Are you interested in getting closer to God? Or in growing your relationship with Him? Starting this semester, there will be a Christian club happening at East High hosted by Sheila Hernandez, East Heritage Spanish teacher. This club started on Monday Sept. 23. This club meets every Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. in room 1065M.
“The inspiration comes from the students themselves who had a special connection with me, and we shared many things in common as believers. Also, from Puerto Rico, where I grew up and attended school, the believing students would gather together to share and do different activities,” adviser Sheila Hernandez said.
Lots of students have formed strong relationships with Hernandez. She is familiar with the community of believers because she attended gatherings and activities when she lived in Puerto Rico. Also, she is a believer herself.
“Since I was 13, I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, and since then my faith and trust has been in Him. I can say that my relationship with God grows stronger every day, since in the midst of everything I have experienced, I have seen how He has sustained me and helped me get to this point. I am a witness to the power and love of God, and everything I have and everything I am I owe to Him,” Sheila Hernandez said.
Hernandez is happy that students feel comfortable enough with her to talk about something that is important to them and to give back that favor she has helped open this door for this club.
“I think it’s because the students chose me. Together we have built a good relationship, and they have felt confident in creating this club and I support them. That trust gave them the opportunity to have a voice and opened these doors so that as young people of faith they can share with other students and do activities that enrich them spiritually,” Shelia Hernandez said.
This trust between Sheila Hernandez and the students has opened doors for this club to blossom at East High. Giving students a place outside of church to practice their faith.
“I would say, I’ve always grew up around Him, understanding his story and meaning behind the Bible. I’ve learned and grown through his words. Always believe that he’s going to do great things for me in life,” junior Ywarhay Tha said.
Tha believes that by joining this club, she will grow in her faith and connect with others.
“I do plan on joining this club and a benefit of this is, I can still be close to God even when I’m at school, knowing that there are others who believe and trust in Him just like me,” Tha said.
The students believe The Lord answers so many of their questions and because of this they feel a never-ending peace. Everyone has their own relationship with Christ.
“Well, my relationship with God is very peaceful he is someone I always can rely on when I am lost or feel lost or feel some type of way about small or big problems, He’s shown me and made me understand why things are the way they are through the people I’ve lost and loved very much,” senior Angel J. Hernandez said.
Angel Hernandez plans to benefit from this club by bringing more youth to God.
“I would benefit from this by bringing more youth to God and show them how he’s changed me and how he can do the same with them,” Angel J. Hernandez said.
Learning to love God and learn His truth is a journey. Sometimes believers can get off track but that is one hundred percent normal.
“I think it’s good, but it can definitely be better as of lately I haven’t been praying as much so I need to get closer to him for sure,” junior Derek Reyes- Cisneros said.
It’s a goal for East to have clubs that every student can feel welcomed in. Where they can benefit from and make an impact.
“Students benefit greatly from being in a club. Not only is there a direct connection between involvement in a club and academic achievement, but you learn so much about who you are as a person, see your skills develop, laugh, connect with others, and improve your mental health,” Associate Principal Steven Leib said.
The adults here at East make it a priority for students to feel a sense of belonging.
“Students need to feel like they matter, that they’re valued, and that they belong at school. Whether it’s getting involved in a sport, chess club, theater, crochet, a faith-based club, badminton, or more, students need to feel like there is a place they can go express themselves and be a part of something they’re passionate about. Besides all that, there is a direct connection between students’ involvement in clubs and activities and their academic success,” Leib said.
When hitting milestones, like having a child it can encourage people to get closer to God.
“My relationship got stronger after having kids, I wanted to do things right,” teacher Joleen Weller said.
For the service of humanity is not only East’s motto but Weller believes it also relates with her faith.
“The biggest things I get from my relationship with God is that we are to love and serve other people and I believe that aligns perfectly with our school motto “For the Service of Humanity “ and one of the reasons that motto means so much to me. If we all learn to live outside of ourselves and instead in Service to others our school community and the world will have no choice but to become a better and happier place to live,” Weller said.
A lot of people experience things they thought would break them but had God by their side and had faith which got them through what they thought was impossible to overcome.
“I have experienced things I know came from God to make my faith stronger,” student success worker Larry Johnson said.
The staff at East want students to be engaged and feel heard.
“Get involved, you won’t regret it,” Leib said.