Latham Christian Academy is privileged to have four graduating seniors during the 2020 – 2021 school year. Half of those in the Class of 2021 have attended LCA for a long time, and all four have become good friends during their time here. We will be highlighting one of the seniors each month in an article published in our Knightline newsletter. We continue this week with senior Emily Beaudoin.
Emily has attended LCA since her sophomore year after transferring from Oakwood Christian School in Troy. Emily had expected to graduate from OCS before they had to close several years ago. When Emily graduates from LCA in June, she will join her sister Abby as two of only three LCA graduates to have a parent who also graduated from LCA.
Emily’s father grew up in Troy and attended high school at LCA from seventh through twelfth grades, graduating with the second senior class in LCA’s history. After graduation, Emily’s father joined the Marines where he served for four years, including in the Persian Gulf War. As a veteran, he then attended Hudson Valley Community College and studied automotive mechanics. After completing his studies, he entered that line of work. Eventually Mr. Beaudoin went into the financial business. He has also worked for Oakwood Christian and is now a mail carrier in Eagle Bridge where he has worked for the past fourteen years.
Emily’s mother also grew up in the Troy and Waterford area and attended Troy High School. After graduation, she attended Schenectady Community College where she studied travel and tourism. Emily’s mother was able to stay home with her daughters when they were young. Once she went back to work, she served in the lunch program and early care at Oakwood Christian. She has now worked for three years in a similar capacity at La Salle Institute in Troy.
Mr. and Mrs. Beaudoin met through mutual friends and decided to attend a movie as a group. Emily’s mother almost didn’t go with her friends but now she is glad she went! They were married about two years before big sister Abby came along. Emily joined the family less than two years later.
Emily’s family has lived in the same house in the little town of Speigletown for over 18 years.
Emily draws “a lot” and particularly enjoys cartoons and people, but “I’ll draw whatever,” she reported! Emily has entered the NYACS state competition in both polychromatic and monochromatic drawing. Emily has always drawn but really started to get into it in fourth grade. She hopes to become an artist in her eventual career.
Emily has many fond memories of Oakwood Christian School. She remembers her old school as “one big family” where she knew all of the students, even the youngest ones. The classes would often have lunch and recess times together. Of course, she also remembers all of the fun fundraisers the school would have. Their annual “Race for Education” was tiring—but fun!
Changing schools in tenth grade was a challenge for Emily, as it would be for any student. She credits God’s help in making her successful here at her new school. Emily was also grateful for the one year she could be here with her sister. Longtime friend and current LCA junior Michael Collins helped Emily have someone to talk to right from the start as well.
Emily remembers her junior Bible class with Pastor Sam last year, using words like fun, enjoyable, and lots of laughs to describe the class, tacking on, “It was educational too!”
Emily has several special friends. One of them, Mia, has been a special friend since kindergarten, attending Oakwood together for many years. The two continue to stay in contact. Like Emily, Mia is also an artist. Along with another friend named Emily, our Emily enjoyed trying to improve Mia’s art a bit by doodling on her artwork! Emily remembers, “Those were good times!” Emily enjoys making jokes with Mia.
Emily has another friend also named Mia. They attend church together and continue building special memories as good friends.
Emily’s family attended Oakwood Bible Church when Emily was a young girl. They eventually moved to Brunswick Baptist Church when Emily was about 10 years old. Emily accepted Christ in Mrs. Hine’s Oakwood second grade classroom and was baptized by immersion when she was 13 at Brunswick Baptist Church along with her mother and sister.
Emily is involved in several important ministries at her church, especially in working with children. She has helped other women in junior church and has also worked in the church nursery. Emily has also participated in their church’s major summer event, the annual Family Fun Day.
Emily plans to attend Hudson Valley Community College this fall and begin studying art. She hopes to become an illustrator or an animator eventually. Emily claims Psalm 119:105 as a life verse, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”