Editor’s note: Christy Pond is the parent of recent graduate Eragon Pond, who was part of the RISE program at FRCS. She graciously wrote this week’s post, and we hope you are as moved by it as we were.
Our family came to Front Range unconventionally—in crisis. My son was in the middle of his sophomore year at a nearby classical academy. He was struggling with a tremendous amount of stress in school, which was not unusual, as he has always struggled with academics and social skills. Eragon is on the autism spectrum, has some learning difficulties, and was struggling with mental health issues. We were doing the best we could, working with the school’s special education department, trying to get him the help he needed. Then we discovered that he was being bullied, quite maliciously. We did not feel that it was safe for him to continue in that environment, so we pulled him out of that school immediately.
We began to search in earnest for a safe place for him to continue his education and growth. Although he was 17 at the time, and did not technically have to return to school, we knew that he was not ready to enter the work force, or really to function in society, as he was dealing with so many challenges. During our difficult and discouraging search, our family friend, Danny Cometto, mentioned that Front Range had a program for high school students with special needs. We immediately began to inquire about the RISE program, and learned that while they had a waiting list for the following fall, we might be able to take the one spot they had available if we entered mid-year. We were delighted and hopeful; the RISE program seemed like the perfect solution.
Thankfully, we were able to enroll Eragon at Front Range in the Spring of 2023. We spoke frankly with Mr. Cotton about Eragon’s situation, and that in addition to all of his special needs, academic challenges, and mental health struggles, he had big questions and doubts about God. Mr. Cotton assured us that Front Range was a place where he could learn and grow, and explore his doubts and questions, but that he needed to do so respectfully.
I would like to say that once Eragon started school at Front Range, all was well and we lived happily ever after, but that is not the case. He had a very rough first semester, and began acting out at school and at home in ways we had not experienced before. We were working with multiple therapists outside school, and doing the best we could to support his success inside school, but it was a rough ride. Thankfully, with the coordinated support of the RISE staff and with the grace and faith shown to us by Mr. Spector, along with the support from other teachers and staff, we made it through that first semester intact, and hopeful that Eragon would be able to complete high school.
During his first semester, Eragon had a physical education class with Coach Lowe, who encouraged Eragon to join the football team. Somehow, he was persuaded, and Eragon joined summer practices and a group that many parents refer to not as a football team but as a youth group that plays football. Coach Lowe and his staff poured so much into Eragon that summer, and for the next two years. Eragon never distinguished himself on the field, or in practices, and I believe that he was, at times, a distraction to the work of building and coaching a team, but Coach Lowe, Coach Sundeen, and the others never stopped welcoming him, working with him, and encouraging him. Coach Lowe even convinced Eragon to join the track team the following spring!
Eragon’s junior year was much smoother, with no behavioral issues, and much growth in all areas. He discovered a new youth group, led by RISE Assistant Mrs. Dopps’ husband, where he was welcomed and continued to grow both socially and in his faith. When Eragon made a profession of faith at a camp that February, Coach Lowe came to Eragon’s church to baptize him. The Dopps family welcomed Eragon not only into their church family and the youth group, but also into their home on multiple occasions when Eragon was struggling.
Senior year presented a new set of unexpected challenges: Eragon’s anxiety spiked at the thought of what to do after high school, and his capstone project loomed. Of course, all seniors likely experience this to some extent, but with Eragon’s academic struggles, coupled with his autism and accompanying social difficulties, he seemed to spiral again. While he had made a best friend in the RISE program, JP Ramsey, JP had graduated the year before, so Eragon felt pretty isolated in the first half of his senior year. We were exploring a number of different options for what Eragon could do after graduating from high school, but none of them seemed to click with him, and the uncertainty, stress, and isolation were wearing on him.
Thankfully, Eragon was welcomed and even recruited to attend Oklahoma Christian University, and in our visits there we discovered a community that seemed a perfect extension of Front Range Christian School. They even have a program for students who are academically challenged, called—get this—ASCEND. God’s plans and sense of humor never cease to amaze me—from RISE to ASCEND, who would’ve guessed? Once Eragon wrapped his head around the possibility of attending college, thanks in large part to encouragement from Mr. Cotton and others at Front Range, he found the motivation he needed to finish high school and hope for his future.
Eragon is an individual who thrives on connection. He has always struggled to connect with peers, relating better with adults. Thankfully, in his time at Front Range, Eragon found meaningful connection with a variety of people, including teachers, coaches, staff, and a few students. Because of this, our son is much better equipped to give his dream of going to college a try with strong faith, a level of academic preparedness, and better social skills. It is difficult to put into words how grateful we are for the love, patience, kindness, faithfulness and joy our family has found at Front Range.
