Welcome back, Paladins!

A Conversation With Rob Garcia, Class of 2011
Thanks for taking the time to speak with us.  You attended Fellowship for Middle and High School, correct? 

Yes, for grades 6-12.  I graduated in 2011.  

Any favorite teachers or memories from your Fellowship days? 
Mr. Morecraft (I suppose Dr. Morecraft now) remains the best educator I have ever had. I have always been a good writer, but most of the techniques and devices that set me apart in college and even today come from what he taught me. More than that though, he wove an incredible thread, teaching us about the text or the passages we read, about ourselves, about God, about history.  Dr. Morecraft made reading an experiential journey, and he made writing a creative and intellectual adventure. We were never told how to make sense of the theological questions in the Scarlet Letter, or the social anxieties in "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock", or the tragedy and conflict in "Popular Mechanics". But I remember these works because of the discussions we led and he facilitated in our class. I remember the comments my classmates made, the ways we tried to analyze and understand what the writer meant, the methods built into the text that brought the reader in and made us feel connected to the story. By making us better readers, Dr. Morecraft made me a better writer. And perhaps most remarkably, his was the only class I have ever had where no student sat on the sidelines. The most engaged and the most apathetic students were equally enthralled in the discussion, debating these ideas, challenging each other, and teaching one another. I can honestly say I scarcely remember much of what Dr. Morecraft said, himself, in any one of our classes--but I remember being excited for a class full of discussion every time I walked in, and inspired by what I learned every time I walked out.

After Fellowship, where did you attend college?  
I graduated with a degree in Finance from the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business at Auburn University in 2015

What is the greatest impact Fellowship made on you?
The greatest and most enduring gift of my Fellowship education is what I took for granted most at the time. The opportunity to read and study Scripture in a guided way by men and women of God is an unbelievable gift, and one that I am so grateful for now. My knowledge of Scripture, the verses ingrained in my memory, my understanding of concepts like sanctification and believer's freedom and irresistible grace, just to name a few, were all cultivated at Fellowship. Sometimes I struggled with the natural desensitization that can come from the fact that the privilege of studying the Word of God was reduced to 4th period between Biology and Spanish, and the value of corporate worship and fellowship was lost in the mundanity of Chapel on Thursday mornings. But I can still sing most of the songs that Mr. Bullington wrote for Scripture memory, which allows me to recall some of my favorite passages in Scripture. I still remember the heart for learning what God's Word had to teach us that Coach Kinsey instilled in each of us. When I left Fellowship, and the decision to remain involved in the church and in a community of believers was mine and mine alone, it was these blessings that helped me remember why it is so critical for our personal and spiritual growth.
 
What advice would you give to current Fellowship students on faith and pursuing their dreams?
As you prepare to leave high school, you have so many ideas of what is next and where you will end up. I know I did. And not only did none of those ideas turn out to be true, very few people I graduated with are doing now what they expected to be doing then. Graduation is seen as the end of something; in truth, it is the beginning of a journey that can go in so many directions. I had classmates who were excellent students in high school, but their college experience turned out to be the wrong fit--and now they have gained skills at a technical college and make far more money than I do (and without student loans to cover). I had classmates who were apathetic students in high school, but who excelled in college and found their stride. I remember being terrified in my first weeks at Auburn, wondering if I was in the right place or if I was going to be able to find community. Immediately, the Lord began putting people in my life, putting opportunities in front of me, closing doors that I thought I was going to walk through, and opening doors I had no idea I were in store for me. I thought I knew what my dreams were then--and perhaps in part I was right--but one thing my faith has taught me is that the Lord is actively working in our lives, and He is going to take us where He wants us whether we want it or not. 

I guess what I am saying is: dreams are important, and pursuing them teaches us so much; but faith is the foundation of our joy. I often hold two verses side by side when I think about this. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36) and "You make known to me the path of life; for in Your presence is the fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11). Often when we think about our dreams, we are thinking along the lines of the first one--seeking to have illustrious and successful careers, to be and be seen as successful, to have everything we need and everything we want. But these things, however valuable, are not, nor will they ever be, enough. But the Lord will show us what He has for us--and ultimately it is He who brings us the joy we seek, and He who will never fail to satisfy us. Our dreams on this earth are good and valuable, they help us set goals and have ambition. But our greatest gift is to be a vessel in the expansion of His kingdom and make His name known. 

How many years did you attend FCS? 
I attended Fellowship from 9^th through 12^th grade.

What were your favorite classes at FCS and why?
My favorite classes were AP Calculus with Ms. Topham and AP Psych with Mr. Hughes. I liked them because they were challenging and forced you to work hard, but Ms. Topham and Mr. Hughes also managed to make them fun at the same time.

Any favorite teachers or memories?
I don’t think I can pick a favorite teacher-I loved them all! But I will give special shoutouts to Mr. Morecraft and Ms. Topham because I had them for several classes and had such good experiences in all of them, and to Mr. Hughes because not only did I have him as a teacher but I also played soccer for him all four years at FCS and he always inspired me to work hard. I’ll never forget my AP Calculus class with Ms. Topham-there were only 4 students (including me) in that class, so we were able to move quickly and have fun in the extra time. Ms. Topham would bring up word puzzles and brain teasers on the projector at the beginning of Friday classes, and that was always one of the highlights of my week.

After FCS, where did you head to college?
I graduated from Georgia Tech with honors in May of 2018 with a BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering and a concentration in Supply Chain Engineering.

What impact do you think FCS made on you that you carry with you today? How did FCS prepare you for where you are today in your career?
FCS taught me to always work hard and strive to better myself in any aspect that I can-spiritually, academically, physically-anything. That mindset helped me at Georgia Tech and it definitely helps me in flight school.

What advice would you give to current FCS students on faith and pursuing their dreams?
I would say to never give up on what you want. When I got to Georgia Tech, I gave up on my dream of being a pilot for awhile. I didn’t think I would be able to accomplish it and so I decided to not even try for fear of failing. Then, after my second year at school there, I decided that I didn’t care how hard it was supposed to be or how much work it would take because I knew that I would always regret it if I didn’t go for it. So I prayed and studied hard, aced the pilot aptitude test and after three years in ROTC at Georgia Tech, I got selected for the aviation program. It was the best decision I could have made, and now I get to live out my dream every single day. So if you have a dream, go for it. If you want it badly enough and are willing to put in the time and effort, then you can make just about anything happen.