Reflections from a PCS Graduate
By Colin Post ’18
Colin Post, PCS Class of 2018,
TCU Class of 2022
As I walk into my 9 a.m. “Introduction to Journalism” course, I calmly set down my things, get out my notes, and check my phone notifications before my professor arrives. To me, it’s just another day in class. Around me, I can hear my classmates whispering to each other and scrambling through their notes. Why? Every one of them is nervously practicing for the two-minute presentation we each were assigned to give that day. Of course, I had prepared as well, but a two-minute presentation was not something for me to sweat. As we each presented, I noticed my peers staring at the ground, speaking in muffled voices, and relying on notes. For them, college wasn’t a time to perfect their public speaking but literally to learn how to speak publicly.
This experience flashes me back two years prior to the fall of my junior year at Providence. That year, we were in Rhetoric class with Mrs. Berkhouse for the first time. This was where we began to see the culmination of our time at Providence—the Rhetoric stage. We would now be using the things we memorized in elementary school and learned the logic behind in middle school to speak and write well in an effort to sway others in the direction of our positions. Later in the year, this would come in the form of a 10-plus page junior thesis. For now, it looked like memorizing the famous Saint Crispin’s day speech written by the great William Shakespeare. At 50 lines, the speech is more than difficult to memorize. On top of that, each of us was required to present it in front of our class with emphasis and vigor. Now, this assignment was much more difficult than that two-minute presentation I gave during my freshman year of college, but the stressed-out, is-this-even-fair mentality that my college classmates had that morning was not the response that I saw from my classmates at PCS. We buckled down, memorized the speech, and presented it well. That is simply the culture that Providence fostered then and still does today.
Colin Post ’18 announcing football games for Providence Classical School when he was a student.
The ability to write and articulate things well in front of a crowd or group is not just important, it is vital for anyone who desires to be successful in the future. On top of memorizing Shakespeare, writing my junior and senior theses as well as countless other papers and presentations stretched me to my wit’s end at times in high school. But this struggle in my high schools years was for my benefit later in life. To this day, I have seen these skills benefit me in my time not only presenting in class but also interacting with professors, applying for jobs, and interviewing some of the Big 12 Conference’s premier athletes. As someone who is pursuing a career as a play-by-play announcer, I know the writing, speaking, and other skills that Providence instilled in me will help me separate myself from others in pursuit of my goals. While PCS did not give me the idea to become an announcer, it was during my time there that I discovered and grew in my skills as a communicator, thus furthering my interest in the career field.
“PCS taught me that life is about much more than my education or career. As a follower of Christ, my life is not my own. I need to live in the hope that the cross of Jesus Christ gives, living to honor God and bless others.”
Yes, Providence prepared me both for college and my career field. On the other hand, what is more important is that PCS taught me that life is about much more than my education or career. As a follower of Christ, my life is not my own. I need to live in the hope that the cross of Jesus Christ gives, living to honor God and bless others. Providence instilled that in me every day that I stepped on its campus. Time in homeroom was spent digging into God’s word and praying for each other. An hour every Wednesday was dedicated to worshiping the Lord together. Sports teams were taught to seek the glory of God over man, and each and every class was bent towards a reflection of the nature of God. Instead of turning my relationship with the Lord stale, this Christ-first atmosphere was refreshing, and it’s something I miss to this day.
With a focus on God came a vibrant and family-like community. My teachers and peers cared about what was going on in my life, not just my performance in the classroom or on the sports field. PCS cares about what students learn and who they become in Christ, not what they can do to raise the school’s reputation. At the same time, I was pushed to be the best man that I could be during my time at Providence. I faced supportive pressure (pushing me towards my goals while encouraging me) as opposed to suppressive pressure (highlighting my flaws as I seek a certain mark). I truly believe that this atmosphere was ultimately pivotal in the academic and athletic achievements that I have been blessed to see in my life.
Colin at his Thesis presentation with teacher and mentor Brad Finkbeiner.
One teacher whom I believe exemplified this concept exceptionally well is Mr. Brad Finkbeiner. I had Mr. Finkbeiner in both 11th and 12th grades for Ethics and Apologetics, respectively. As we walked into class, Mr. Finkbeiner would ask us about different aspects of our lives. For me, as an avid sports fan, that would often look like asking for my input on NFL games from the past weekend or whether I thought Michael Jordan or LeBron James was the better player. On the other hand, I specifically remember a time when Mr. Finkbeiner pulled me aside and told me that he believed that I had not lived up to my potential on an assignment. He didn’t put me down, but instead encouraged me to see the fruits of giving my best in all areas as Paul states in Colossians 3:23. I left that conversation with a mindset that I would never again turn in less than my best. Mr. Finkbeiner didn’t just care about getting us through his plans; he cared more about who we were as people and how well we were honoring our Lord and Savior. Even now, I make time to converse with Mr. Finkbeiner, along with other teachers, when I visit PCS because of the impact that he had on my life in just two years.
“PCS produces bonds that go beyond your time there. PCS produces bonds for life.”
In the same sense, the relationships that I made with my classmates at Providence are ones that will last lifetimes. While at PCS, we were “in it” together, supporting each other and working through hardships as a team. Whether it was studying as a group for Calculus, sitting together at lunch, cheering loudly in the volleyball student section, or hanging out off campus, I cherish each and every moment that I had with my classmates. We were a family. Though life has pulled us all over the country to our respective universities, in many ways, the class of 2018 is still a family. At TCU, I live with two of my former PCS classmates, and they still help me stay true to my faith. Others from my class check on me consistently and make efforts to see me when possible. Just last month, our class got together to enjoy a Friendsgiving. PCS produces bonds that go beyond your time there. PCS produces bonds for life.
In closing, if you’re considering coming to Providence Classical School, know that PCS is more than just a school with uniforms and a weekly chapel period. When you read that Providence calls themselves a “Christian school using the classical model to train students to impact their culture for Christ,” know that they mean it. Attending PCS means gaining relationships with teachers and peers who care about the things that truly matter. Attending PCS means learning from a curriculum that shouts glory to God on high. Attending PCS means finding opportunities outside of the classroom. Finally, attending PCS means being prepared to attack college academically and spiritually.
I will never forget my time at PCS, and I am forever grateful to the school for helping me become the man, journalist, and Christian that I am today.
Always ever upward, to the glory of God.
Colin Post graduated from Providence Classical School in 2018. He is currently a sophomore at Texas Christian University studying sports broadcasting and journalism. Colin is part of the John Roach Honors College at TCU and is a Chancellor’s Scholar. He serves as the sports editor for TCU 360 and is a contributing writer for Frogs O’ War publication of SBNation. In his free time, Colin is a K LIFE leader for 8th grade boys in Ft. Worth and a community group leader for the Encounter College Ministry at Doxology Bible Church.
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13
Read more here on the advantages of a classical and Christian education.
