Graduates Reflect and Give Thanks (1 of 3)

“First, I’d like to thank my Mom, who has helped me to go on my college visits from spring break to summer. I would like to thank my aunts and uncles from California, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, and my grandparents from Eaton, Ohio and New Jersey for all of their support that they gave me all through the years that I’ve been at Brehm. And they are happy that I will be moving on to college in August…. I’d like to thank Barb Lawrence for helping me with time management, working independently, and working with me on paraphrasing. I’d like to thank to my friend, Steve, for giving me advice for what I missed in Literary Perspective Studies and for helping me to catch up.… I’d also like to thank Brad Siemer for being my basketball coach for the 2009-2010 basketball season. And he is one of the coolest teachers that I knew for 3 years…”

– Randy

“I have made a lot of progress during my five years at Brehm. I feel like I’m able to control the way I react to my emotions. I would like to thank all of my friends, especially Austen, Thomas, Casey, Bradley, and Nakita for helping me out. I also want to thank my parents, my teachers, and dorm parents for helping me reach my goals in life. I will miss everybody who has helped me along the way.”

– Amanda

“In any ordinary world, I can’t help but to stand beneath the dignity of others, be stranded in constant struggle within a competitive world, sweating in a sea of pride and glory, swimming to the unending finish line. Performing an act of selfishness through the lens of another human being, I don’t want this illusion of contradicting the truth behind my intent. It’s within this struggle that you can lose who you are. I want to see the outcome based upon the decisions I’ve built and the aftermath of the character I directed through the years I continued taking breaths. I want to be a leader, a helping hand for others, not to be recognized in selfishness but rather a different side that society hasn’t seen. This would have never happened for me if it wasn’t for Brehm. I used to be more than just difficult to my parents and others surrounding me, a hyperactive individual acting impulsively everywhere I went. I am so blessed to have gotten the opportunity to experience the journey that Brehm has given me. Through this experience I have learned to deal with my struggles appropriately and successfully using the tools and strategies that teachers and staffs have taught me. After long practices, I end up here on this stage. I want to show my deepest appreciation to Sara and her family, Sam and her family, and my past relationships because they have led me to be who I am — Brehm students, my teachers, and best of all, I want to thank my family for being there for me through everything.”

– Greg

“Over the last two years, I have met some great friends and created fun memories. When I think of Brehm, I think of the caring teachers. I have learned to recognize and deal with problems thanks to Marian, Mr. Siemer, and Ms. Hart. I feel Pam and Theresa are nice people to be around because they went out of their way to help me. Ms. Blessing has inspired me to enjoy math more. Lisa, Casey, Ellie, Jack, and Zane are important because they’re always there for me whenever I have a problem, and we have fun hanging out together. My parents were kind throughout the time I was at Brehm. I am excited to move on to the next step.”

– Alex

“When I first came to Brehm, I had difficulties with language, making friends, and with American culture. I met with the administrators and my advisor, Mr. Brad Sims. He gave me positive reinforcement to have the confidence to be successful in school and in life. I feel privileged to have had Brad Sims as my mentor and friend. I would like to thank the staff and teachers who supported me through my school years here at Brehm.”

– Rishi

“I started my long journey back in August 2004 in the 7th grade, and I am excited to be graduating. When I first started, the kids and staff where extremely nice to me, like these two students, Jos and Tim, who treated me as their younger brother…. Brehm has helped me in many ways. The biggest I’ve seen since I’ve been at Brehm is my ability to read. I’ve become more independent in many different areas like completing homework and doing basic chores. I have learned how to use my strengths of creativity and visual learning in basically everything I do. I have become more social and have a good group of friends. Thanks to my teachers for helping me become more independent and understanding when something did not make sense. Thanks to my dorm parents for helping me with every day living, like chores, homework, and so much more. To the recreation staff, thanks for making my weekdays and weekend recs fun and entertaining. I especially like the many trips I took to St. Louis. Thanks to my friends, Tim, Josh, Kole C., Parker, Noah, and Alex S. for accepting me as one of their friends and always letting the laughter flow each and every day. Thanks to my family for always being there and helping me when I needed the help the most. Mom, thanks for all those times you helped with my homework over the years and the meetings you’ve gone to. It helped me better myself in all those ways. Thanks, Dad, for helping me improve my reading skills, my boy scout questions, and a lot more...”

– Kevin

“I transferred from a Christian Baptist school where I was really struggling to Brehm Preparatory School where my academic struggles ended. There is a lot of love on Brehm Campus. You may not feel it at times, but it is there. I thought there was a ton of love at my old Christian Baptist school, but now that I have been at Brehm for two years, I see that there is so much more love here. Well, high school is finally over. I would like to thank God, my parents, relatives, Sebina Geer, my advisor Ms. Keene, Pam Altman, and all of my teachers that I have had for two years at Brehm Preparatory School…. Now, it is time for me to go to college, Gardner Webb University, a Christian university located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. I know the things that I have learned throughout my high school years will help me in college.”

– Thomas

Brehm, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, is a unique family style boarding school that empowers students, grades 6 through 12, with complex learning disabilities to recognize and optimize their full potential. Brehm offers a unique holistic program that individually addresses each student’s academic, emotional, and social needs. Eighty-eight percent of Brehm graduates continue on to colleges, junior colleges, technical or vocational schools across the country.

Brehm has a rolling admission. Contact admissions today by calling (618) 457-0371 or email: admissionsinfo@brehm.org