STUDENT PROFILE: Paige

     For many of our students, the obstacles in the weeks leading up to their arrival are significant. This was true for Paige. Prayers were offered up on her behalf - for God to make a way for her to come. Paige’s cousin Shauni had been a source of support for Paige through the years and had shared with her about the Ranch. Prayers were answered and Paige arrived at Christian Encounter last fall, in time to begin her senior year of high school.

     Before coming to the Ranch, Paige had heard Shauni share about her faith, about a God who loved her. Paige was drawn to her cousin’s words, but it wasn’t until she was at the Ranch that Shauni’s words truly came to life and Paige experienced communion with the living God. It was here that Paige knew peace and joy for the first time, here where her eyes were opened to her inestimable worth in Christ. Paige made a public profession of faith through baptism the day after she walked the stage to receive her high school diploma. Paige returned home to Washington state in June where she is beginning community college this fall. Below is an excerpt from her graduation speech:

​     It’s been a long time coming to get where I am today. Everyone says high school is supposed to be the best four years of your life. I think we have this idea in our heads that our high school experience is supposed to look like this wild exciting adven­ture. My high school experience was not at all what I pictured it would be. In the spring of my sophomore year Covid hit, so we had an early summer that year. In my junior year we only had online classes. Person­ally, school became more difficult. I ended up dropping out of high school. I was so far behind on credits even before Covid that there was no way I was going to graduate. I honestly didn’t see myself capable of getting a GED.

​     If it weren’t for the Ranch, I would not be up here today. I want to thank the teachers as well as the interns for loving me, support­ing me, and not giving up on me. The Ranch has not only helped me school-wise, but it’s helped me grow closer to Christ as well as learn to love, what a genuine friendship looks like, and how to speak up for myself. Thank you for pushing me.
- Paige