Our June student of the month is Joshua DiGiacoma, a sophomore at Ignite Christian Academy who lives an hour outside downtown Chicago. Despite a number of medical hardships, Joshua has excelled at school and playing the violin. According to Mrs. Kristy Mays, Joshua “has always tried to make stay on top of his schoolwork even when in the hospital. He is a great student and a very polite kid.”
My ICA Story
I have been a student for almost two years. I began in November of 2015, which was my freshman year. I learned about ICA through my mom’s research about Christian home school. I enrolled because I was battling kidney failure. Another reason that I enrolled was because I heard that ICA was a Christian academy that valued God. I like being able to get ahead in my studies. I also like being in my own home. Finally, I like that there is no extra homework after all my classes are done. Once my class assignments are done, I’m done with school for that day.
Family Life
I have one younger sister. I enjoy doing dishes together. When we do the dishes, we laugh, smile, have fun, and make memories. I also enjoy going to the park and being outside with her. I like her creativeness, her smile, and her laughter. I also enjoy it when she acts silly and tries to get me to laugh.
Battling Medical Issues
I’ve had severe medical problems throughout my entire life. Sometimes there are periods that the problems are more dormant, and sometimes they are more active. I’ve also had a number of diagnosis predictions that never came to pass. I’ve experienced, seen, and felt things that most other people haven’t. Sometimes, I feel like I’ve been through more in nearly 17 years than most 80 and 90 year olds have seen in their entire lifetimes.
Life Lessons
You are not always going to get your way. God uses all circumstances for eventual good (Romans 8:28). Lift up your requests to God, but nevertheless, we should pray as Jesus did, “Not my will but yours.” You may never know something amazing about someone unless you get to know them. Be kind to all. Reach out to those who are alone.
The Gift of Music
I like orchestra because I have a God-given talent for violin and orchestra. I enjoy playing the violin is because it allows me to express my feelings in ways that I can’t unless I’m playing or listening to music.
I’ve been playing the violin for 6 years. I’ve been part of all-state performances and multiple solo recitals. I’ve also had the honor of being part of one of the best middle school orchestras in the state of Illinois (Hadley Strings Orchestra). I’ve also been part of a high school honors orchestra. Given all of my medical problems and any cognitive disorders and poor development that all of those medical problems have left, I should’ve never been able to play a violin. It’s a God-ordained miracle.
Dream Jobs
My two favorite hobbies are playing the violin and watching trains. My goal is to graduate from college with the required skills to play violin in a professional orchestra. After college, I want to apply these skills and play in an orchestra for my career.
For a dream job, though, I would choose train engineering. The reason that I would choose this is because I like to watch trains. I watch them quite a bit. If there were no train engineers to operate the train, there would be no trains to watch. I would also want to drive them because people rely on trains to transport their goods that they buy and use every day.
Words of Wisdom
Confess with your mouth and believe that Jesus is Lord. Believe that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). Read your Bible every day or every other day. Look for ways to serve others and God. Look and take opportunities to live uprightly before God. Be kind and a good friend to all, especially those you see alone. Help those who might be in need. Know that God works all circumstances for good. Finally, after believing in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, walk in integrity (Proverbs 20:7).