Forged in Virtue: The Pillars of a Clapham Graduate
by Phoebe Johnsen
What defines a truly successful graduate? Is it academic excellence, leadership skills, or career achievements? While these are valuable, they pale in comparison to the enduring impact of virtue. Clapham School decided to instill certain characteristics in its students to create the ideal graduate. Out of the eight qualities detailed in Clapham’s Portrait of a Graduate, the most important quality is building the habit of living a virtuous life. Practicing the virtues of perseverance, integrity, courage, and compassion is difficult but necessary to fulfill the Portrait of a Graduate criteria and to live a fulfilling life. These virtues are the principal characteristics of a successful Clapham graduate. Without them, Clapham’s carefully curated vision fails and so do our individuals and communities.
What does it mean to practice perseverance, integrity, courage, and compassion? There are many definitions to satisfy this question, but Clapham’s founders pulled theirs from the truest source, the Bible. Perseverance is defined as continuing on one’s journey even when facing trials. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote, “Whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2)
Perseverance is essential for a strong faith. Integrity is similarly essential to a strong faith as seen in this quote, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 10:9). Integrity is shown to be the opposite of deception, meaning integrity is acting with strong moral principles and honesty. Courage is forged when finding strength and bravery through God: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid” (Joshua 1:9). Lastly, compassion is demonstrated in the story of the Prodigal Son. When the father sees his lost son return, he is filled with compassion: “His father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). Compassion is shown to mean unconditional love and deep empathy. Now that these virtues are defined, it is important to know why students must practice them.
Living out perseverance, integrity, courage, and compassion is like refining gold in fire—each trial and challenge burns away impurities, leaving behind a character that is strong, pure, and unshakable. Just as a jeweler does not abandon gold in the furnace but watches over it carefully, God shapes His people through these virtues, ensuring they emerge earnest and ready for His purpose. John Piper emphasizes that perseverance is essential because it glorifies God. In his article, “The Race of Faith,” Piper writes, “Perseverance is the evidence that we trust God. Our hope is not in this world but in the promise of eternal life with God.” Perseverance is evidence of a resilient faith. Trials are crucial in fortifying faith to allow Christians to find strength through Christ. An example of this is given in scripture regarding Job. Job was a rich man blessed by God. To test him, Satan sent him trials; he took everything from Job. But with the help of God, Job persevered, and everything was restored to him. Like Job, Christians are promised eternal happiness, but first they must persevere through trials.
Similarly, Billy Graham believed that integrity is important because it is directly related to the strength of one’s faith. In his book, Character Counts, he argues, “Integrity is not just about doing what is right when others are looking; it’s about being the same person, whether people are watching or not.” Graham categorized integrity as key to the Christian witness. He believed it was not enough to proclaim faith without constantly living it, and without integrity, a Christian’s testimony is compromised. For example, the Old Testament hero, Daniel, exemplifies integrity when a law is passed banning prayer. Daniel openly prayed, and when he was confronted, he refused to lie, showcasing his commendable integrity. Daniel’s strong character is something for Christians to aspire to; just like him, Christians should choose the harder path if it is the righteous path.
"Integrity is not just about doing what is right when others are looking; it's about being the same person, whether people are watching or not."
Courage is a crucial virtue to master since perseverance, integrity, and compassion often require it. Matthew Henry believed courage is vital because, without it, a Christian cannot have true faith. In his commentary on the Bible, Henry says, “Courage is the willingness to act in faith, even when the way is uncertain and difficult.” Courage is necessary for perseverance and, consequently, faith. This is seen in King David displaying immense courage when he fought Goliath as a boy. To achieve this great feat, he had to find his courage through faith in God. Courage in the face of true danger is only possible with faith in God.
To contrast these two virtues, compassion is the result of faith. In R.C. Sproul’s article, “Why Compassion is Important,” he writes, “Compassion is not a mere feeling, but an active response to the brokenness of the world, a reflection of God’s mercy that flows through His people.” R.C. Sproul reflected that compassion comes from the realization that humanity has been saved through the mercy of God, so every person with deep faith must then mirror God’s mercy. In the Bible, Ruth is the model of compassion. When her husband died, she had the choice to leave her mother-in-law and return home where she could be remarried, but instead she refused and stayed with Naomi. Ruth took care of Naomi until her dying day. Christians are called to take care of those around them and to overflow with compassion like Ruth. Knowing what these virtues are and why they are necessary is important to understand The Portrait of a Graduate. With this background, it is now possible to show how to apply it.
Applying these virtues is easy in theory but difficult in practice. A Clapham alumnus was able to give insight on this and explain how she uses these virtues in day-to-day life. She started by saying, “You need to change your focus; on the deepest level possible, you need to point it towards God.” In her life she found it necessary to recenter herself in the Bible, reading it consistently and staying accountable. When asked how she does this, she responded by saying, “Everything you think and feel needs to be put through a filter.” She went on to call this filter her “holy filter,” meaning that every thought or action she engages in must align with the Bible. Inevitably, when she breaks this rule, she advises, “Pray about it; don’t hide it. Bring the sin to the surface and ask for guidance.” Her method for applying these virtues can be summarized as first realigning one’s life to reflect Christ, then building the habit of filtering all thoughts and actions, and finally bringing any sin before God. With this mantra always repeating in the back of her mind, she is kept accountable and is able to live a God honoring life.
It could be argued that these four virtues are important, but not the predominant characteristics of the ideal Clapham graduate. Qualities like participating in a local church or building the habit of studying the Bible and serving Christ faithfully could take the place of the four virtues. But the virtues are essential for truly participating in any of the other qualities; without them, the other actions are not genuine. These virtues are both the fruit and the labor of the Clapham Graduate characteristics. It takes perseverance to be diligent in participating in Church life. It takes courage to further God’s kingdom through ministry. It takes integrity to do all things for God, and it takes compassion to pray for others who are struggling. The virtues are there to ensure Clapham graduates live out their lives in a God-honoring way, which will take perseverance, courage, integrity, and compassion.
In conclusion, while practicing the virtues of perseverance, integrity, courage, and compassion may seem challenging, they are essential to fulfilling the vision of a Clapham graduate. Rooted in biblical teachings, these virtues provide the foundation for a life that honors God and strengthens one’s faith. Without perseverance, the student will struggle through life and lose sight of their spiritual journey. Without integrity, the student’s character will be compromised, and their faith will stall. Without courage, faith cannot be fully realized. And without compassion, Christ’s message cannot be embodied. These virtues are not a faraway aspiration. They are necessary for a graduate to live a life that completes Clapham’s mission.
Phoebe Johnsen is a junior at Clapham School. She has a passion for traveling and an interest in history. She enjoys exploring complex ideas through her writing.