Page 35 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2026 - Online Magazine

SENIOR 2 SENIOR

Article Submitted by
Tinsley Drake KINGDOM PREP ACADEMY

Tinsley is a senior at Kingdom Preparatory Academy. She is the daughter of David and
Wendy Drake. She participates in theatre and serves on the Outreach and Worship
teams at her school. She dances and teaches at Christ in the Arts School for Dramatic
Dance. When she graduates, she hopes to spend a few years in the trainee program at
Ballet Magnificat before pursuing a degree in linguistics, focusing on Bible translation.

and groom dogs, and I have learned so much. Not only The most important thing she has taught me is to love
was I able to help, but I was also able to watch Tish do those who are deemed unlovable. She has taught me
what she loves. She took great care of every dog that that being the light of Christ means meeting others
came in the truck, despite their excitement or lack of it. where they are and loving them with unconditional
Tish loved every dog, not just the ones who were easy love, just as Christ loves us. Sometimes that comes in
to love, but the difficult ones who often gave her a run the form of intentionally listening, and other times that
for her money. comes in the form of discipline. Regardless, Grammy
has taught me that we are called to love people even
The first time I spent the day helping her, Tish’s first if they are different. In a world where unkindness is
appointment was with a dog whom other grooming abundant, Grammy is proof that a little kindness can
services had refused because of his temperament. go a long way.
He was a rescue dog who had been abused by his
previous owners, and he did not yet trust the people
around him. Instead of refusing to work with him, Tish
slowly began to gain the dog’s trust, eventually being
able to groom and bathe him.

She had met with him twice before I came yet had
never been able to do anything without the dog
freaking out. I remember observing how calm,
patient, and loving she was with that dog. Rather than
forcing the dog into the truck, she waited patiently
for him to come on his own terms. She offered a
loving, gentle hand, waiting for the dog to see that
she was trustworthy. That day, she was able to bathe
the dog without a fight—a milestone she exuberantly
celebrated! Instead of pushing out the outcast, she met
him where he was and showed him that there were
kind people in the world who could be trusted.

Tish has never failed to show up and be one of my
biggest cheerleaders. She has come to every ballet call or text
recital, choir performance, theatre production,
birthday, and any other event I find myself in. She has
always loved me for who I am, while challenging me to 806.445.2081
be the kindest, most loving, and best version of myself
that I could be. She has never let me get away with
being disrespectful or unkind to others, especially my
family members, and she is never afraid to call me out
when I am unkind. One of my favorite things about
her is that she is not afraid to speak the truth, even if it
is not what I want to hear. This has helped shape who I
am today and how I view and treat others. I would not
be the person I am today without Grammy.

Lubbock Senior Link 35