DEAR HEBRON...
a letter from bailey rogers

Thank you for everything. As graduation has been approaching, I have been filled with excitement to go on with the next chapter of my life, but the more it becomes reality the more my heart hurts just a little bit. Hebron is my home. I have spent more time here in the past 13 years than I have in my actual home. At one point, I would groan and complain about having to spend another summer in the school gym, and, now, I look back wishing I had just one more summer and school year to take it all in.

From kindergarten all the way to senior year, I have been poured into by all of you, from teachers and staff to faculty and administration. You all have helped me grow into the young adult I am today, and I cannot find any way to express my gratitude other than to write it out and share. Being at Hebron I have experienced many ups and downs, and I admit it was sometimes just little things, but every time I went to a teacher or staff member I never felt silenced. You all made me feel loved, heard, and cared for unlike any other. Some of you would give me the cold honest truth (you know who you are) and it was exactly what I needed and asked for. Despite the fact I would get a tad frustrated, I always came back thanking you for opening my eyes. I used to not like the idea of the school being so involved in students’ lives, but now… it is going to be the thing I miss most about this place. I wish I appreciated it more all these years. I do not know what my life would look like without Hebron, and I am very grateful I do not have to find out.

Thinking all the way back to kindergarten, I was in Mrs. Waters's class all the way at the old elementary. Now, she is the lower school principal. Then in fifth grade, I had Mrs. Wyman, who is now Dr. Wyman and the assistant principal at the lower school campus. This was the year I had my fifth grade walk, which is equivalent to the senior walk I will get to participate in this week.

I entered middle school and finally got to be a part of the Hebron cheer program, and, if you know me and my family, you know we are all about Hebron cheerleading. I wish I could share more memories from elementary and middle school, but that would turn this letter into a full-sized book. Needless to say, those years went by extremely fast because the next thing I know I am a freshman in high school. I finally got to be a part of the varsity sports (cheerleading, track and field, flag football, and soccer) while being at Hebron, and these are what blessed me with so many of my best friends. 
 

“Being in an environment where Christ is the center of everything from education to athletics impacted my life more than I could have imagined." bailey rogers

High school was filled with so much love and heartache, and being at Hebron truly helped me make the most of every moment and circumstance. Being in an environment where Christ is the center of everything from education to athletics impacted my life more than I could have imagined. I grew up in a Christian home, but I mean it when I say Hebron is what guided me in making my family’s faith my own. This past year, I made my faith my biggest priority and with this, I made sure to take advantage of every opportunity Hebron blessed me with to grow spiritually. 

Ignition is what really started me off strong this year. Getting to come together as a student body and grow closer to the Lord and each other was a moment I wish I could relive on repeat. Ignition this year was different, it felt unreal, and it felt like God moved more than ever compared to past years. And I cannot forget about spiritual emphasis week either. That was INSANE!! I thought God moved at ignition but He really showed up and showed out at SEW. 

This year revival happened at Hebron. Within the students, I witnessed revival firsthand, lives were being changed. I know it was God and His goodness, love, and mercy; but I do want to thank you, Hebron, for these opportunities. Hebron has given students countless opportunities to grow spiritually every day, in and out of the classroom. It does not matter how many students are moved, the fact that there is always one is more than enough. 

To my coaches, you all have supported me in and out of season for the past four years. No matter what sport I was in, you cheered me on in everything I did. You would push me to be my best and celebrate with me when I succeeded. Thanks to you I found love for sports I never thought I would play. You all have become role models to me in different ways, one being how to be a true leader while keeping Christ at the center. If it was not for all of you I would not have a deep desire to lead others, and I would not have learned what I was capable of physically. I hate not getting to be on one of your teams one last time, but I am forever grateful for all the memories. I love you all! 

To my teachers, you impact more lives than you can imagine. A good bit of you have gotten to watch me grow up here and others have only known me for a short period of time. Despite how long I may have known you, I trust you all. I may not have always been the best student, but I loved getting to have personal friendships with many of you outside of the classroom. 

To my elementary teachers, you helped me become comfortable in my own skin. And you are the ones that taught me the basics of Christianity. You taught me songs and allowed me to make crafts as a learning tool (which are now keepsakes at home). 

As for my middle school teachers, you all are the ones that had to deal with my awkwardness, and, for that, I am so sorry. I am grateful for my memories spent in the G building with you all. And, thanks to you, I was able to have an easy transition into high school. 

To my high school teachers, high school was hard for me, but you are the ones that helped me make it through. I do not know a time when I went to any of you one-on-one and felt invisible. I opened up to many of you about my struggles, and, it is because of your guidance, I was able to make it through a lot of my school days. I cannot be more thankful to have been placed in your classes. You always had my best interest, whether I saw that or not, and I appreciate it so much. God knew what He was doing when He gave me all of you.

And I want to give a special thank you to a few of my senior teachers. Dr. Pop, you challenged my faith by asking me questions I never thought I would need an answer to. You have helped me grow so much this year, and, because of you, I read extra deep into normal life topics on a philosophical level. You are easily, without a doubt, one of the wisest people I know, and I believe every school deserves their own Dr. Pop. 

Coach Arnold, you have been someone I look up to since freshman year. You have pushed me in the weight room and in my faith. I am grateful that when I would come to you with questions about the Bible instead of giving me the answer, you would guide me to think and figure it out on my own. And I admire your ability to think so analytically. 

Mr. McGinty, you have become a major role model in my life this past year, and I cannot thank you enough. I have enjoyed getting to dissect God’s word with you and studying what it means to have genuine faith. You influenced my faith greatly and my relationship with my friends. I have had hard conversations with you, and, at the end of each one, you helped me see from a new perspective rooted in Jesus. 

Mrs. Heiden, although I dropped out of English 102, I loved being a part of 101 first semester. This was my first year having you, but I could tell within the first week you would make an impact on me. You understood my story, and you encouraged me to share it with others. When I struggled to make sense of things, you helped me see the bigger picture. You helped me see what God was doing in me and using me for. You gave me the opportunity to turn my testimony into a first-semester project, and it was honestly one of my favorite things to do all year. 

Finally, Mrs. Turner, I am so happy I got closer to you this past year. You are a light in my life. When I see you, I see a God-fearing woman. Your faith is one I admire deeply, and I hope you never forget that. You are strong, and you are loved by your students. I know I am not the best at statistics by any means, so I am sorry about that, but I genuinely loved having you this year. You remind me a lot of my mom, so I feel really connected to you when we would speak. You have always been very understanding when I come to you, and I appreciate it more than you know.

To the faculty and administration, you all are the glue for this school. To the men that lead the carpool in the morning, you guys are the reason I make it on time to first period. And I apologize for asking you to move the cones frequently. 

Mr. Walker, you never fail to make me smile when you see me everyday and say “Hellooooo Mrs. Rogers!” Mrs. Cole, you are a ray of sunshine, and the face of this school. You care so much about all the students here and you are loved by many. 

Mrs. Grey and Mr. Reid, thank you for being involved in students' lives. You both are so fun to be around and just great people to talk to and receive advice from. Hebron is blessed to have you both. 

Mrs. Griffin, God bless your creativity! You have made the past couple of years filled with so much fun and fellowship. I thank you for keeping the student body close together. 

Mr. Rob, you are a saint. You build our schedules and help students excel academically, and I do not think I could have figured this college thing out without you. Mrs. Rob, you are a beautiful person and you brighten my days when I see you. Your faith is so strong and inspiring to see. I aspire to be a prayer warrior like you, and I am thankful to have your sweet soul in my life. 

Mrs. Blahnik, you hold the athletic department together. If it were not for you reminding me, I would have never turned in my sports uniforms and jerseys. I appreciate all the work you put in so that students can have the best experience as student-athletes. 

IT guys, I would not have made it through high school without y’all. You are the reasons I was able to print and turn my papers in on time. I thank you on behalf of my GPA. Mr. Pace, you are a magic worker with your camera and thanks to you I have amazing pictures that hold sentimental moments here at Hebron. 

And finally, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Annett, Mrs. Cortman, Mrs. Beth, and everyone behind the scenes, Hebron is lucky to have a team as amazing as you all. You lead this school, help build it up, and make it the best it can be. I thank God for all of you. 

To teachers I never had and administration, faculty, and staff I never got to know personally, you are role models. You are influencers. You are mentors. You impact lives and this school every day, and more than most times there will be students who remember that forever. Thank you for pouring into my friends, classmates, and future generations. 

You all have participated in making Christ the foundation of this school, and I pray you all never forget the daily impact you have on students here at Hebron. Thank you for impacting my life over the past 13 years. I love you all and am honored to be named an HCA Alumni! ♥️

“because of this place and all the people in it, i can move on to the next chapter of my life knowing who i am in christ."