Meet our February student of the month, Samuel Vroman. He’s a junior from Illinois who serves as president of ICA’s French club and enjoys outdoor activities in his free time.
My ICA Story
My favorite part of distance learning is the conversations with teachers. I always feel like I am calling some secret agent whenever I have a question. All of the teachers at ICA are phenomenal and I love them all. They genuinely care about us as students and do everything they can to assure our success.
My Favorite Subject
My favorite subject is French because of the challenge it presents. Learning a foreign language is never easy, and I enjoy challenging and pushing myself. My fellow students in the class (you know who you are) are all amazing! We have our own little French family in French class and club. I also love the leadership and mentoring of Mrs. Klimes. I would have never survived the class without her!
Distance Learning Surprises
One thing that has surprised me about distance learning is how widespread ICA is. In my French class alone we have some students who are studying in Thailand or the Philippines. It is awesome to see the desire in families worldwide to give their children a good solid education that is based off Godly principles and values.
National Honor Society and French Club
I have always wanted to be a leader. God has blessed me with abilities and qualities that give me opportunities to be a good leader, and I want to use those. When Mrs. Klimes gave me the opportunity to run for president in French club, I was honored to take her recommendation. When I received my invitation to the NHS, I was deeply honored and humbled. It was a great privilege for me to be accepted there.
Other Activities
I am also involved in a group called Military Explorers. The program seeks to show young men and women what military life and service are like and prepare them for it should they chose to enlist. The program teaches self-confidence, leadership, integrity, honor, and a large assortment of physical skills, which include physical fitness, hand-to-hand combat, weapons marksmanship, land navigation, survival, and rappelling. I discovered Military Explorers when my best friend and I saw their booth at an Armed Forces Day event. After coming and trying it out, we have both been involved for five years this coming June. I am also involved in the youth group at my church.
In My Free Time, I Enjoy…
In my family we are avid outdoorsmen. Therefore, I enjoy hunting, trapping, throwing knives, hiking, camping, exploring, shooting, climbing, rappelling, and spending God time on our family land. I love spending time with and training my dog I got recently. Whenever I’m not outside, I enjoy watching movies, listening to music, reading books, spending time with my friends and family, and writing the novel I have started this last year. I enjoy doing many of these things with my older brother and younger sister.
Others Would Be Surprised To Learn…
Others would be surprised to learn that despite all of the adventures I participate in, I have never broken any bones or had any serious injuries. On the more meaningful side, I have taken two mission trips to Haiti and am hoping to be able to do an internship there next year.
My Greatest Accomplishment
One of the accomplishments in my life that I am most proud of is becoming the leading cadet staff senior noncommissioned officer in my Military Explorer program. I am also the only cadet to ever try to achieve the rank of sergeant first class. I have achieved the rank of sharpshooter while training in weapons marksmanship with the United States Army National Guard.
My Dream Job
If I could have any job in the world I would choose to be a state trooper. I would choose this job for a variety of reasons. I have a warrior heart with a desire to fight for and protect people. On the flip side of that, I also have a soft and servant heart with a desire to help people, keep them safe, and if need be try to help them reclaim their honor. I also feel a calling from God into this field of service. It gives me not only an opportunity to be strong and courageous, but also opportunities to share my faith and my testimony with people I come across.
Words of Wisdom
A quote I have grown fond of recently is, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat,” by Winston Churchill. I don’t believe anything good ever came out of life without a fight. Life is hard, and it can be ruthless. I want to remind my fellow students to stay strong in their faith in God and in the identity He has given them. The enemy is there, he is real, and he will try to take everything from you. Always cling to God in every situation, and remain in the love He offers every day. Don’t let this world deceive you and lead you astray. Remember Philippians 4:13? “I can do all things, through Christ who gives me strength.”
Finally, I will leave you with my favorite quote spoken by Mark Twain: “The two most important days of your life are the day you were born, and the day you find out why.” Isn’t that exciting? It reminds us that life is an adventure to be lived. If you haven’t had the day you found out why, stay strong and let God show it to you.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know Samuel! Look for our next student of the month feature in March.