What did you do after Valley? Where did your life take you? 

After I graduated from Valley, I immediately did my first year of college at GCU. Due to some personal and family issues, I withdrew and did my next year of college online and worked full time. I was hired on as a Coach in 2021 to help the Esports program that I had played in my senior year grow and develop into a competitive program, which I still do today.

Tell us a little about your daily work:

My current job is IT Specialist 1 for Valley Christian Schools, working full time as the front line for IT help for both students and teachers with an emphasis on iPads and computers. On top of this, I coach the Varsity Rocket League team for the Esports program here at the school.

What’s one surprising thing we don’t know about you?

One surprising thing most people don’t know about me is that I played soccer for 13 years before I decided to stop after graduating high school.

While you were at VCS, which teachers, coaches or classmates had the biggest impact on you?

Three people come to mind immediately. The first, Marianne Heim. She was my Choir and Chorale director for my 4 years of HS and she was the most kind and compassionate teacher ever. She was forgiving when you made mistakes and never brought it up after to make you feel bad. Second, Dave Anderson. He was my History teacher at the time and he had a way of drawing you into the lessons and making things not seem boring. He is down to earth and always made sure we were doing okay before we started with anything. Finally, Alex Connally. He was our Soccer coach for the 2018-2019 season and his knowledge of soccer was incredible. He took a team that had zero direction and turned us into a well oiled machine that was extremely competitive, which was impressive. One of the best coaches I had in my 13 years of playing soccer.

How do you stay connected with your friends from Valley and with VCS?

I don’t talk to many of my friends from HS, but the ones I do still talk to either go to my church, or I just text them. It is good to see that a few of my friends have grown in the Lord and really matured as believers living in a sinful world.

What’s one lasting memory you have of VCS?

Nothing beat getting released early from school for a soccer game and driving to the middle of nowhere with your full team in a bus to go play a game!

Do you have any advice for current students?

While maturing is needed, don’t try to force growing up. The second you graduate you will realize how great the last few years were, and how bad you want to go back and change mistakes and other circumstances that happened. But the front windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror for a reason. Be thankful for the time you had, and look back on it occasionally, but always have your eyes looking forward to the future, especially with God.