When Emily Brady, Class of 2026 arrived at StoneBridge in 4th grade, she was nervous, shy, and unsure of herself. Nine years later, she graduated with something she didn’t have when she first walked through the doors: confidence.
But that confidence wasn’t simply rooted in how she saw herself; it was rooted in Christ; in what she believes, why she believes it, and how to stand firmly on that truth.
“I was super, duper insecure and shy and so nervous,” Emily recalled about her first year at StoneBridge. “As soon as everyone came in and classes started on the first day, I just remember immediately feeling like I had been there for years.”
That early sense of belonging became the beginning of a much bigger story.
Seeing Christ in Every Class
Over her nine years at StoneBridge, Emily came to see her education as more than simply preparing for the next test, grade, or school year. Her faith became part of the way she understood what she was learning.
“Christ is so evident in every single class,” she said. “It’s taught me to just instinctually look for Jesus in every aspect of life.”
She also points to the grace she experienced from her teachers as an important part of that growth.
“The grace that my teachers have shown me along the way has really reflected and mirrored that same grace that the Lord shows us,” she said. “And that has honestly given me so much confidence as a Christian.”
Learning How to Stand on Truth
That confidence has also shaped the way Emily thinks. StoneBridge taught her to ask questions, seek truth, and engage with ideas from a biblical worldview. Over time, she learned not only what she believed, but how to articulate and defend it.
“StoneBridge has taught me to seek out absolute truth, and that’s only found in the Word of God,” she explained.
Being able to defend her worldview and present a solid argument grounded in biblical truth is something she says she didn’t know how to do when she first arrived at StoneBridge. Now, it’s one of the things she feels most prepared to carry with her into college.
Ready for What’s Next
Emily is now attending Auburn University, where she is studying business. As she begins this new chapter, she’s taking more with her than an academic foundation. She is taking the relationships, perspective, and solid foundation that was formed in her during her time at StoneBridge.
“I think StoneBridge has truly prepared me for that,” she says. “It’s given me a huge amount of confidence going into college.”
However, when considering what made those nine years meaningful, Emily didn’t start with academics. She spoke about the people.
“I would tell anyone coming to StoneBridge that it’s not just an investment of money into academics, but it’s an investment of time into relationships,” she said. “And that is truly what makes StoneBridge special is the people.”
For Emily, nine years at StoneBridge became more than a path from fourth grade to graduation. It was a place where she found a community, grew in her faith, learned to think biblically, and gained the confidence to carry those things with her into what comes next.
