Every student spotlight writer has a weakness that makes him cower in terror when he feels it. A weakness that brings him to his knees and beats him over the head with a frying pan. And it is the sickening dread that hits him when he realizes he has not yet found a person to feature - and the article is due already. I had been stricken by this predicament today, and I was in the depths of despair.  

Christian Fernandez, a 15-year-old sophomore from the Sunshine State, to the rescue!  

Christian lives in Miami with his parents and brother (Alexander, 13). His mom—who home schools Christian and his brother—is a lawyer who keeps her degree active even though she stays at home. His dad deals with the sales and operations of ATMs in Latin America.  

“If you're a lover of history, tradition, and philosophy,” Christian says, “you and I are in the same boat.” He loves reading classic pieces of literature, history, and philosophy. Those three subjects, he says, are his favorite and he could “literally spend all day studying them.” In his spare time, Christian writes, reads, composes some music, or just thinks. Some of his favorite literary works include the Chronicles of Narnia, Little Men (Louisa May Alcott), The Illiad and Odyssey by Homer, and more. Christian has posted some of his original writing and music composition on his Mahara profile. Christian listens to and loves classical music (his favorite composer is Beethoven) and some Christian music.  

This is Christian's first year with The Potter's School, but he has been homeschooled since the 3rd grade. He is currently taking NCFCA Apologetics with Dr. Kauk-- “the best class in TPS.” He has been competing in NCFCA Speech for four years and Debate for two years. “It has truly been a blessing from God to meet such great people there as well as gain a lot of skills and develop the ones I have.”  

Along with NCFCA, some of the interesting experiences Christian's had in his life are being the County Council President for the 4-H Club and, most importantly; maturing in Christ and being in the Word every day. His favorite verse from the Bible is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”  

And for the record--when it comes to the Mac-PC feud, Christian's an apple man. 

What are his plans and ambitions for the future? Christian has set his goals high. Since he was 12, Christian has dreamed of going to Patrick Henry College, a Christian classical liberal arts and government school in Virginia founded specifically for home-schooled students. His current goal is to get a Ph.D in history and become a college history professor, with an M.A. in philosophy or a degree in law (“whatever the Lord wills,” he says). He also wants to be a godly husband and father. Sounds like a pretty big plate, but with God's help, Christian knows that he “can do all things.” After all, he's pretty good at answering emails promptly!