Gratitude from the students at the end of Year 6 (2013-2014)
Dear Sponsor,
Hello, my name is Suzannah Guthrie. I am a senior at The Link School and this is my second year to be blessed to attend. I am from Wichita, Kansas, but before I came to Link, I was a boarding student at The Principia. When I was there, I was a cross-country runner, as well as a dancer. There was a great deal that I learned, and I grew too, but I soon felt that I was no longer being pushed to be the best that I could be, which is what prompted me to apply to Link in the first place, and what an experience I have had.
In the past year, there is so much that I have valued, the experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met, the growth I have achieved. A something in particular that I would like to share is the strength and courage I learned to express throughout the field programs we took this year. Every field program we took this year pushed me to be my best and my strongest. A good example is our trip in October, running Desolation Canyon in hard shell and inflatable kayaks. It took all of everything we had to keep moving down river in the rain and wind, and even after I swam a class three rapid, I stayed calm and still able to help the group with the task at hand. Later in the year, I had chances to prove myself over and over again, climbing Independence tower, mountain biking difficult routes in Fruita, Colorado, even leading a trip in which all the students went out on three day solos, despite weather conditions that were not ideal. Those experiences have truly meant the world to me.
Being a Link School student is so much more than just going on field programs, experiencing it and moving on. Being a Link School student changes you as a person. Before I came here, I would describe myself as ungrateful, self-centered, and self-loathing. There is a worldview that this is how all teenagers act, but over the last two years, I’ve learned that that could not be farther from the truth. Link taught me to apply the Sunday school answers that I’ve known my whole life, to know that I am no less than God’s perfect reflection, that the world really is my oyster, and that with enough determination, courage and wisdom, I can follow the path that God has laid out for me and expect only good. The growth and wisdom I have gained over this last year and the year before is priceless, but thanks to you, it was possible for me. Thank you.
Sincerely, Suzannah Guthrie
Dear Sponsor,
My name is Kelemn. Being at The Link School this past semester has been an amazing experience. I had no idea I would grow so much in just one semester. There are so many opportunities here to take advantage of, and I was so excited to find out that I was able to go kayaking, skiing every Friday after school, and most of all that I was able to do pottery. I had taken a pottery class my freshman year, and hadn’t got the opportunity to continue ceramics until this semester when I arrived at Link! David Bailey helped me get back into the swing of things, and I am so grateful that I got to make so many pieces.
I wouldn’t have been able to experience all these great moments here at Link if it wasn’t for your help, and I am so very grateful for that. It means so much to me that I was able to be a part of this wonderful school.
I couldn’t begin to tell you how much I have grown since the beginning of this semester. This amazing environment, surrounded by Christian Scientists, let me explore my spiritual identity and really find out who I am. I really enjoyed spiritual prep every morning, where it allowed the students to start their days with Christian Science and a good idea to bring with you throughout the day. Again I am so grateful that you allowed me to have this amazing opportunity to come to Link. Thank you.
Warmly, Kelemn
Dear Sponsor,
My name is George Winter and I’m from Derby, England. I’m a senior and fourth year student here at Link. Being at Link for the whole of high school has completely changed who I am. I cannot express enough gratitude for the sponsors that make Link possible.
This year has been an extremely busy one for me, both in and out of the classroom. I applied and was offered a place at university, I had a successful year of academics and I learnt and developed many skills on expeditions, including learning how to roll a kayak.
I have seen a lot of change in this year in particular. Not only have I been able to make radical change in the way I work with academics and have them be much more successful, but I’ve been able to see my own potential as a student, which is definitely something I was lacking earlier.
Thanks again for all your support.
Sincerely, George Winter
Dear sponsor,
This first year at link has been an absolutely amazing experience throughout this year. I have learned so much about self-confidence and how to handle various situations. For this being my first year at Link, I think that this will definitely leave a huge, positive impact on my life. What I have been working on this year is sushi and how to make it. Being able to make sushi and improve on my cooking skills has really been amazing for me. Once again I would like to thank you for giving this gift of Link.
Sincerely, Shepherd Momo LeVan
Dear Sponsor,
My name is Rocky Kemper and I am a senior at The Link School in Buena Vista, Colorado. I am one of three students that are from Buena Vista locally. I love to fish, hunt, rock climb, mountain bike, and do many other outdoor activities. I went to the public school in Buena Vista for two years, then I came to Link my junior year because the public school system was not a good fit for me.
There have been many moments that I have truly valued this year. Many of the expeditions have had hilarious moments. There have also been some rough spots that we have had to get through. All of these have been learning experiences that I will use for the rest of my life.
This year at Link, I have also learned an infinite number of different skills. Some of these could include bettering my organization skills, integrity, and work ethic. I was not satisfied with who I was as a person when I first came to Link. I did not have a sense of integrity or work ethic. Throughout these past two years at Link, I have finally become confident with my personal ability in these two qualities.
Dear friend,
Thank you so much for your support in my education. My name is Tailor Boucher and I am a graduating senior this year at Link. I’m writing this letter to let you know that you have contributed to the most beautiful gift imaginable: growth and experience that has changed my life.
When I look back on the two years I’ve had at Link, I am amazed at the opportunity that was given to me. The backcountry expeditions have fuelled my love for adventure and becoming closer to our sweet earth. I am confident in my skills as an outdoors person, and in particular, I feel a closer relationship with nature that I am sure will be a driving factor in my life to come.
One thing that I am very, very happy and grateful about is how my Spanish skills have improved. Coming into the year, I was a Spanish 1 student, learning numbers and colors. Now, two years later, I have moved through Spanish 3/4 and am planning to pursue a focus in Spanish in university. I know, that if I had tried learning Spanish in any other setting, I wouldn’t have grown nearly as much as I have the past two years. Having the opportunities to travel to Spanish speaking countries and learn in a truly experiential manner has been the largest catalyst for learning the language.
Traveling internationally has been something that I am brought to tears by. I am moved with emotion when I think of how I have learned about the world and myself though experiencing life beyond my home. Two years ago, I wouldn’t have pictured myself scaling a glaciated, Andean peak in Peru, or having Spanish conversations with friends that I had made in Mexico.
Speaking of Mexico, this year I had the opportunity to go on a senior project, which was volunteering in Baja California Sur as an assistant English teacher in a non-profit, afterschool, English program. It was the first time that I had travelled internationally by myself, and I cannot begin to describe just how moving that experience was. I felt a sense of freedom and hope that was unknown to me, and grew immensely as a person, teacher, and traveler.
I came into this school experience as child, but now I have been molded and shaped into wiser child of life. Thank you so very, very much my friend. I say friend, because you have helped bring such incredible good into my life. God bless you, I and I wish you the best that there is. My door is always open to you, and my heart is even more so.
Best of wishes—Tailor Jude Boucher
Dear Sponsor,
Hello, my name is Emma Oyer. I am from Buena Vista, Colorado and this is my first year at The Link School as a junior. I came to The Link School to try a different way of learning. I had heard about Link’s project based learning and was interested to experience what Link alumni had told me about. And my expectations were far exceeded, even in my first week of school. I was able to understand more then what I had before, and that’s when I knew it would be a good school year.
While here I have been introduced to numerous different activities that I had only dreamed of learning before. Snowboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking, and rafting are some new additions to my sports list and I cannot wait to grow in these activities my senior year. Everyone at Link was so supportive of me when I was first starting to learn how to try these activities. I was given so many tips from staff and students that after only a couple days I felt like I was a pro. Going into next year I feel confident that I can help the new students understand how to be successful in climbing, biking, etc.
I have valued my experiences at The Link School but one activity Link has truly supported me in was my strengthening of my passion – horseback riding. I have been riding horses for years over at the Adventure Unlimited Ranches, and with coming to Link I had planned on riding horses as much as I could. All year Link gave me the resources I needed to achieve my goal. I was able to ride all year, attend a Polocrosse tournament in Texas, and lastly, buy my own yearling so I could train him my senior year. Link has given me opportunities I did not believe were possible, and because of you I am able to go to this amazing school. So thank you for your donation. It has meant the world to me and changed my life forever.
Sincerely, Emma Oyer
Dear Sponsor,
My Name is Sarah DeNicholas. I am from St. Louis, Missouri and am a senior this year at Link. I have been here for two years and could not be more grateful for each experience I’ve been able to have. I am so very grateful for your donation to my education that allowed me to return to Link for my final year of high school.
I have loved each activity I have been able to learn here. One of the things I’ve really enjoyed doing is kayaking. On our first river trip of the year in Desolation Canyon, I was very uncomfortable being in a hard-shell kayak. I had flipped once before and was afraid of it happening again. I continued to work through this challenge metaphysically and eventually became unafraid of larger rapids and at the thought of flipping. I also began to develop a love for kayaking and couldn’t wait to get back on the water each day, and for the rest of the year after that trip. This is one of the many experiences I am deeply grateful to have been able to have.
The Link School has taught me more than I could have possibly imagined, and I can honestly say I would not be the same person if I had not had the opportunity to come here. Each different experience has shown me something new about my relationship with God, and I have made extensive progress with my spiritual growth. I will be forever grateful for my experience at Link, and for your donation that allowed me to come here. Thank you for your support of my incredible education here.
Sincerely, Sarah DeNicholas
Dear Sponsor,
My name is Astrid and I am a junior at The Link School. I am wrapping up my second year and am enjoying every minute of it. Illinois is my home, but I also consider Colorado home because I have been coming to Buena Vista/Colorado since I was young. In my free time I enjoy reading, climbing, and riding horses.
This year I really valued the expeditions we went on. I do not think there was one that did not push me and I did not learn from. All are invaluable to who I am. For example, I helped lead the horse pack trip we went on in the Fall, and through that experience I learned new leadership skills and how to problem solve better.
I have grown a lot this year. It has not been an easy year for me, but I have learned a lot as a result. One of my main struggles this year has been Calculus and finishing it on time and getting a grade that I am happy with. I finished the second semester in less than half the time it took me to complete the first. I learned that through hard work and determination I can accomplish almost anything.
Because of you I am able to grow exponentially each year and become the person I want to be. Thank you!
Astrid List
Dear Sponsor,
My name is Alex Jones and I have been coming to Link for three years now. This is my senior year. I’m from Pueblo Colorado. I came to Link because public school wasn’t working for me. I was more focused on friends and not academics. When my freshmen year was over, I came to Link, and my grades started to improve. The teachers here have helped me improve my grades each year. I have also been able to ride horses a lot, which is my favorite thing to do on project time opportunities.
Something I have gotten out of this year is being able to train a horse. During the process of the training I learned a lot about myself. I thought that riding involved sitting on a horse and going along for the ride. Since I have been training for the last four mouths I was able to train a horse that had some problems to fix. All the problems have been fixed. Being able to work with my horse has been something that I have valued the most.
What I got out of this project is not being afraid of horses. I love horses and I also have had some bad injuries from riding different horses. This project helped me get over those fears and become more of a confident rider. I also want to be a horse trainer and training this horse has helped my riding skills get better. I have loved my experience here at Link and I will never forget it. Thank you for making in possible for me to come here.
Sincerely, Alex Jones
Dear Sponsor,
Howdy, my name is Clara Oyer. I am a junior at The Link School and this was my first year at Link. I am from Buena Vista, Colorado. I came to The Link School because I discovered that experiential learning is a way to keep me interested in classes. Going out and doing expeditions while learning has taught me to grow as a student and help me discover what I’m capable of academically.
We just recently got off an alpine mountaineering expedition. I was really concerned about this expedition because it was going to be physically demanding. On the fourth day of the trip I was feeling really tired and it was our last day to attempt a peak. We were hiking Mt. Etna, which is a mountain next to the Lost Wonder Hut where we were staying. When we were hiking the mountain, any fear or idea that I was sore or to tired or was unable to hike Etna was gone. The group of students and staff that I hiked up with shared so much joy and love towards the group that everything went very harmoniously. We peaked Etna later that morning. Being able to go and peak a mountain with the amazing group was a marvelous way to end the year.
The Link School and the people here have taught me a lot about how to be a joyous loving person. Everyone giving and sharing that love towards each other has strengthened our compassion towards each other. Trying to peak that mountain wouldn’t have been as easy if we didn’t support everyone there. I’m so grateful for everyone here. I’m sad the year has to end but I know that next year I will learn something new that will help me to become a stronger individual. Thank you so much for supporting me at being here at The Link School. The experiences I have had here have meant the world to me.
Sincerely, Clara Oyer
Dear Sponsor,
My name is Sam Davis I am a junior from St. Louis, MO, and have attended the Link school for the past 2 years.
I have spent these past two years doing many different things that have made me excited and helped my growth. Some of the things that I have really enjoyed, are our biking trips, the service work time, and our river trips. The biking has really helped with my determination and improved my balance and patience with learning new skills. With the service work I found a sense of home in working with my hands much like I do at home. With our river trips I found new ways to find peace and calm in the river.
These past two years I have been working a lot on my integrity and on my outward appearance, making sure I don’t put out a sense of hate or frustration when I am walking around and interacting with others. While it has been tough to tackle these issues, the community here has helped me a tremendous amount and these issues have gone away and I am more happy and have been able to really address the underlying problems that were there waiting to be healed.
Thank you again,
Sam Davis
Dear Sponsor,
As a senior here at Link I’ve been given innumerable opportunities to grow spiritually and as a person. I am incredibly excited for everything that will come after Link, and feel that this opportunity has set me up for the continuation of success I know will follow.
This year, I’ve had many experiences that have been the laboratory of the growth I’ve seen. They have come in struggles on expeditions and in daily life at school. The most poignant of the experiences I’ve had in the outdoors came while kayaking. As an A/U rafting camper of four years, I thought I had an understanding of the river—to me, everything I heard about the river made sense. For me, kayaking was incredibly humbling because I thought I was comfortable on the water, yet every one of my kayaking experiences seemed absolutely frustrating. One of the community principles this year was patience, and after a particularly humbling day on the river I realized that I needed to be patient with myself and let God do the work. As the year progressed I continued to work on my kayaking skills at every opportunity and found that every time I stepped back to let my boating be an expression of God, I boated well and comfortably. However, anytime I got back into feeling like it was all up to me, I would have a rough day. In the end, I felt much more confident about my kayaking ability because I realized that my abilities aren’t my own, they are expressions of God.
As I look to the future, I know that I am heading into a largely unknown world, but the experiences I have had at Link will put me in position to succeed whatever I face. Next year, I will be going to school at Quest University in Squamish, British Columbia and I can’t wait to bring the lessons I’ve learned into practice in a brand new experience.
Your donation has been essential to my time at Link, and I’m eternally grateful for what you have done for me.
Love, Kevin Wood
Gratitude from the students in the middle of Year 6 (2013-2014)
Dear Sponsor,
My name is Kevin Wood. I’m a senior from Arvada, Colorado. My favorite things I do at Link are climbing, snowboarding, boating, and mountaineering. I came to Link because the school I was in was all about going through the motions and getting out of school as fast and efficiently as possible. I was tired of memorizing facts and spouting them for tests, and I was tired of not valuing my own educational experience. For me, coming to Link was about finding my own spirituality again, actively engaging in my own education, and finding the good in myself and others.
This semester I have worked a lot on finding the good in myself every day, something that has been a real challenge in my life. I have also worked to address and be free of numerous physical challenges that I have let be a part of my life for too many years. I’ve found that in the moments where I know that I have been expressing God’s grace and purity, I have found myself able to move beyond challenges that had seemed impossible to move beyond. I’ve also found that when I’ve been actively expressing that grace, I have also been able to truly value myself and through that, value the others around me.
In my experience at Link, I have gained a sense of self worth that has completely changed my life. I feel confident in who I am, and I feel comfortable putting myself out there to try new things and learn new things. I am also able to truly move beyond the surface and love my peers for their true nature. Being here has helped me to be increasingly loving and harmonious in my experiences with my peers, something that before had been a real challenge.
I’m grateful every day for the opportunity that I have had in being a student at this incredible school. I’m grateful for the way that it has allowed me to come into my true self and express Love, in the truest sense. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Your donation makes this possible for me.
Kevin Wood
Dear Sponsor,
Hi, my name is Suzannah Guthrie and I am a senior and this is my second year at The Link School. I come from Wichita, Kansas. I have loved Christian Science my entire life, and attended Christian Science summer camp since I was little which later lead to my decision to attend The Principia and then Link. Also, I have always loved adventure. As a child, I always dreamt of slaying dragons and saving the day from unspeakable evil. Now, my goal in life is to do something truly remarkable and revolutionary, and Link has done so much to help me with that.
So far, this semester, we have done some pretty extraordinary things. We’ve already been on 4 amazing expeditions this year. First, we hiked right out of school and took a 5-day backpacking trip just to get to know each other. We attempted a peak called West Apostle, and though we didn’t make it to the top because of the weather, it was absolutely beautiful. That was also a great chance to learn about glaciers’ effects on the mountains from our science teacher, Preston Larimer. Next we backpacked up to a ski hut to do some service work. That was a really fun trip, because not only did we get to spend a weekend together in a wonderful ski hut in the back county, but we also got to give back a little to the community by splitting wood for the winter and doing some maintenance on the cabin. Our next trip was probably my favorite so far this year. We boated Desolation canyon, self supported, in kayaks and IKs (inflatable kayaks). I learned more from this trip than I had learned from any trip in the past. I learned about teamwork when I captained a double IK, having to direct the person in front of me as to what to do, when they were the only one who could see. I learned about facing my fear when I kayaked a class 3 rapid, when I knew if I rolled over, I could not roll back over again. We learned about helping strangers, when 4 canoe-men became stranded and they needed our assistance when they had nothing to give us in return. Desolation Canyon is an unforgettable place for me. Our most recent trip we went on was a mountain biking climbing extravaganza in and near Fruita, Colorado. There, I learned how mountain biking, a sport I was not particularly fond of, can be ridiculously fun. I also climbed my first multi pitch climb, Independence Tower.
I have also accomplished some other things on my own that I believe are noteworthy here. In November, I did my first overnight solo on the ridge line in preparation for the culmination of my senior project on self reliance, which will be a multi day walking solo in May. Also, after much work on studying of the SAT and on college apps, I received my first college acceptance letter.
Over just the past year, I have learned so much across the board. Not only have I grown academically, but socially and spiritually as well. This last year, I have received more support than I could have ever hoped for, from the staff and students, in my college application process, and my decision to take demanding math and science courses. I have had the opportunity to be a role model for new students coming into the community, learning to really know what it means to help others and do what is right. Also, I have had more opportunities to grow spiritually than I have ever had before, whether it be through praying through physical challenges and limits, or learning more about my spiritual identity daily, I know each day holds new occasions for spiritual growth. As far as what I have brought to the community, I have shared my passion for life and desire to always do good and to “be excellent to each other.” Also, I have been able to share what I learned from last year and be a leader in the community as a returning student.
Thank you so much for all that you have given to this community. It is truly been a beautiful experience for me that would not have been possible without your generosity.
Suzannah Guthrie
Dear Sponsor,
My name is George, just after my 14th birthday, I said goodbye to my family in England and basically everything I’ve ever known and set off for a new life in the States. My life at that point was just a slippery slope leading to disaster. I was making all the wrong decisions with all the wrong people; school was a chore, and I hated every second of it. I needed radical change and Link seemed like my best option, but I didn’t really realize how big of a change it would have on me. I have been here for the last 4 years, and it has completely shaped who I am and what kind of person I want to be in life.
Although Link has completely changed who I am, the academic side of things has always been a challenge. This semester I have come to see that this was just an illusion, hiding my true self. My GPA has risen from being in the low 2’s to a 3.2, this has been a key moment in my life and has reminded me never to give up on myself. I also got the opportunity to work on my kayak roll, which I succeeded on multiple times, this took me 4 years to achieve and has made me incredibly happy.
I have really been working on the community principle of patience; patience has always been a challenge for me and it is incredibly important to this community. I wouldn’t have even thought of applying this to my life if it wasn’t for Link. Thank you so much for all your financial help over the past years. You have honestly changed my life and so many others and I can’t even begin to express my gratitude.
Thanks, George
Dear Sponsor,
My name is Sam Davis; this is my second year here at this wonderfully life changing school. I am a junior in high school, but considering that this is my last year at Link I am dedicating myself to giving back to the school just as much as they have given me, both in opportunities for personal growth and in the life lessons I have learned here.
I love to mount bike and push my self to my physical limits. This semester I have honed in my mountain biking skills, and have enjoyed every one of our trips so far. I have also been developing my meditative skills to try and calm my mind enough to truly listen to what God wants to tell me and not just fall into the habit of always asking. I have been working very hard on trying to bring my grades up from some disappointing GPA’s earlier in high school up to a position that will help put me in a good place when applying for college.
This year I have been gaining more and more insights on both spiritual topics, and also life skills. I have not focused so much this year on trying to gain from the school, but I have been more focused on giving back. Some of the ways I have been giving back this year are doing chores that don’t normally get done without anyone noticing that way it is not in a way that draws attention to myself, and also I have been giving of myself on our trips so that others can be fully energized and happy even on the more strenuous days.
I thank you very much for helping my come back to this beautiful school.
-Sam Davis
Dear Sponsor,
My name is Rocky and I am a second year student at the Link School this year. Some of my main passions in life include fishing, hunting, and mountain biking. Interestingly enough, two of these three passions were activities that Link staff introduced me to and got me involved in. I am a very hands-on type of learner and the public school in Buena Vista didn’t suit my needs; then Link became a possibility.
I have worked on the idea of integrity this semester at Link. Last year I did not come into Link with a satisfactory understanding of integrity; I lied to get through most things and didn’t admit to things I had lied about. Throughout this semester, my understanding of integrity has increased at an exponential rate. I don’t lie anymore, and even if I do, I catch myself before any harm can be done.
I have also worked to take my academics in school more seriously. I am proud to state that I have been accepted to two colleges already; Montana State University in Bozeman and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. I have focused more on the little things that can determine the outcome of my grade such as homework and participation. These two years at Link have shown me who I am and who I could become.
Throughout these two years at Link I have learned more about whom I truly am than I did from elementary school through my sophomore year in high school. I have grown drastically as a person from whom I was last year and will continue to grow. I have learned that service is not something that has to get done, but and activity that everyone can enjoy, knowing that they are helping someone else in need.
I also want to express my gratitude for your donation on my behalf. I could not have had this truly humbling experience at Link if it weren’t for donors like you. I hope that you will consider donating for another student in the future.
Thank you,
Rocky Kemper
Dear Sponsor,
My name is Alex Jones and I’m senior here in my third year. I love horses, doing homework, I’m an animal lover, and I love learning new things. I came to Link because I was having trouble in public school. When I came to Link that is when I decided to become a better person.
There are a lot of things that I have been working on this semester, like new ways of doing schoolwork and new ways for studying for the up coming SAT test. Doing more homework, and learning how to be more comfortable when giving presentations is also something I have been developing. I’m also working on developing a senior project that is something that I want to do later in life.
What I have gained from coming to Link is how to be more my true self. I’m honest now with others with the expression of who I am and true to myself as well. Gaining a sense of the true me was one of the best things that have ever happened in my life. Also, I have gained more of a spiritual sense of life through being a Christian Scientist. Something that I’m giving to others in the community is a sense of joy and being a friend to everyone in the community. Link has helped me in so many ways and I will be forever grateful for the school.
Dear Sponsor,
My name is Astrid and I am 17 years old. This is my second year at the Link School and I am loving it. I like to ride horses and rock climb in my spare time. My love for rock climbing started when I came to The Link School last year.
The year started out with a trip to the West Apostle area, which was a great way to start off the year. We learned about different navigation techniques and some mountain ecology. Our next trip was a weekend trip with the option of a horse pack trip or doing service work up at The Lost Wonder Hut. I student-led the horse pack trip. It was a fun experience and we had amazing views the entire weekend. After that trip we went to Desolation Canyon in Utah where we kayaked for 6 days. This trip really pushed me, and my comfort zone to grow. The final major trip of this semester was biking and climbing in Fruita, Colorado. On this trip I got the opportunity to climb Independence Tower, a multi-pitch climbing tower. This also pushed me to grow and challenged me to be more tenacious in my climbing.
The Link School has given a lot to me. As a result of coming to Link, I have become a more confident and independent young woman. The Link School has given me so many experiences to grow and push myself. I have learned to be a leader, but also a good follower, one who contributes, instead of blindly following the leader. I am working on being a contributing citizen of this community through my actions and words. I am grateful for Link and all that it has given me. Thank you, for helping to make my experience at The Link School possible.
Dear Sponsor,
Thank you so much for helping me go to Link. My name is Gavin Frager – also Eggy Greggy, Greg, Gregnog, Acorn, The Graken, Gregorovich, and numerous other nicknames I’ve picked up here. I’m from St. Louis, Missouri. I really enjoy mountain biking and wrestling, and think reading is the best. I spend a lot of time with my friends messing around and doing awesome stuff.
This semester I have been working on focusing on the work at hand, not what I will be doing when I’m done, as well as putting a higher quality of thought into my academic work. The main projects I have been working on outside of school are building my own mountain bike, and I am in the process of making a downhill mountain biking course.
Link has given me the opportunity to grow, and has forced me to push myself rather than fade out into the background and squeeze by. All the opportunities to learn new things that I have never done before have really helped me put myself out there into the community more and feel more comfortable around people and trying new things.
Thanks so much, Gavin Frager
Dear Sponsor,
I would like to give my sincere gratitude for your generous donation to my education. My name is Sarah, I’m a senior this year and have been enjoying every minute of it. When I was a junior I came to Link, and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. This is my second year at Link and I’m so happy to be here this year and to be able to graduate from such a wonderful, loving place.
This semester, I have worked hard on academics and have greatly enjoyed all of the field programs we’ve gone on so far. My favorite field program was the Fruita mountain biking trip in Colorado. When I first came to Link last year, and even at the beginning of this year, I couldn’t stand mountain biking. It is one of the things I’ve really learned to love through school because of all the support I’ve gotten from everyone. Although I went into the trip with a negative attitude, I learned to really love what I was doing and the atmosphere was so positive that it was impossible not to have a good time.
In my Link experience, I have truly gained more than I could have ever asked to receive. The support and patience from all the staff in every activity is outstanding, and I couldn’t imagine better friendships than the ones I’ve made here. Being here, I’ve gained a sense of confidence in myself to be able to meet and overcome all kinds of difficult challenges through Christian Science. My spirituality has progressed beyond anything I could have ever imagined because of all that The Link School has taught me, and I am eternally grateful to have the opportunity to be here because of you. I cannot thank you enough for your allowing me this incredible opportunity.
Dear Sponsor,
My name is Tailor Boucher. I’m a senior this year at The Link School. I love it here at Link – everything is simply phenomenal. I cannot express the awe that I have when I awake each morning to majestic mountains encompassing the school like a warm embrace. I love running, rock climbing, biking, kayaking, which are among the many things that Link offers. I love having a community that I really know, and although we sometimes bicker, they are my second family and I love being with them.
This semester has had me constantly on the track of growth, both as a leader and a student. As a senior, I have been working hard to express leadership, whether on expeditions or just helping another meal crew without being asked. Earlier in my high school career, I have had the tendency to be a class clown, but this year I made it my goal to not only keep myself constantly focused, but to also help my friends stay on track.
Everyday has a lesson of value and importance, and I hadn’t seen that until I came to The Link School. I used to be extremely sour when spoken to about what I’m doing wrong or what I can do better, but I’ve learned that it’s usually people who are trying to help, and even if I don’t agree completely, the intent is good. It sounds like a pretty simple concept, but it took a year of being sour until I learned to recognize that. This school has given me so much, if I put everything into a list, you would be sitting there for hours. Thank you so much for your generous help, the amount of growth I’ve experienced, and will continue to experience, is irreplaceable.
Dear Sponsor,
I am Clara Oyer, a junior at The Link School, and this is my first year here. I am so happy to be at Link this year because of the amazing opportunities it is providing for me, such as riding horses. I have been riding horses for most of my life out in B.V. over the summers, but never previously during the school year.
For this past semester I have been working a lot on training young horses. Most every Tuesday and Thursday I have been working with a 4 year old horse named Milly. I also discovered a new love for duckying (a form of rafting and kayaking), mountain biking, and hiking. I was able to learn about these activities from our expeditions this semester. I appreciate the way Link has helped me to grow and learn to enjoy these activities when I thought I would have no interest in them at all.
During my first semester at Link I have learned a lot about having an open mind. I was able to figure that out in my thought during our mountain biking trip. I have been mountain biking before but I didn’t have the best experience while doing it. The Link School and its staff taught me a lot on how to learn to love what I am able to do. During our mountain biking trip I found that as long as I keep an open mind I am able to achieve and learn how to make the experience good. At Link I am giving my constant joy. Making sure that everyone is happy and is having a good time makes the experience we are having together amazing. I’m grateful for everything Link has done for me, whether it is helping me to realize more of my potential or feeling comfortable enough to be my true self. Clara Oyer
Dear Sponsor,
I am Shepherd LeVan and I am the only freshmen at Link. I love cooking and hanging out with my friends and family. Another thing about me is that I live in Carbondale, Colorado and live on a ranch there with my family when I am not here at school.
I thank you very much for donating to me to be able to go to Link. The experience is absolute fantastic. The teachers and students are incredibly friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere of this school is very strong and calming, and not only that, but the activities that I am participating in are just so amazing and fun to engage in. One other thing is that every one here is just so helpful and supportive.
Some things I have been working on this semester are fitness, cooking, Spanish, and English. At Link I have also worked on building a parking garage for the vehicles and building a shelter for four wheelers. Some other projects include constructing jumps for a bike track, woodwork, gardening, and tool safety. Other projects that I have worked one are Peru maps, masks, Peruvian textiles, and Spanish holidays. Another thing that I have been working on is sword art or sword-making (which I find rather fun), which includes making a functional blade and testing it to see its durability, a sword mantel, and sword blue prints.
Some things that I have been gaining from Link are the sense of hard work and determination, loving those around me, seeking spiritually, finding a path and sticking to it, and loyalty. Now some things I’m giving back to Link are love and compassion, working hard for the community, being part of the community, and leaving something for others to remember me by.
Dear Sponsor,
Hello, my name is Emma Oyer and I’m from St. Louis Missouri. This is my first year at The Link School. Before attending Link I played many sports, however, my favorite sport was soccer. I loved soccer but my true passion is riding horses. I rode horses at Adventure Unlimited and grew a strong passion for horses, especially playing polocrosse. Polocrosse is a mixture of lacrosse and polo, or the best sport ever. I felt like my true self when riding horses however, in St. Louis riding horses is unreasonable since boarding or training was way over my budget. I did not get to ride horses consistently until I came to Link and was able to ride. Link has given me the opportunity to do something I was not able to do during the school year.
As well as riding, this semester I have learned many new activities. For example, I have learned to mountain bike, snowshoe, rock climb, ducky, and am in the process of learning how to snowboard. I came to The Link School knowing that there is no way I would enjoy mountain biking. I dreaded knowing that we would have to mountain bike. Nevertheless, after our bike trip in Fruita, I gained a better understanding of mountain biking and actually really enjoyed it.
In addition, being at Link has really helped me gain a new quality. That quality is one of our community principles, which is Elevate. Everyone here is playful at the right time but when the situation requires a shift to calm, everyone elevates themselves. Seeing this I have grown in a knowledge of Elevation and have applied it to other aspects of my life. Link’s community principles are clearly expressed when I see everyone, which results in a great community that I am so grateful I am a part of.
Sincerely, Emma Oyer