By Abby Garay ('07)
I’m excited to share a little about why I love Mars Hill Academy. This school has played a pivotal role in my life for nearly 30 years. My education here—and our family’s journey to starting the school—fundamentally shaped the way I think about almost everything.
I was a student at Mars Hill for 12 years and a teacher for two-and-a-half years before our oldest daughter was born in December 2014. Now, we’re preparing for our fourth year as Mars Hill parents. My husband, Danny, and I have five children. And just in case you’re wondering (because yes, people do ask!), there’s no special scholarship or discount for the Thistleton grandchildren. We’re setting aside and saving our money to send all of our children here. But for us, this hasn’t been a difficult decision. I’ve been in these classrooms both as a student and as a teacher, and I’m confident—it’s worth every penny.
I have loved Mars Hill Academy since the very beginning. I was six years old when the school first opened its doors in 1996. I was an eager and excited student in Mrs. Stollberg’s first grade class. Having been homeschooled the year before—and being quite young for my grade—I had no idea how unique (and sometimes unusual) my education would be. How many people can say their eighth grade Latin teacher was a tenth grader? He’s now a college professor with a Ph.D., so clearly they were on to something. Nevertheless, we’ve come a long way since those early days.
Being the daughter of the school’s founders gave me a small window into what it takes to build and sustain a school like this. You might think, as my parents did 30 years ago, “How hard can it be to start a school?” As a child, I didn’t see the difficulty. The moving from building to building, the renovations, the setup and tear down, the discussions about whose basement we’d meet in next—those just felt like fun adventures. But now as an adult reflecting back, I’m in awe of the faith and dedication my parents and others showed. They weathered financial uncertainty and gave sacrificially of their time and resources, devoting themselves wholeheartedly to the work of the school. On a few occasions our family budget was tight, because everything extra went to Mars Hill. My parents demonstrated with their time and money that the value of a thoroughly Christian education far surpasses the cost of tuition every year. It’s a mission worth giving your life to—and that deeply impacted me.
Education is not a neutral endeavor. Contrary to what many would have us think, it’s a profoundly religious endeavor. It’s not simply the transfer of facts and knowledge—it shapes a child’s entire worldview. At Mars Hill, I received a fully integrated education where all subjects were connected and centered around God.
A true education should prepare a child to answer life’s most important questions: “Who am I? Why am I here? How then should I live?” I’m thankful that my children hear repeatedly, “man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” Mars Hill Academy is about the work of building God’s Kingdom here on earth by equipping our children to evaluate all human knowledge in light of the Scriptures. There is nothing more lasting and important than raising our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Mars Hill added profound substance, depth, and beauty to my faith, and I will always be grateful for its impact on me.
And a good education should manifest itself in a thousand practical ways. When we acknowledge that God has created all things and that He wants us to love Him with our minds, as well as our souls, hearts, and bodies — we should want to learn more and learn more deeply, because all knowledge points us back to Him. Mars Hill taught me to love learning and gave me the tools to do so. My teachers understood that every detail matters and that God desires our best in all things. I was taught and expected to work diligently, speak clearly, read carefully, check sources, think critically, demand proof and provide it, respect authority, exercise self control, sing joyfully, love good stories — I could go on and on. I was held to a high standard, not just in my studies but also in the way I conducted myself both inside and outside of the classroom.
I hope you’re already seeing some of this fruit in your children. But I want to encourage you—seeds don’t always bear fruit immediately. I’ll admit that, as a student, the high expectations of my teachers didn’t always spark deep gratitude. But the older I get, the more I treasure every aspect of my education here.
Many things have changed since I was a student. We didn’t have a beautiful gym, and the Latin teachers are now old enough to vote! But the mission and vision remain the same. I’ve learned firsthand it’s a mission worth giving your life to.
As we celebrate 30 years of God’s faithfulness, I’m deeply grateful to be a part of both its past and its future. I hope and pray this school continues to shape our family and bless generations to come. Thank you for being part of this story—and for supporting Mars Hill Academy.