Dear ICS Community,

Choosing Courses, Choosing Trust

Over the last few weeks, our HS students for 2026/27 have been signing up for courses. Speaking with many of you during this time, I know that this season of choosing often comes with a knot in the stomach: What if I choose the wrong pathway? What if I lock myself into something I’m not even sure I want?

A few years ago, one of my own children said to me, when making selections for Junior year, “Everyone else knows what they want to do—why don’t I?” It’s a powerful myth that “everyone else knows.” The truth is, many students are still exploring, and that’s perfectly okay. It’s also equally okay if you do know—there is no single “normal” timeline for clarity about the future.

As a Christian school, we believe God is present in our questions as much as in the answers. We are a praying community that faithfully expects God to guide and provide, and we want to equip you to bring biblical wisdom into your personal, academic, and vocational decisions. That means we hold space for both conviction and uncertainty—because God meets us in both. Knowing this helps us hand our plans to Him, ask for wisdom, and trust His character. Prayer is not a last resort; it’s our way of moving forward with peace and clarity in a noisy world.

The lesson for all of us over these past few weeks, then, might be to steady our hearts as we choose: “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8. And we remember the promise that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him” Romans 8:28.

Good decisions rarely come from panic or perfectionism. They grow from thoughtful inquiry. In my recent conversations with students, for example, we’ve broken “big” questions into manageable parts: What am I curious about? Where have I shown strength and growth? What keeps doors open while I explore? For many students anxiously wondering if not being able to do double math in Grade 9 will “ruin their life” (as one student tearfully told me) it was important to remember that choosing courses, or doing them faster than others, has little to do with predicting your whole life. The real task is to take the next wise step with integrity and courage.

For students who have just submitted their sign-ups, who might be waiting to hear about conditional approvals, or who are already planning (or worrying) about next year’s sign-ups, a little advice. You will likely hear many voices of support, expectation, and demand—your own, your parents, friends, social media, rankings. Receive wise counsel, but don’t outsource your responsibility to discern. Walk humbly, act justly, love mercy—toward others and toward yourself. You can be faithful without being fearful. And remember: changing your mind is not a moral failure; it’s often the fruit of growth and new understanding.