One Senior's Perspective
Senior student, Leah Pannapacker, was asked to share some of her experiences through her years as a student at Upper Bucks Christian School. Attending UBCS from Kindergarten thru 12th grade, Leah has many memories of her years as a student, and it is her desire that they will be a
blessing and encouragement to you.
Although my years at Upper Bucks began in preschool, my early memories began in Kindergarten. Mrs. Zwart was a great teacher and I remember one time we were studying the sense of taste. She gave us a taste test with our eyes closed of different fruits and vegetables. Mr. Paul was my
principal and we always had fun when he came into our Kindergarten class and played hangman with us. In third grade I had to be held back and needless to say, I was a little upset because I wanted to be with my friends. It was also a very tough year because my dad died. I remember my third grade teachers, Miss Clark and Mrs. Jaeger, coming to my dad’s funeral and giving me an I Spy book with all the signatures of my class inside the front cover. Miss Clark and Miss Gebhard took my sister and me out to dinner and made snowmen with us out of rice and socks with button noses, so my mom could have a little break from us. I remember that being so much fun. Only being nine, I don’t remember too much but I do wish my Dad could be here now to share special milestones in my life, such as seeing me graduate and seeing me get my license. It has been hard not having him here to celebrate holidays and birthdays, but I do know that my heavenly Father has taken great care of my family.
As I moved up into Junior High school, I was filled with turmoil. At the end of my short summer I had to go to school and pick up my schedule. The seventh graders took a tour around the school to see where their classes would be located. I was not looking forward to school that year! I was afraid of getting into trouble for going down the wrong steps! Once I got home I cried so much. I did survive seventh grade and quickly learned which steps to use. It was a breeze! My seventh grade teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Connors, helped make my transition easier. She was a warm person and always had a happy smile on her face.
When ninth grade came so did a trial I never thought possible. The week of Christmas I went into the Shriners hospital for a very complicated surgery on my back. The doctors said the problem began when I was a baby and it got progressively worse as the years went by. My back bone had almost slid off my tailbone. Only a few months prior to surgery I felt like a normal kid.
The day I went in to the hospital I was not feeling too nervous, but I must give the credit, not to myself for being brave, but to the Lord. I prayed that I would trust Him. He alone gave me the strength to go through all that lay ahead.
I remember as I came out of surgery, the clock showed it was around 10:00. I went into my operation around 8:00 so I thought, “Wow that was fast, only 2 hours…not bad!” When my mom came in, she informed me the surgery was 15 hours long! That was only the beginning of my trial. Getting up from my bed was awful. I had a tremendous headache and I cried as the doctors pulled me up from my bed to go to physical therapy. I would get to know that room very well. My legs were paralyzed from the doctors having to lift my nerves up during the surgical procedure. After many days of sweaty workouts, of even trying to move my legs, I began to improve. I used a wheelchair up until the last days before I could go home and then graduated to a walker and finally, crutches. When I actually started to walk around I felt so tall, for I had grown three inches!
After spending a month in the hospital, I was anxious to get home but, as soon as I did, my legs began really burning, like walking on hot sand. The doctor informed us that it was the nerves coming back. Although that was good news, the pain was intense and crept down to my feet. The only relief came from putting my feet in freezing water. Many people came to help during the nights to get me water approximately every 30 minutes to soak my feet. My poor Mom was exhausted. As months passed by my legs got stronger and my nerves began to heal. Finally, by Easter, I could return to school for half days. It was hard going back, not knowing how my classmates would accept my coming in with crutches and braces around my legs, but every one was so helpful.
My junior year, just when I thought my life was starting to return to normal, my dog, to whom I was so attached, had to be put to sleep. My sister and I shed lots of tears, for although we knew she was just an animal, she had become a part of our family. Even now I miss her terribly.
Now, as a senior, I can say it has probably been my best year in school. I have formed some great friendships and gleaned much from my classmates. Spending the last 10 years with them has been a great experience for me. I am thankful for my homeroom teacher, Miss McKeown, and will miss the stories she shares with us all the time! Through the years many people have impacted my life in some way, even just by being there for me. I am so thankful for the lessons the Lord has taught me along the way and for the strength He gives to face the challenges of each new day.
Although I know life is never without trials, and I may not know what lies ahead, let me encourage you that no matter what you are going through, let God be your light. A verse I read before going into my operation was Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord always…no matter what!
As Leah graduates from Upper Bucks, she is hoping to pursue a career either in photography or something in the graphic design field.