Article by Richard Wang
(originally published in the February 2016 Spirit of One, school newspaper)

The sound of muffled vacuum cleaning and  flushing toilets permeate the hallways and bathrooms of Valley Christian School. Here, freshman Aiden Gehrke is sitting after a two-hour school cleaning, one of his part-time jobs. He works 8-10 hours per week after school at Valley Christian as a cleaning assistant.

Gehrke, who is also on the football team, said that it is nice to have a part-time job in high school for financial purposes, including the following: saving for college, paying for his hunting equipment, and covering many other small expenses that add up quickly. Gehrke is a janitorial assistant; his job is to collect garbage, clean the top of the lockers,  wipe the windows, and sometimes sweep the rocks off the playground equipment. He gets paid $7.25 per hour, 2 hours per day for three days a week. Gehrke makes $170 per month. He also has a partner, Nehemias Gutierrez, who works the same amount of time, and gets paid the same amount of money.

Gehrke working on changing garbage bags.
Photo by Richard Wang

His work, Gehrke has found, has affected him significantly. “In the area of character building, it teaches me responsibility and how to have a great work ethic,” said Gehrke.

Meanwhile, senior Caleb Cooley described his on-campus work experiences as enjoyable and stress-relieving. Working five hours a week since his junior year, Cooley has been with the after school care program,where he plays with the kids, takes care of them, and makes sure they behave and have fun until their parents arrive. His expenses include saving for college and occasionally dining out. He only works three days a week so that on other days he can focus on his school work.

“It helps you prepare for being a parent. It also allows me to make a positive impact on the kids I am working with,” said Cooley.

The expectation of students involved with community service and work experience is always a central part of Valley Christian School’s focus—— VCS requires 80 hours of unpaid service to graduate, according to the school office.

“I had a part-time job when I was in high school; I was the lifeguard and swimming instructor at the Y. I think it is good if you can balance school work and a job. Having a part-time job can help you learn a good work ethic and experience for the future,” said Tara  Westpfahl, the middle/high school secretary.

Juggling high school and a part-time job is a tough act. The parents demand good grades, a social life requires cash, and functioning in general means getting a decent night of sleep. Somewhere in the middle, there’s a sweet spot of happiness. However, finding this elusive medium is easier said than done.

“I think they have to balance it. I don’t want people to give up the opportunities for sports, dramas, clubs, but I do think there’s a huge benefit for students who take the part-time job. They learn time management, having a boss, self discipline, and having some extra-money in their pockets,” said Brad Dunn, the school’s head administrator.

Senior Mike Dunn has worked at the Oshkosh Convention Center for 2 years. He thinks that he does not have enough free time during the weekends. “Juggling your job with sports [is difficult]. Friday, I have my sports. Saturday, I have practice and my job. Sunday, I have church and homework. Luckily with my job, I can do my homework during the break time, so it does not affect my school much,” said Dunn.

Senior Ben Peterson, who also works at the Oshkosh Convention Center, just started his job in January. He said that his job entails setting up for weddings and some other special events, as well as working a bit with technology. “Scheduling is the only challenge with work, between athletics, schoolwork, and other activities,” said Peterson.

The contrast between Gehrke’s, Cooley’s, Dunn’s and Peterson’s stories highlight not only the variation in work experiences for part-time jobs in high school, but also the different opinions that surround the part-time employment expectations, which overall named it a good experience.

Article by Kayla Hubbard (originally published in the February 2016 Spirit of One, school newspaper)

Governor Walker visits with elementary students of Valley Christian.
Photo by Richard Wang

What do Luke Skywalker, barbeque karaoke, and following God’s will have to do with one another? The answer: all were topics covered by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in his visit and lecture to the students of Valley Christian School.

On January 8, 2016, the efforts of teacher Tom Winkels to book Governor Walker for a visit to VCS paid off. Governor Walker talked with the fourth through twelfth grades about his background, family life, life in office, and, most importantly, his personal walk with God.

Winkels said, “My hope [for the visit] is that it inspires students to run for political office so we can keep Christians involved in the political process.” Through his talk, Walker made his faith apparent in his words to the students. Winkels described him as “an example of someone who is comfortable and confident in his faith.”

In words that revealed a heart for community as well as the Lord, Walker summed up his line of work in a question. He said, “Ultimately, it’s about how do I serve?”

His faith in God was apparent throughout his talk, even when he talked about his beginnings. He also came off as very relatable, describing his early experiences at a small school much like Valley Christian, and how he worked minimum wage jobs, much like many of the high school students.

Holly Simpson, a freshman at Valley, said it stuck out to her that “…he started off working at McDonald’s, and eventually worked his way up to state governor.”

Indeed, hearing how Walker rose to the position of governor of Wisconsin through a series of opportunities was a motivating story. Regarding his journey to office, and the value of the work he put in prior to his election, Walker said, “One of the most important things… about washing dishes and working at McDonald’s isn’t just the paycheck, but the dignity that comes from work.”

Junior Mimi Nelson said, “There’s a lot of potential for kids out there, even to be governor.”

Administrator Brad Dunn agreed that hopefully the words of Governor Walker would inspire students to work hard at what God has designed for them.

Governor Walker challenged students to ask themselves the question, “How can I be the best at what I’m called to do?” He also encouraged students to get up every morning and pray—to ask of God what His will for them is each day. When asked what they hoped Governor Walker’s impact on the school would be, the majority of staff replied that they hoped that students would be encouraged to pursue God and His will in all they do.

“It maybe will spark an interest in our students to follow whatever dreams God has put in their hearts,” said Dunn. Governor Walker also urged students to take hold of opportunity, and said that in his own life he had seen some of the seemingly negative events turn out to be the most impactful.

While the visit of Governor Walker earned Valley Christian recognition throughout the Oshkosh community, the focus of the event was to provide encouragement for students.

“You’ve got tremendous opportunities!” said Walker. “But don’t forget where you’re grounded…If you can do that, the sky’s the limit.”