At Shepherd Community Center, education goes beyond the classroom. Our students go beyond passing tests and mastering concepts. It’s about building authentic relationships with students, helping them to lead, create a future, and experience life-changing hope – many of them for the first time.

As we close a chapter on another school year, we’re elated to celebrate a class of 5th grade graduates from our Shepherd Community Academy. Closing out the chapter at the Academy and a chapter of elementary school, they have a wild world ahead of them, a future only they can paint. But everyone agrees, they are ready. This group of 5th graders is more than just a graduating class—they are an example of resilience, growth, and leadership.

Many of these students started their journey with us as tiny learners in K3 and K4. However, when it came time to begin elementary school, their kindergarten year began amid a global pandemic and was mostly virtual. So, when they returned as first-graders and attended in-person classes for the first time, they made the most of it, building deep connections with each other and Miss McCrary. In 4th grade, they weathered the challenge of a mid-year teacher transition, yet instead of falling apart, they leaned on each other—deepening friendships and rising together.

They are a class of problem-solvers and good communicators. They ask hard questions, think critically, and stand up when something seems unfair. They lead with courage and passion, and their creativity shines in everything from the classroom to the community.

We’ll never forget the post-its they wrote at the end of each school day last year—short messages about wins and challenges that carried deep emotion, honesty, and vulnerability. These small slips of paper brought teachers to tears more than once, as students shared their joys, struggles, and hopes with remarkable sincerity.

Their growth goes beyond academics: a student who threw chairs in 1st grade now models exemplary behavior and takes ownership of his actions. Another, after years of battling explosive anger, gave their life to Christ last year and was baptized—and has not had a single outburst this entire semester.

As we wrapped up the school year, we asked our students to share what they had learned, how they had seen themselves grow, and what impact Shepherd had made on them. We also asked what they want to be when they grow up and what hope means to them. Their responses brought us to tears and are just a glimpse of the transformation we’ve seen in each of our 17 graduates during their time at Shepherd Community Academy:

• “I would tell them [younger students at Shepherd Community Academy] to do your best and work at things that are hard, even if you don’t want to do it. Challenge yourself to go beyond your limits!” – Mariah

• “They [Shepherd] impacted my life on how to be a leader. They’ve helped me make so many good choices. I love my friends and the way we always make each other laugh.” – David

• “Shepherd has helped me learn that I have more than just friends but that I have a family.” – Marcelino

• “When I’m older I want to be the president or a lawyer.” – Sonia

• “I learned about showing self-control. I learned to respect God, kids, teachers, and my parents. The people at Shepherd are kind. They have been in my heart. I learned about our Savior and that he saved us. He is so good in the world.” – Edgar

• “Life goes on for your future to be successful! To be successful in life, you must study and focus on your schoolwork. Never give up and remember you are not alone.” – Itzel

• “Hope means to never give up on what you want to do and keep trying even if it is not going well. Also believing in the Lord Christ Jesus and believing that he is our Savior.” – Alan

• “I learned that sometimes life doesn’t go your way and that you don’t get everything you want in life. Without Shepherd, I would not have the friends and memories I have.” – Joselyn

• “Shepherd has impacted my life. One way is the memories that I have been through and how wholesome they have been. I am going to miss Miss Mcrary because of how fun she is and how long she has been here.” – Jacob

• “I have seen myself grow by improving my grades, learning, and how to care for others. I also learned how to show leadership, respect, and to be more mature.” – Jazmin

• “When I grow up, I want to be a doctor. Why? I want to make a positive impact in the world by helping people when they are sick, hurt, or when something goes wrong with their bodies. I also want to be a doctor for my parents. My parents want me to have a career and a future, so that’s what I’m going to do.” – Julissa

• “Hope means to trust God and hope means to NEVER GIVE UP even when it’s hard. I want to be a police officer or a mechanic when I grow up because I want to help others.” – Kevin

• “Shepherd has helped me and my family a lot. Shepherd helped pay bills and helped us do other things that were very helpful. I am very grateful that I am able to be here.” – Ericka

• “I made friends, I have gained knowledge, and I have shown positivity here. I learned Dr. Ben Carson’s story, and it impacted my life, which made me understand the importance of showing positivity and dreaming big. I was able to grow more and have friends who care about me here. If I went to a public school, I would not have learned about Jesus.” – Brayan

• “To me personally, [hope is] everything.” – Alana

• “I learned at Shepherd Community Academy that you need to respect God and respect others. I did not give up. Shepherd has also taught me to help others in need.” – Abi

• “Hope means being hopeful to the people around me and caring about them as much as they care for me.” – Ana

This year’s 5th grade class song is Toy Story’s famous, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” But itis more than just a melody—it’s the heartbeat of this group. They care deeply for one another, and it shows. These students are determined to create a new future for themselves, care for one another, and make a difference.

As our students move forward, we pray they will hold on to this truth from Isaiah 40:31: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will SOAR on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Our students have SOARed. They haveovercome, achieved, led, and grown. They have shown that learning isn’t just something we do in school—it’s something we carry with us in how we treat others, how we face challenges, and how we live our faith

As these incredible 17 graduates leave our Shepherd Community Academy halls, we pray they continue to advocate for justice, lead with integrity, and face problems head-on. We are blessed to know that their journey with Shepherd does not end but transitions into a new season as middle schoolers. The world needs what they have to offer—and we look forward to hearing about the great things they do!