Alumni Reflections

By: Tracey Westgate

Many of you know my parents, Ruth and Lee Gridley.  As you know, my Dad has been teaching art at Cornerstone for the past 12 years.  What you may not have realized is that our family ties to Cornerstone date back to the inception of the school.  I was one of the first nine students at Cornerstone—back when it was First Christian Day School in Wolfeboro.

Let me start by saying that my parents have been the number one spiritual influence in my life—over church, school, friends, and college.  What they have taught me is invaluable.  Attending Cornerstone actively reinforced what we believed at home and what was modeled for me daily by my parents.  This was so integral to my growth and development as well as my understanding of a daily relationship with Jesus Christ.

I attended the school from 2nd through 6th grades.  When I reflect on my days at the school, I clearly remember sitting in the basement of our church with 8 other children, listening to our teacher, Mrs. Dunbar.  There were so many unique experiences as a student here.  The pastor of my church was also my history teacher; his son was my classroom teacher.  At one point, I was the only student in the 5th grade.

I look back on my days at the school with fondness.  This is where I met my best friend, Evie (Bradley) Moyer.  This is where I memorized Bible verses. To this day, I can still recite most of Isaiah 43.  This is where teachers got to know me; they listened to me.  This is where I had a small class with individualized attention.  Yes, Cornerstone provided me with positive socialization, an ability for memorizing Scripture, and a “leg up” in the academic world.  But more importantly, it provided me with a strong foundation in the Christian faith.

After Cornerstone, I went on to public school.  The transition was hard; maybe I wasn’t considered as “cool” as the other kids, didn’t have the “right” clothes, or didn’t know everyone.  The academic transition, however, was not hard at all.  I felt ahead of the curriculum they were teaching in middle school and fared well through middle and high school.  I graduated in the top 10 in my class at Kingswood and even ended up being the senior class president ... a surprise to my parents and myself!  I then went on to Gordon College, graduating with a double major in Social Work and Spanish.

I now live in Winthrop, Massachusetts with my husband and one year old daughter, Maeve.  I am the Program Director for a small non-profit organization whose mission is to empower girls and young women to value and champion their own safety and well-being.  Our family attends First Congregational Church of Revere, where I serve as the superintendent of the Sunday School.   As we think forward to Maeve attending school, we will seriously consider a private Christian education.

To say that I have never struggled with my faith would be a lie.  I think we all struggle. A friend of mine at Gordon once told me that she thought some of us were destined to wrestle with God for our whole life.  She jokingly suggested that we start a group named “Jacob’s Hip”.  I found a strange comfort in that.  That God gives us this chance: to wrestle, to question, and yes, even to doubt. What an honor.  That the Creator of the Universe—of the stars, moon, Milky Way—lets us wonder: it’s humbling.

Throughout my struggles, my parents were right there beside me; praying for me, encouraging me, never letting me “get away” with ignoring these transcendental issues.  I always thought that if I talked to enough people, if I read enough books, if I researched enough, I would find the answer.  Of course, I never had enough time for all of that.   I can’t tell you what changed.  It can only be explained as God’s plan.  I started attending church. I started praying.  I started returning to the core, to my firm foundation, to my cornerstone—the cornerstone that had been laid by my parents, my church, and by this school.

When I became a mother, there were times when Maeve would cry incessantly, even when I was right there beside her. Sometimes I wondered if she knew I was there.  When this happened, I would chant,  “I’m right here, there is nothing to worry about.”  One day, while I was rocking her and talking to her,  I broke down in tears.  I realized that in a very small way, this may be what God feels like.  Seeing us struggle, seeing us doubt.  Wondering where He is, growing increasingly more upset, knowing that all we have to do is turn into Him to know He is there.  During my darker period, a co-worker said to me, “Tracey, you’re like a fish swimming through the ocean, saying ‘Where’s the water?’” God is here.  All around us.  All we have to do is acknowledge Him, seek Him out.

Recently, I had the chance to visit Cornerstone to take some photos.  Christ is still at the center of this school, even all these years later. I was so struck by the livelihood of it all! The youth are amazing—completely respectful, energetic, and academically curious. The teachers and staff are so clearly dedicated to the students.

Some of these youth will struggle. Some may doubt.  But the foundation that is being laid by this school is providing a strong cornerstone on which to rely.  I can safely say that this school played a key role in who I am today.  I know that will be true for future students as well.  Investing in this school is investing in that cornerstone for each and every child.

Thank you and God Bless.