Congratulations to our 30 seniors! Whether you have been studying in the U.S. for 1 year or 4 years, you are coming to the end of this important stage of your life. Graduation is the culmination of years of challenging work, and your path is even more remarkable as you have navigated through it in a different culture and second language.
The Tour de France is a 23-day, multi-stage bicycle competition covering 3,500 kilometers. Each stage is 1 day long and consists of an average of 170 kilometers (about 105.63 mi). There are 6 flat stages, 7 hilly stages, and 6 mountain stages. For some of you, high school has been “flat” and relatively easy, while for others, school has been like climbing a mountain. For the majority, high school has been a combination of high moments and low moments, culminating this month with graduation.
We at American Home Life International (AHLI) are proud of the effort you have put forth to reach this milestone of graduation. Like the Tour de France, life consists of stages, and your journey is not ending but is only continuing onto the next phase of adulthood. Our hope is that your time with AHLI has helped mature you into a responsible, caring, global-minded young person. Your teachers, AHLI Directors, and Coordinators, as well as host families have been praying for you as you “cycled” your way through school. As you look forward to the next stage of your life, we will continue to pray you experience God’s presence in your life. The Bible talks about the race of life in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27: You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s eternally gold. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No lazy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
As you continue your race into university, don’t grow tired! But also, don’t race for just material things, like gold that doesn’t last. Think about eternity and make life choices that will have impact beyond this life. We will be cheering you on as you continue your race.
Sincerely,
Tiffanee M. Wright, MA, MPH | Executive Director
AHLI – International Education and Homestay
I’m pleased to also pass on other words of congratulations:
Congratulations to all those who will be graduating from high school this year! It hasn’t always been easy to study in a language which is not your native tongue! But you have persevered and come out on top! Well done! You should be very proud of yourselves. Remember this is not the end but just a steppingstone to greater things. I wish you all the best as you go on to college and pursue your life’s dreams. For those who know Jesus as their Savior, you have a sure Guide who will be with you all the way, just make sure you connect with Him every day! For those who don’t know Jesus in a personal way, He is waiting to meet you!! Many blessings!
– David Lindhiem, AHLI Director
