Letter to Future Graduates

Dear Future Graduates,

I was going to start this letter with some fancy and well-written piece of advice, reminding you that “time flys”. It does and it will. Sure it’s good to reflect on, but to be frank, I don’t think that would be of much value to anyone nor would anyone give what I said a second thought. So, I have decided to endeavor to explain to you the only thing that I probably would’ve given a second thought to before I graduated.

Redeemer is an absolutely marvelous school and I implore you to cherish it. However, I was told the exact same thing when I started going to Redeemer in 10th grade. But I did not truly listen to the words because I had already hardened my heart to the possibility of happiness in a foreign place. There was a deeper, personal hunger I had to satisfy in myself order for my perspective and attitude to change. Yes, of course the influence of people and the words they said played a significant factor. But at the end of the day, I had to learn on my own. And onmy own, I learned that I could not do it on my own. That is the heart of the advice I offer to you.

It is very scary and requires vulnerability to admit your helplessness. After all, you are a teenager, trying to have fun and enjoy your youth while simultaneously trying to grow up and prove your maturity to the adults around you. I could attempt to offer you a list of ways to navigate this issue, but my thoughts would run and circles and leave you more perplexed than before. Just understand that you are going to be confused, frustrated, and lost. You’ll probably feel lonely and be hit with disappointment after disappointment. Instead of allowing the inevitable hardships of high school knock you down forever, let them reach your heart. Let them rattle your soul and expose your dire need for a Savior; your desperation for someone’s arms to run into and collapse as they hold you near. Not only for high school, but for your entire life, you cannot do it on your own— all of us really need the Lord.

Do not be fooled, my relationship with God was and is constantly filled with questions and resistance as I struggle to give God the control in my life. I am far from a saint, but if I can have a voice to offer what I wish I could’ve heard, then I am going to take this opportunity. We are going to be brought to our knees in this world and left feeling like we have given all we can. It doesn’t just start and stop in high school. It’s a lifetime thing. But Jesus isn’t a mere lifetime thing, he is a forever Savior. I wish I understood that sooner. I wish I didn’t question it to this day. I wish all my nights of crying and hating God were filled with worship. I wish I wasn’t so rude and resistant to people trying to help me adjust to Redeemer. I wish I didn’t push away the one person who relentlessly pursues me. And even now, I wish I trusted God more. I wish we could all feel how loved we are, not only by God but by the entire Redeemer staff and faculty as well.

I don’t mean to sound pessimistic— I’m actually more hopeful than ever. There’s much that I am unsure of and unworthy to give advice about, but I do know this: Redeemer is not without flaws, but it is a pretty special place with some even better people. You can’t do everything on your own, and it might take some intense loneliness and pain to realize that(or perhaps it won’t). God is so good and is the one you need near. Without him, we are dead. High school is hard for everyone and we all forget to “enjoy the moment” every now and then. I leave you with the words from a song that I’ve been repeating in my head for the last couple months of high school and will continue to repeat for the rest of my life: “Peace be still, you are here so it is well. Even when my eyes can't see, I will trust the voice that speaks”. If you are going to give a second thought to anything, direct it to those words and toward your own desperation for Jesus and his redemption.

Love,

Sadie Wilke