The Journey of the Men of the Graduating Class of 2025
Boys to Men
Becoming a man is not simply a matter of age or physical strength—it is about integrity. A boy does not become a man overnight, nor does it happen without struggle. It is through personal responsibility, determination, faith, and perseverance that he transforms, shapes his character, and defines his future. The journey of the four young men of the Show-Me Christian School (SMCS) Class of 2025 has been one of challenges faced and overcome. These principles mold boys into men of integrity, who will build a life not just for themself, but for those they will one day lead, serve, and protect.
An Answer for Everything
Learning to take personal responsibility is an essential part of becoming a man. A boy blames others for his mistakes, but a man accepts them, learns from them, and strives to do better. “Tony used to have an answer for everything, and it was never his fault,” recounted his housedad. With an abundance of energy, Tony struggled to focus at school and at home. Rather than facing his problems, he would avoid them. The sweet, adorable, caring boy would try to charm his way out of trouble to escape any consequences. “I used my smile and cuteness to get what I wanted,” confessed Tony.
Hidden underneath that smile was anger and frustration that he did not even realize. “I don’t remember much of my life before I was three and came to Show-Me with my (five) siblings, but it was bad,” stated Tony. “I didn’t trust people or want to let them in.”
Meeting with the counselors helped him to understand and talk about his past. Slowly, he became honest with himself about his struggles. Admitting it was not a sign of weakness, but of strength; now, he could get help. Sports and additional breaks helped him to get out some of his extra energy to be able to focus better. He put his energy towards sports and became a state champion in cross country.
Tony realized that the routine, discipline, and structure at
Show-Me helped him, not hurt him. He worked with his teachers to get the extra help he needed to turn his struggles into success in school. A boy may run from consequences, Tony determined to face them head-on and grow in the process.
Going Nowhere
No one succeeds alone. Learning to identify and use the resources God has placed around you is a crucial lesson a man must learn. Chayvin knew that he faced an uphill battle when he arrived at Show-Me. Skipping school and hanging out with the wrong crowd had left this 17-year-old with only a 5th-grade education. Graduating in two years seemed impossible. But he was determined. “I knew if I didn’t have my education, I was going to go nowhere,” stated Chayvin.
His Show-Me family explained to him that it wasn’t going to be easy, but they committed to helping him with every step. The next two years required twice the effort and endless sacrifices, but he refused to give up. Late nights, extra tutoring, and sheer determination brought Chayvin back on track to graduate in May. “Show-Me gave me a faith and will to push myself in every circumstance,” stated Chayvin.
Only One Savior
Becoming a man requires faith – faith in himself, in others, and most importantly, in God. He trusts that every trial has a purpose and that God has a plan for his life. For Drew, his senior year was supposed to be the culmination of years of hard work. His basketball teammates had named him captain. They looked to him for everything – on and off the court. He was their leading scorer, and after years of struggling, it finally looked like they might have a winning team. It was a lot of pressure, but Drew could handle it. He had big shoulders.
Early in the season, a broken leg shattered that dream. Suddenly, Drew could no longer do it on his own. He tried to carry their burdens as usual, but the physical and mental strain was exhausting him. “Their struggles and mine were killing me,” admits Drew. “Why would God allow this? I thought I was doing good with how hard I was working.”
In his helplessness, Drew’s perspective changed as he realized the “why” this setback was allowed to happen. His team needed the opportunity to find independence and learn to rely on each other. He needed to learn dependence on God and not rely on himself. It was ok to slow down and give himself time. Only Christ could be his teammates’ savior.
From Defiance to Determination
Becoming a man means learning to channel emotions into purpose. Tynnir arrived at Show-Me as an 11-year-old boy who didn’t talk much. He seemed frazzled and scattered in his new surroundings. “I didn’t want to be here,” remembered Tynnir. Angry and feeling like he had no control over his situation, he came across as stubborn and defiant. But in time, he found his footing. He made friends, learned the structure, and began to focus – not on the past or the future – but on what he could control: the present. His stubbornness shifted into determination.
Tynnir had always dreamed of becoming a soldier. Now, he was all in. He was willing to put in the work to make it happen. He poured himself into learning new talents like playing guitar, trained through sports to build his physical strength, joined the Criminal Justice program at the local college to earn extra certifications, and balanced a part-time job – all while staying on track to graduation. “Never once do we have to remind Tynnir of his responsibilities,” said SMCS Administrator Robin Blake. “He does it, and he does it well.” A man turns emotion into purpose—and purpose into progress.
Fuel to Success
The men of the Class of 2025 came from different struggles, but their stories share a common thread: resilience. They refused to be defined by their hardships and instead used them as fuel to succeed. As they take their next steps into the future, they carry not just diplomas but the hard-earned lessons of perseverance, responsibility, and the unwavering belief that if God is with them, they are capable of overcoming anything.