Hey Mr. Tonkinson!
Firstly, I hope everything is going well. I receive The Vision from Valley and try
to keep up with news from home. It seems everything is going well at Valley which is most definitely a blessing.
More importantly, I want to take the time to thank you for being such a great Bible teacher. I do not think I ever properly thanked you nor did I ever show my appreciation during my time at Valley. I learned many valuable lessons that are applicable in my life today. Your lessons on leadership have carried me thus far at the Naval Academy. Learning to follow before I can lead has been imperative and given me success as a Plebe at the Academy. I definitely took my time at Valley for granted. If I could go back and change my attitude towards Valley at times, I definitely would. Without a doubt I miss the relationships I built at Valley the most.
The most valuable, however, has been Scripture memory. While at Valley, I found Scripture memory as tedious and sometimes just as “another homework assignment”. I committed it to memory because I knew it was the right thing to do. I memorized it every week because I knew I should rejoice in having the ability to memorizing verses. Perhaps I did not memorize the Scripture verses for the right reasons, but I cannot express how thankful I am to have Bible teachers that pushed me to memorize such verses. In the real world, I cannot express how many times these verses have come in handy. I cannot begin to explain how powerful it is to recite Scripture from memory, especially to nonbelievers.
It almost seems as if being a Christian at Valley was easier. I was surrounded by godly men and women daily. I had incredible role models to look up to and aspire to be one day. My faith went up and down throughout the trials of what is known as Plebe Year at the Academy. God always pulled me out of the worst times. On a bad day, I remember a verse and feel uplifted immediately. Verses I have memorized have not only helped others learn about Jesus, but also helped me during the hard times. I have learned that the discipline instilled upon me for memorizing Scripture verses is invaluable. Applying myself in Bible class may be the most rewarding thing I ever did at Valley. If I could give a piece of advice
to any current or future Valley student, it would be to take the education you are blessed with upon yourself, and to give Bible class everything you have because one day, you will toss your cap in the air and it will be over. You will find yourself in a new and foreign place without the support you once had. And something will have to get you through and that something is God. During Plebe Summer, I did not have the time to open a Bible or find new verses to support me. I memorized verses before I left that I knew would give me motivation to make it another day.
I guess in conclusion, I want to say thank you. Thank you for being a godly example to all. You inspired me to take my faith upon myself, and I am learning how valuable that is in the long run. I know God placed me where I am to share His message and to expand His Kingdom. To believe anything different is absurd. I was given this opportunity to attend a service academy to bring light to such a dark world. I would not be where I am without Valley and without having such amazing teachers. I would not be able to advocate for God effectively if I did not have the experience I did for the past four years. Truly, I am beyond thankful to have been blessed to have had you as my Bible for two years.
Very Respectfully,
Skylar A. Cavanaugh
MIDN USN