Meet our November student of the month, Drennan Allen. He’s a junior who lives in Florida and is currently earning college credit by taking dual credit courses through Ignite Christian Academy and the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. In his free time, Drennan enjoys sailing and making music.
My ICA Story
I have been a student at Ignite Christian Academy since I was in 7th grade. I had previously been homeschooled because my father is in the military, which caused my family to move around countless times. Homeschooling gave me a sense of stability. When my mom discovered ICA, we were instantly attracted to the format of online schooling and the opportunities given to communicate with teachers.
Distance Learning Surprises
What surprised me most about ICA is the kindness and compassion that the teachers exert on the students. I was initially quite nervous about speaking to my teachers over the phone or over chat, but once I did, I learned that they ultimately want to help me. No good teacher wants to discourage a student. An excellent teacher, instead, wants to see that student succeed; there seem to be only teachers that exude excellence at Ignite Christian Academy. Another thing that surprised me was how helpful the academic advisors turned out to be. They are always patient and greet you with a warm “hello.”
The Best Thing about Online Learning
My favorite part of distance learning is the flexibility. It allows me to do things I would not be able to do in a brick and mortar school. It also gives me the stability of homeschooling. On top of all that, distance learning has allowed me to travel around the world and meet all sorts of amazing people.
Favorite Subject
My favorite subject would either be math or history. What I love about the two is that they are both similar to puzzles. With math, there is always a hidden answer, and there is always a specific way to find it. If you put things in the right place, then you will solve the puzzle. What I enjoy most about history is that it is continuous. We are all living in history right now. Ultimately, everyone must learn from the past in order to better address the present and future.
Earning College Credit in High School
I am taking dual credit classes through the University of Northwestern – St. Paul, which has been a challenging yet enlightening experience. Ignite Christian Academy prepared me for this challenge by forcing me to develop diligent studying skills. I am currently taking English Composition and U.S. National Government through Northwestern. It is time consuming, but the rewards are well worth it. I already realize that my writing skills are improving, and my knowledge of the government has increased substantially.
I really like how the classes are set up. They are a lot more deadline-oriented than ICA courses, but I am getting by. I would definitely say that the biggest challenge is time management. There are a lot of essays, which require planned out schedules. Overall, it is a great opportunity and prepares you for college. I would recommend dual credit courses to all of my fellow students.
Hobbies and Activities
I have many hobbies. For one, I love to sail. It all started out on a tiny Optimist dinghy, and eventually I moved up to 36-foot sailboats. I live in Florida, so sailing seems to be all around me. However, I actually discovered it because of ICA’s flexibility. The flexibility of my schedule gave me a chance to explore a new opportunity and discover that it is one of my passions.
While I enjoy sailing, my biggest hobby is music. I love to play the guitar and have been doing so since I was four years old. I began writing songs for fun when I was seven, and I still do that to this day. On top of all that, I am currently in the process of getting many of my songs copyrighted and will hopefully record an EP one day soon.
How I Spend My Free Time
I like to spend my free time outdoors. I go for a run down the beach every morning as the sun rises and have a devotion afterwards. Whenever I have actual free time, I play my guitar and work on some songs. So, I mainly spend my time having lots of fun.
Fun Fact
I walked more than 500 miles across France and Spain when I completed El Camino De Santiago, a Christian pilgrimage that leads to the tomb of Saint James. It is a very personal and life-changing journey. On El Camino, I met so many wonderful people from all over the world, and I still keep in contact with them! It is absolutely the accomplishment I take most pride in, and it most likely will stay that way for the rest of my life.
Dream Job
If I could choose any job in the world, it would be either a soldier, a professional musician, or a politician. I would be a soldier because I consider it to be one the most honorable things a man can do, a professional musician because I love music so much, and a politician because I believe that it is a great platform to change lives for the better.
Words of Wisdom
My advice to my fellow ICA classmates would be, “Take it one day at a time.” Sometimes schoolwork can feel overwhelming, but if you tackle one thing at a time you can overcome any obstacle. Do one thing, do it correctly, and then move on to the next. Also don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your teachers are there, and they genuinely want to see you succeed and do your best. Don’t be nervous; just ask for some help.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know Drennan! Look for our next student of the month feature in December.