Graduation 2016
They are Rooted in Christ, Ready for Tomorrow.
Tyler Hoffman & Julie Favilla exemplified our Mission Statement during their address to the Class of 2016. In case you weren’t able to attend the commencement ceremony, we encourage you to take a moment to read what these talented seniors had to say about their time at Riverside Christian and their charge to their fellow classmates.
Tyler Hoffman, RCS 2016 Valedictorian Address
Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” I can distinctly remember hearing this verse for the first time in a Frank Peretti children’s video special as a young grade school child and realizing, even then, the power behind those words. Today, this verse is as relevant and encouraging as it has ever been.
For a little background, Joshua 1:9 is in the midst of a commission given by God to appoint Joshua to lead the nation of Israel in entering the land that was promised to them. The situation of the Israelites at this time draws several parallels to the position we, as graduation seniors, are in. The Israelites were going through a transitional period in their history. For the past 40 years, they had been wandering aimlessly in the desert. They had just lost their resounding leader in Moses, and still had ahead of them the daunting task of claiming the Promised Land. Although it has hopefully only been 18 years or so instead of 40, we as seniors will soon leave many of the comforts and certainties that we have grown accustomed to and even taken for granted. We will have to start making decisions on our own, and we will be forced to do things like buy our own toothpaste and do our own laundry, unless of course we happen to live close enough to come home for an occasional weekend.
It was during this time in the Israelites’ history, however, that God reminded Joshua of who He was and the promises that He had made to them. Three times in that small commission recorded in Joshua 1, God says to “be strong and courageous.” God knew that there would be times where a seemingly insurmountable obstacles would come in in the Israelites way. For them it might have been crossing the Jordan River or facing a powerful enemy army. For us t might be an impossible calculus test or a term paper due at might-night that you started at 10:30. Or i might be something a little more serious, like pouring a bowl of cereal and realizing that there is not milk like in the mini-fridge.
Through it all, God tells us, even commands us, to “be strong and of good courage.” The reason we can do this, however, is not because of anything that we can control. Instead. It comes for the second part of Joshua 1:9 where God makes one of His biggest promises to the Israelites. He says that they can “be strong and of good courage” because “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
At this time in our lives, we seniors may think we have seen it all. Indeed, we have gone through many different experiences in our time at Riverside, whether it be the good, such as the retreats or sporting events, or the bad, such as certain experiences in the second grade where a certain student, upon learning about my allergy to peanuts, proceeded to chase me around the room with a Snickers bar.
The reality of our situation, however is that the end of high school is not the end of our lives. Sure, a lot of things are going to change, but all the experiences we have had, all the lessons we have learned, and all the friends we have made will be remembered. Indeed, all of these are what truly shaped who we are today.
So then, Class of 2016, go forth into the next stage of your life, wherever that may lead. Create new memories, make new friends, and forge your own path, but always remember where you came from, and always hold true to where you want to go. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5 and 6).
I fully believe that God has great things planned for each and every one of us. I will leave you with the best piece of advise for the next stage of our lives that can be given. “Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Thank you.
Julia Favilla, RCS 2016 Salutatorian Address
Good evening, My name is Julia Favilla and I would like to thank all of you for coming and supporting the class of 2016. I would also like to thank the Riverside faculty for all the lessons they have taught us and all the support they have given us. Thank you to my class for all the wonderful memories we have made over these four years. A few months from now, most of us will have a new place to call home. Some of us will stay right here in Yakima, while others will move to the other side of the country. This summer we all begin a new adventure where we will meet new people, make new friends, and try new things.
But before we move on into the future, let’s talk about something we all have in common: math. We have all had to sit in a math class, at one time or another, staring at a board while the teacher drills us on math problems from multiplication tables to equation integration. Personally, I love math. There is one right answer to every problem. In math, you are graded critically to make sure each answer is correct and each problem is taught to be done a certain way. Math is a logical subject and is created to be structured.
My second love is the polar opposite of math: art. There is no right answer. No teach can say your art is wrong, because your art has its own interpretation. In fact, art teachers want you to make your art different than anyone else’s and create your own unique style. Art gives you the freedom to create what you want and make it your own. The fact that math and art are so different is what makes me love them so much. For each of use the next 10, 15, or 20 years will look very different; some will be married or have kids, some of us will be doctors, architects, or forensic scientists. But, no matter where we go, these past four years of high school will always be a part of us. I hope that we all choose to carry the things we have learned here with us for the rest of our lives. From the Pythagorean Theorem, to working with oil pastels, to handling conflict, all these lessons will be valuable. We have learned many life skills not only in school but also from our family and friends. I have learned many of these skills from my hero and greatest role model, my dad.
I can honestly say that if it weren’t for my dad I would not be standing here today. My dad has always pushed me to do my best whether it was in school, or sports, or music. And of course, because of his influence, I pushed myself to do my best wanting my dad to be proud of me. My dad has been a big part of my life. He has always been there for me, day or night, when I needed him. He has been at every volleyball tournament, every violin recital, and helped with any project whenever I needed him. A couple weeks ago, I had to make 3 pies for our class fundraiser. I had never made a pie in my life, and although none of the pies were in the oven before 10pm, my dad was right there, helping me unstick the dough from the counter and making sure the apples had enough cinnamon. While we were making the pies, we had my Grandma on speed dial because she is the pie expert. My dad and grandma have worked together for years tirelessly helping me in everything I do. They have shaped me into the person I am today and are both wonderful examples of Jesus’ love and care for us.
Colossians 3:14 says, “Over all virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity…” We, as a class, have learned a lot about having Christ-like character from our teachers, parents, and from each other. Even though we will pursue different goals, dreams, and careers, we are unified within the Body of Christ.
Just as math, and, art are very different, so is our class. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to have shared these past four years with all of you.
Enjoy photos from the 2016 Riverside Christian School Commencement.
