Faith, Family, and Future: Guiding Students in College Decisions

Tiffany Charles, Director of Admissions at Houston Christian University, shares her expertise and passion for helping students navigate the college admission process through a faith-centered approach. Her journey from homeschooling mom to higher education leader reveals how relationships and discipleship can transform educational experiences for students and families alike.

• Biblical foundation for education based on Proverbs 22:6 and 2 Timothy 2:15
• Relational versus transactional approach to college admissions
• College essays as opportunities to share your authentic self beyond test scores
• College is financially possible regardless of circumstances—sticker price isn't what most students pay
• Parents should start the college research process early, ideally by sophomore year
• Every year of high school matters for building a strong academic foundation
• Importance of prayer and seeking wisdom when feeling overwhelmed by college decisions

Transcript

Introduction to Tiffany Charles

Stephanie Shafer 0:01

Hi, this is Stephanie Shafer and you're listening to the NorthStar Narrative, a podcast from NorthStar Academy. I want to thank you for joining us. I hope you're encouraged, challenged and motivated by what you learned today. Enjoy the story. Welcome everybody. Thank you for joining us today. I've got a special guest, Tiffany Charles, and she is the Director of Admissions at Houston Christian University. She's a mom of three, a former dancer and someone who's deeply passionate about walking alongside students and families as they navigate one of the biggest decisions in their lives college. Tiffany is going to share her expertise in admissions and her heart for discipleship and how she sees each student as uniquely called by God. So, whether you're a student unsure about your next step, or a parent walking this journey with your child, I know you're going to find encouragement, wisdom and practical insight today. So thank you, tiffany. So much for joining me.

Tiffany Charles 1:01

Thank you so much for having me. I'm really excited. This is a passion for me. So I'm really excited. This is a passion for me. So I'm really excited to spend some time with you today and the families, as well as the students that may watch the broadcast.

Stephanie Shafer 1:11

I know. I'm so glad that you reached out to us and we were able to meet and your team there at HCU and then just were able to connect and learn and then pray together. I love that when believers come together. We only knew each other for a short time, but just able to pray over what God's doing across the globe for students and education, and so that was just a delight a couple of weeks ago when I had the privilege to meet you, and now you're here. Yes, share more about your heart, all right. So let's start off with you. Why don't you just share a little bit about education, family, how you got into higher education, a little bit about you?

Tiffany Charles 1:53

Awesome, awesome. So I've always been passionate for education, certainly for the Lord, and I do believe that in order for us to grow, we always have to position ourselves in a place of being educated, a place of gaining knowledge and acquiring wisdom. And so education has always been a passion for me. Growing up with my children, raising my children, I felt it's very important that I poured into them truth so that when they got into the world, they can quickly discern what is not true, what's not real, what is a counterfeit, and the way, the direction that they need to go in. And so I'm very big on Proverbs 226 to train up your child and the way they should go that when they're old they won't depart from it. And so that training comes from the word of God, it comes from the truth of the word of God and making sure that they're educated and that they can rightfully defend their faith. And so that's where that passion came from.

Educational Journey and Biblical Foundation

Tiffany Charles 2:46

2 Timothy 2.15 is big for me To study, to show yourself or prove unto God that you be a workman, need not be ashamed, able to rightfully divide the word of truth, that you may have an answer for every man of the hope that lies within you with fear and trembling. And so I homeschooled my kids for a long time and then went into starting to be a PTO president in elementary school, and so I worked where they worked, traveled all the way up through my with my children in education and made sure I was able to pour back. And so I started working at the school after doing PTO president for 10 years, started working at the elementary school where my children were and giving back. That was just for me a photo ground to reach children while they're young but to make sure that they're whole, so not just academically but also spiritually. It gave me an opportunity to really support counselors, teachers, principals and families and students as they navigated through education and so then transitioned to higher ed and have been in higher ed going on now 10 years.

Stephanie Shafer 3:40

Hire Ed Going on now 10 years. Wow, I love your heart for the word of God and how you. It is clear, you meditate on it, you bathe in it, you memorize it and you have it there. So I love yeah, you're just passion for the Lord and what he's done Incredible journey.

Stephanie Shafer 4:01

Yes, able to educate your kids and beyond. So, yeah, thanks for sharing that. All right. One thing you did share with me is that you are super scared of snakes. You don't even want to see a picture. Tell us, tell us about that. What happens?

Tiffany Charles 4:20

I grew up in myrtle beach, south carolina, um. And so when I grew up in myrtle beach, south car Carolina, as a little girl, where my grandparents lived, they had a big, they had a restaurant, they owned land, and so when they they grew up having a farm and and having animals and so snakes navigate to those things, and so from young I was always seeing these little creepy crawlers and my cousin would say that's poisonous, that's gonna bite you and that's gonna hurt you and so it literally created a phobia because we had so many of them around um and to this day, because of that upbringing, I don't want to see a snake and my grandmother's not here anymore.

Tiffany Charles 4:57

So when I would see a snake I would run and call my grandma, grandpa, and they get the the uh, the shovel and they would they it, but they're not here, so I just run. I don't want to see them, I don't want anything to do with them, and some of them are not poisons, but my cousin certainly put a fear in me young, telling me that it was going to bite me and get me. So I've chosen to just stay away from them. I don't mess with them.

Stephanie Shafer 5:21

I think most people are probably right there with you. Not many people are like, waking up, I'd like to see a snake today. No, no, no, oh, yes, all right, so let's dive right into what makes you passionate about students and faith. So also, you're passionate about the word, but you're passionate about students and making sure everybody feels known, whether they choose to come to HCU or not. So tell us a little bit about that passion. How do you make students feel known?

Tiffany Charles 5:51

Sure, I think it first starts with relational.

Tiffany Charles 5:54

So I'm not transactional, I'm relational and I think that's very important for me when a student comes through the doors.

Tiffany Charles 6:00

For me, when I impact a student, that is a life, that's God's creation and this is a big decision of their life.

Tiffany Charles 6:05

So for me, as when I impact a student, that is a life, that's God's creation and this is a big decision of their life. So for me, as soon as I see a student Jeremiah 29, 11, the plans that the Lord has for them is good and not of evil, for peace and not calamity, to give them a future, to give them a hope, to give them an expected end. And so they're coming to me for counsel. They're coming to me to know which road to take and how to navigate it. The kingdom is so big, the desires that God has for students are so big and so little. Hcu can certainly not encompass the will of God for every family and for every student. And so, as they navigate to me, I want to make sure I am giving you as much information as possible and I'm informative as possible that will lead you in the direction that the Lord has called you to go, because I know, as far as Houston Christian University, the Lord will send who he needs to send.

Tiffany Charles 6:52

He'll send the harvest that he needs to send here, but I'm not selfish enough to try to keep you in a bubble, because admissions, as my admissions counselors, that we are informative, that we share knowledge, that we are supportive, particularly because we're an HSI institution, so Hispanic Serving Institution Also we have an opportunity to disciple here, and so with discipleship, you build relationship, and those relationships after, even with Jesus, after he discipled them, he sent them out. They didn't all stay in one area, he sent them out, and so I look at this as a mission field, as an opportunity that, as students come, I can share with them financial aid. I can talk to them about the admissions process, and it doesn't have to just be specific to Houston Christian University. I can talk to you about what a good essay looks like, that that a college would want and give you what you need.

Tiffany Charles 7:45

If the Lord leads you here, great. But if he doesn't, you're being sent out, and I want you sent out, well, I want you sent out equipped to be able to make a sound decision for your future that's going to lead you to the destiny that the Lord has for you. So it's all for me, it's all about relationship, um, and it's all about giving them the tools that they need for the student and the family to make the right decision on where that particular student needs to be for their future.

Stephanie Shafer 8:09

Yeah, totally agree. NorthStar Academy is just one tiny part in the big kingdom, just like HCU, but we're all working together. That should be silos you should have as students and families and everybody flow in and out, even if you only have them for 15 minutes on the phone at NorthStar, if we can pray with them and say, hey, online fit is for you, but maybe it's not. And I love, love love that, that it brings so much joy, so I can tell that you love your job and you get so much joy from it because you're literally doing his work, god's work, every moment and he created us for community and relationship. Yeah, that's right, I love love that. All right, tell me more um and students more that are listening about the essay. What are some practical tips?

Student Relationships and College Essays

Tiffany Charles 9:00

Awesome. So one of the key things that I always love to tell students anytime you are completing an application for a college, it is very important that you complete it in its totality. One of the key things that a student will do is when they hit the essay prompt. Either they don't do the essay or they partially complete the essay. The essay is an opportunity to share what we cannot see on a standardized test. Typically, if you take an essay to an ACT, we can see your writing. We're able to see what you're able to do that essay because, kind of now, most of the colleges a lot of them have stuck to test optional. We don't really we can't see the SAT or ACT as far as the English is concerned, or your writing component, and so this is an opportunity for us to see some of your skillset. But even greater than that, we want to know you, and typically a lot of those essay prompts is for us to get to know you.

Tiffany Charles 9:56

At Houston Christian University, I don't make a decision for a student to attend here only based on their GPA or only based on or the the SAT or ACT. I look at the student holistically. To look at you holistically, I need to get to know you better. I may not be in front of you, so that essay is an opportunity for you to share. Share your truth, Share your passion, Share your heart. Tell us, based on this major, this is what I want to do. This is what I want to be about, what I'm passionate about, how I want to go help change the world, or how I want to come influence your university, how I want to come start a new club that I feel will benefit students. And so that essay is very important because it tells us a little bit more about you, but also it gives us an opportunity to see your writing skills.

Tiffany Charles 10:42

And so slow down, Answer the prompt. Don't go over. Look at the prompt. Answer the prompt when you're doing that essay, go back to the basics. So when you were in English and you knew the main idea and you knew your three little points to that, and then you sum that up in a conclusion, and so take your time to write it. If we ask you for 500 words, give us 500. If they ask you for 500 words, give us 500. If they ask you for 750, give 750. If they ask you for 200, share 200.

Tiffany Charles 11:08

It helps you in your future, for when you're going for an interview, that you can answer the question precisely, sharp, get to the point and speak your truth. But then also make sure that you're rememberable that, hey, I saw that student Maybe the GPA was here and that other GPA for that student was higher. But man, when I saw that student, maybe the GPA was here and that other GPA for that student was higher. But man, when I read that essay, man, they pricked my heart. Man, I can see them here. Man, I see they fit in the culture. Man, I can see their heart. We can work on the skill, we can work to make them better, but this essay has really captivated me and I've gotten to know them better from a short few sentences or a short few paragraphs. So it's very important to take your time with it and to answer it, but know you're speaking your truth and you're sharing that with us. So there's no right or wrong answer, it's your truth.

Stephanie Shafer 11:52

Yeah, that's good, and you're emphasizing your, not chat, gpt or some AI, but your truth. Yes, yeah, yeah, that's really good, and so good that you're so interested in that and want to know them. All right, you mentioned you supervise undergrad students. What are some of the qualities you see in those students that they thrive in your university?

Tiffany Charles 12:17

Sure, yes. So I am the director for undergraduate admissions here at Houston Christian University. I will tell you one of the key things Personalities are very different. How you learn is going to be very different, but how you thrive is going to be what you put into it. And so you've got to come in, working on your discipline, working on your time management, and really come in knowing that you're not alone, and so know that this community is here to help you. So, for example, we have academic advisors. They're going to advise you from semester to semester to make sure you stay on track. We have success coaches for every major. So you have a success coach that's going to be checking on you. Don't miss your appointments. Make sure you connect with that success coach. If you have other things to do, go still see them. They're not just looking academically, they want to know holistically how are you doing? How can I assist you? How can I help you? We have peer mentors that are current students that have trailblazed before you Get connected to them, start to build the relationship, build the community with them. So, on all levels, we're bringing a balance to you so that you're able to have the full support that you need in your real round.

Tiffany Charles 13:24

We have free tutoring. Go to tutoring. Make sure you attend tutoring. Your professors know you by name. Get to know them. If they say, hey, you have a prayer request, share your prayer request. Get comfortable. Make sure they want to have a conversation with you. Open up for that dialogue and communication. Don't be afraid of the community that's around you. Begin to come in, navigate, build solid relationships and you can see students thrive that way. You got to come in and know that this is home, and so when you go home, how do you make yourself comfortable at home? You're coming to a university. You're going to spend the next four years. You need to make it home. So how do you make yourself comfortable coming home and being home for the next four years in order for you to be successful?

Stephanie Shafer 14:07

That's so good. Yeah, layers upon layers that you have there for students. How are you training up the students like the upperclassmen? Help the ones coming in like freshmen.

Tiffany Charles 14:18

Absolutely. So. We do have peer mentors, as I just stated. They're part of our freshmen, our first year seminar class. So we hire some of them, they get trained. They're actually on Monday, wednesdays and Fridays here at Houston Christian University the freshmen go to what they call the first-year seminar classes and then they go to convocation also, and so those students who are upperclassmen are part of the classroom. They help mentor them, they help teach them, they help do tutor with them, they have meetings with them to check on them, and so that's one part. We also have what we call CAs, so we have classroom assistants that are upperclassmen and so they will help tutor students. They're also in the classroom with the professors and assisting them with various needs. And then also I have my Husky Ambassadors, which are current students that are tour guides that come and give tours on campus. And then my students when they come to orientation. I have upperclassmen that are our orientation leaders as well as directors that begin to build relationships with them. They're here with them throughout their orientation.

Tiffany Charles 15:19

Our orientations are a full day and they stay overnight to the next day, and so there's a lot of different opportunities for them to build relationships, get to know them For our welcome days. We have all current students that run the welcome days. We're just kind of laying it out. They're the runners, they're the one that's taking the vision and they're running and they run well with it. And so current students are on every corner navigating. I love when we've had a current student that is walking around and we just start school and a current student is walking around and one of of the freshmen said hey, I remember you. You were my orientation leader. Oh my gosh, you opened the door when I came to welcome days. You gave me a hug. Those are how they build relationships and they remember the upperclassmen.

Tiffany Charles 16:01

So we have them everywhere, navigating, to make sure that you've been the trailblazer you've trailed before. Grab their hand and help them walk, and help them get across to the other side and get planted in campus.

Stephanie Shafer 16:16

Really rich. I'm thinking just the richness and the depth that you have there.

Tiffany Charles 16:21

Yes, yes.

Stephanie Shafer 16:23

All right. What's one thing you wish every high school student knew when starting to think about college?

College Accessibility and Parent Guidance

Tiffany Charles 16:29

Yes, there are so many opportunities. There are so many opportunities in the world. One of the key things that I would say that I want every student to know college is possible, regardless of your financial situation. College is possible and so I think many students and families don't realize that. Man, it's hard and times are hard. My students are working right now to help us at home, or they're doing this.

Tiffany Charles 16:59

And how can we afford it? College is affordable. There are many streams, there are many avenues, there are many opportunities for students to be able to afford college. And I would also say that when you begin to look at college, it's like you go to a car lot. If you're at a car lot and you look at a car, that car may say $60,000. But when you go inside and talk to the salesman and then when the salesman begin to hear your situation and your circumstance and your affordability, then they go to the finance manager and the finance manager say, well, hey, we can do this. Will this deal work? Or hey, we can do that, will that deal work? Give colleges an opportunity, the admissions counselors an opportunity, financial aid an opportunity to see your unique situation and see what we're able to do to navigate what you see online.

Tiffany Charles 17:41

That is just the sticker price. That is not what you would actually pay, and always come in wanting to gain information. Ask as many questions as you want to know. There's no dumb question. There's no question that we've answered before that we're not willing to answer now. It may have been our thousand time answering that question, but it's our first time for you, and so never think that there's a dumb question and always make sure you leave comfortable understanding what's been spoken to you and when it's not, you ask again. You get what you need.

Stephanie Shafer 18:11

Yeah, that's good. Okay, what about parents? What do you wish they knew, maybe when their kids in 10th grade, 11th grade, thinking about college in the future?

Tiffany Charles 18:20

Sure, what I would say to a parent is to know that every year matters, so support your child from the beginning to the end. Freshman year is foundational. When they hit sophomore year, it's important Junior year so that GPA has an opportunity to climb, junior year so that GPA has an opportunity to climb, that GPA has an opportunity to transition to where the student can get possibly scholarships for their GPA or just better opportunities to some of the schools that they want to attend. And so know that to a parent, every year counts Also to a parent. Don't ignore what comes in the mail. Pay attention to the things that come in the mail. Pay attention to the emails that may come. Some of those things are informative for parents, some of those things are informative for the student.

Tiffany Charles 19:03

And I would say start early, start your research early, look early, don't wait till the last minute to begin to think about college, to get information about college, but also go out on visits early. Take your students out on visits early to colleges and start to gain a portfolio of what you want to look at, and then, as they get further along in high school, then you can now begin to narrow that list down. Don't apply to too many colleges, you know. Just be careful how many you choose to apply to. Oh my God, it's so big. Narrow it in. You know you have one that you're saying for the student. I know without a shadow of a doubt my student is way over that, so they would get into that college without any problem.

Tiffany Charles 19:44

There's another college that my students right there on level with them hey, I can do about two of those. You're right there on level. I know that you should get in because that's a requirement. And then, hey, hey, reach for the stars. But if you've got to reach for the stars to say we're not quite there with what they're asking, I may do one there, I may do two or three in that middle, and then the one that's way low that I know I can go to sleep and I'm actually way over the qualification may be one there.

Tiffany Charles 20:12

So hone it in and narrow it in and really talk to your student, see where they want to go, pick up the phone, call admissions counselors, ask questions as early as sophomore year. It's not too early. Start early to ask questions, go to college fairs, go visit different college campuses to get as much information as you would like to get so that you can help them make a quality decision and know that also, starting early. With that, we can give parents information about financial aid, about helping their student complete scholarships and etc.

Stephanie Shafer 20:46

Yeah, so it sounds like you cannot gather too much information. Not, you cannot. Yeah, that's really good. All right, I love all this great, tangible information you're giving, but I'd love to know how you've seen God's hand specifically in your journey from dancing to discipleship and directing admissions.

Tiffany Charles 21:09

That's such a profound question and an amazing question I would definitely tell you. Growing up, I grew up in Myrtle Beach, south Carolina. And so I grew up in Myrtle Beach, south Carolina, and not knowing where I'd be today and the passion I need to have for people of all races, of all diversity. And so I grew up in Myrtle Beach, south Carolina, growing up young. I grew up in segregation and you would not be able to believe that now. But where I grew up I had to go to an all-black school and so people would pass by. It would be different name-calling.

Tiffany Charles 21:42

I danced very early, I was in pageants and so as a dancer, my parents never let me know or my family that why I was in this room by myself dancing. I would pass by all of the girls that would gather together that would be in a room dancing, but I would go to a separate room and they would always tell me that it was because you know you're unique, you're special and the instructor just wants to be with you. She was amazing Caucasian lady, knew the Lord, loved the Lord. She actually was on the cheerleading team with my mom in high school and they became really good friends. Karen Bowers, a very special lady dear to my heart, and she would go in the room with me, pray with me as a young girl elementary school and then she would practice with me and then, when she was done with me, she would make sure I was seen out the door and then she would go into the other room or there'll be other people. And I never understood why, but it was because I couldn't be in there with a Caucasian group of girls dancing. And so, growing up, I never I just thought, okay, I'm dancing. You know, it's special for me, I get to dance. I did a lot of solos and didn't understand why I did all these solos, but that's what it was.

Tiffany Charles 22:47

So, transitioning in junior high school and coming to Houston, texas, it was a huge transition for me because I'm coming to a big city, it's not segregated. I'm like, oh, they don't like me, okay, defensive, I got it. And so I grew up when I came here being very defensive. But, man, did I meet Jesus early when I came here in junior high school, and it was a Caucasian family Kelly and Brantley will never forget them that actually came and invited me to church.

Tiffany Charles 23:11

So I was the first person to give my life to Lord and my family and this amazing Caucasian family that were my parents. Neighbors, took me to church and so I started growing there in the youth group and they started coming back with zeal telling my parents about it. My mom started going. She got saved. Then my dad came and so then my sister brother followed along. But I didn't understand then now that the way the Lord was building me, with the level of leadership, with a level of grit, with understanding that not knowing when I hit this place in my career, the things I know Psalms 139, that I'm fearfully and wonderfully made.

Tiffany Charles 23:56

It doesn't matter how people look at me, it doesn't matter that I'm a female or, you know, I'm a black woman. That's in this level of directive admissions that the Lord opens doors for who he chooses and he favors those that he choose to favor and puts you in a seat for his glory. And so growing up from my youth to now has helped build me in character, build me in love for all mankind, and it has allowed me because one little lady took the time out to love me, to disciple me, to pour into me, to not allow me to see what was really even happening in my life as a child, to cover me until I got older that I can have a revelation of what was really going on. And so discipleship is very dear to my heart, because I was discipled, and I was discipled in such a precious way that I wasn't damaged, I was protected, I was covered until I came to at the age of understanding what really happened, but it did not crush me. And so for me, discipleship is very much so relational, but it's a place to get to know people, to guard them, to cover them, to pour out the love of God on them, to shelter them until they get to a place of maturity that they can receive a different revelation in life. And so I am a disciple here at Houston Christian University.

Tiffany Charles 25:11

I do disciple at church as well. It's such a passion for me because discipleship changed me, it built me, it revealed things to me about who I was, who God is, and it really helped me with my identity. The more I got to know the Lord through my discipleship, that's when I got to know Tiffany, and so I think that's very important, that in a place of discipleship it really brings you to identity of who Christ is. And when you really get to know who he is, you're able to know who you are, and then you're able to then be an agent of change. And so it is a huge passion for me that people know the Lord and that you know how to stand with him. And when you get to know him, it's not anything that you're not able to get through in life, because you know who your God is and the character of who he is and what he's able to do, and when circumstance hit, you know where to go back to, because you have a solid foundation in Christ.

Stephanie Shafer 26:03

Yeah, so powerful. I'm glad I asked you that question. What an incredible journey and story you have.

Tiffany Charles 26:09

Yes.

Stephanie Shafer 26:11

God's using it today and we'll keep using it. That's right. You're here, yeah, wow, that really is incredible. All right, let's do a quick round. I got four questions for you. Just tell me the first thing that comes to your mind. Sure, what's your favorite worship song right now?

Tiffany Charles 26:29

Oh man, I have so many. I would say Cece Winings Belief. Her Belief album is one of my favorites, so just believing in God, trusting God, and she's my favorite artist as well, so her Belief album.

Stephanie Shafer 26:46

That's good. What's one book you're reading that you would recommend to students?

Tiffany Charles 26:51

Bible, bible, I would definitely say Romans, romans, for me is the constitution of the Christian faith, and so the book of Romans will really help you navigate everything in its totality when it comes to the foundation of the Christian faith.

Stephanie Shafer 27:05

Yeah, so true. All right, what's the best advice you ever got?

Tiffany Charles 27:11

The best advice I ever got was to talk less and to pray more, because that's where you really get your answers, it's through prayer, and that's where you're truly transformed. It's through prayer.

Stephanie Shafer 27:23

Yeah, it's good.

Tiffany Charles 27:25

All right.

Stephanie Shafer 27:26

What college food do you secretly love?

Tiffany Charles 27:30

College food. I am so big on telling the team can you go pop me some popcorn real quick and leave my desk. So I would definitely say I am a popcorn. I will grab popcorn in a minute and some water and I will navigate and get through about three more hours. So certainly some fresh pop popcorn.

Stephanie Shafer 27:50

Yeah, no, burnt popcorn. No, burnt popcorn. No, that's fun, all right. So we've talked about every family is unique. Every student has a story, just like you do, and god is in every detail of that story. Yes, so, tiffany, what would you say to north star students and parents listening who may feel overwhelmed by what's ahead?

Tiffany Charles 28:14

pause, pray, take a deep breath and remember he. He's Alpha and the Omega. He's the beginning and the end. So he's going to be with you in the beginning. He's going to be with you in the end.

Tiffany Charles 28:26

He who began a good work is faithful to complete it to the day of Jesus Christ, and Romans 8, 28 is very clear that he works all things together for good For those that love him, are called according to his purpose and know that you're not here alone. You're not alone. You have people like me that, regardless if a student chooses to come here or not, my passion is to educate, my passion is to counsel you for college, and so there's help out there. There is a way that the Lord has already made and just trust him. Proverbs three, five through six is clear Trust in the Lord with all of your. Just trust him.

Tiffany Charles 28:58

Proverbs 3, 5 through 6 is clear Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Do not lean to your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path, and take those thoughts captive when stress comes and worry comes. Take those thoughts captive and know that you get into the presence of the Lord and his presence is fullness of joy and at his right hand are pleasures for everyone. The joy of the Lord will be your strength, and don't you ever forget the book of James. He says if you lack wisdom, you ask me and I'll give it to you freely. So trust who your God is and know that there's help. There's plenty of help out here, and people like me are all over this world and we're ready for you to call us. We're a phone call away and an email email away and we will respond back and give you the best advice that we can that will help you. But stay calm, breathe. Trust god, you're gonna get through this. You're gonna get through this love it.

Stephanie Shafer 29:46

You've shared so many good uh verses. My favorite of all of them proverbs three, five and six. I probably quote that remind myself share it more than anything. So, so, so good. We can never lean on our understanding.

Stephanie Shafer 29:58

We're going to mess it up, but he is going to work, work, work all around us and yeah, well, both times I've talked to you. This has been an incredible delight, just a worshipful experience with you, and so if you're listening and you want some good advice, some counsel, a worshipful time, call Tiffany. That's right, she's going to help you, no matter what school God has you settled in, wherever he's going to settle and place you. Tiffany's a great person to reach out. I'm sure she's got way more tips than we had time here to gather all yeah, so thank you so much for joining us today.

Tiffany Charles 30:36

It's been so delightful and I just speak, the blessings of the Lord over you and what you're doing, over this school, over your heart, over your family. Every time I've connected it's been a couple of times I've connected with you and the love of God just pours out of you. And so, from the Lord to you, thank you, thank you for doing what you do and always remember that your labor is not in vain. And you're such a delight. I can feel the peace of God, the presence of God, every time I connect with you, and I'm sure you're doing that with those students and families. So God bless you for the heart that you have for his kingdom and for his people.

Stephanie Shafer 31:09

Thank you All to his glory. Yes, amen. Thank you so much for listening today. Thank you so much for listening today. If you have any questions for our guest or would like information about Northstar, please email us. At podcast at nsaschool, we love having guests on our show and getting to hear their stories. If you have anyone in mind that you think would be a great guest to feature, please email us and let us know. And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on upcoming stories.