8th Grade Spotlight: Yulian

Yulian, 8th Grade

For nearly a decade, Yulian has called Holy Redeemer home. Yulian who first walked through the school’s doors as a preschooler, is now preparing to graduate after nine years of growth, faith, and friendship.

During his time at Holy Redeemer, Yulian found a unique balance between spiritual reflection and extracurricular passion. He points to the Friday school masses as a highlight of his week, noting that gathering for church is the perfect way to center himself before the weekend.

Outside the classroom, Yulian’s experience was defined by his involvement in robotics and basketball. For Yulian, the draw of the robotics team was the technical challenge of the builds, but the environment truly shone because of the camaraderie. He fondly recalls a standout memory from sixth grade when the team traveled to the state competition. The trip wasn't just about the competition; it was about the bond he shared with his teammates and the mentorship he received from the eighth graders at the time.

That same sense of community followed him onto the basketball court. Yulian cherishes the role of being a supportive teammate, a sentiment that was solidified during a memorable away game against Most Holy Trinity in the fall of 2025. Despite being on the road, the overwhelming presence of the Redeemer crowd made it feel like a home game, proving to him how much the school community shows up for one another.

As Yulian looks toward graduation, he offers a simple but powerful piece of advice to the students following in his footsteps: “If you are scared, just do it.” Reflecting on his own initial nerves regarding public speaking, soccer, basketball, and robotics, he credits his best memories to the moments he decided to push past his fear. By choosing to dive in, Yulian transformed those challenges into the definitive highlights of his years at Holy Redeemer.