Whitney Gray
'95 - All the World's a Stage
From
deep in the mountains of western Maine, the strains of music flow gracefully
over a nearby stream. Far removed from the activity of the metropolitan
city they once knew, the Gray-Cabey Orchestra practices amidst the tranquility
of their rustic setting. Life, however, was not always this serene.
Struggling through a divorce,
Whitney Gray needed a change. So in the fall of 1991, with three young
children by her side, Whitney moved from her hometown in Maine to the Chicago
area. As an older student, she was looking for the right college that would
best meet her needs. She found Trinity Christian College-the College with
the "friendly admissions counselors" who were persistent in their pursuit
of her to come to Trinity.
"God impressed upon me that
Trinity was where I was supposed to be," Gray said.
And here her life was changed.
"It was an amazing experience for me," Gray said. "The people at Trinity
were so supportive that I don't know how I would have made it through without
them. I was taught to think critically and I gained self-confidence. through
a holistic approach to life. My experience at Trinity has blessed my life
immeasurably."
In 1996, one year after her
graduation, Whitney and her husband, Shawn Cabey, moved back to Maine.
Dissatisfied with how the children were being educated, they decided on
home schooling. "There's a spiritual presence in our classroom," Whitney
said. The influence of Whitney's professors-Drs. VanderWeele, Cole, DeVries,
and Diephouse-is keenly felt. "My re-enactments of Shakespeare are always
animated-in Dan Diephouse style."
Whitney and Shawn made a
conscious decision to eliminate the negative influences brought into their
home through the media; thus the children were introduced to music. Nicholas,
Zachary, and Brianna all play strings, while Noah has followed in the footsteps
of his father, Shawn, a gifted concert pianist.
Featured on the CBS program
"48 Hours" in late December, the family has become known worldwide. Their
concerts, always arranged as benefits, have taken them from Jamaica to
the Sydney Opera House and the Crystal Cathedral. They have raised money
for "America's Fund for Afghan Children" as well as the "9-1-1 Fund," which
have struck particular chords with the family. Shawn, a computer specialist
for an architectural firm, has been working at Ground Zero since mid-September.
Whitney now gives to others
in the same way her professors at Trinity once gave to her. "When you are
treated so well, it awakens in you the desire to treat people likewise,"
Gray said. "I endeavor everyday to share with my children the love of knowledge,
and the faith and beliefs that my professors shared with me. My kids have
been the benefactors of my experience at Trinity. Education is a wonderful
gift that continues giving to future generations."
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