try new things. She said while they would make mistakes along the way they should be confident in that what they learned at NPCS would serve them well.

“But more importantly be confident in who you are. Each of you has inspired me just by being yourselves,” she said. “ I am so grateful that you were my first ... now you are going to a new, larger school and are going to meet new peers, coaches, bus drivers and teachers and inspire a new group of people.”

Parents advice to grads

Judy Schuring echoed Lee’s sentiments that she was confident the grads would go on to do great things at their new school in Barrhead (Barrhead Composite High School) but said in times of doubt, not to be afraid to trust God, but to reach out to their friends and family in Neerlandia.

“Stay connected to your community. Surround yourself with people that will keep you accountable and remember that we, your parents, are not your enemies,” she said. “Life is about choices, strive to make good ones and beyond everything else, remember who you are, children of the king.”