Brentwood Christian School senior Pasha Petty is a positive and relationship-centered friend to everyone he encounters, and his welcoming attitude to all shows in his daily interactions.

Whether he is walking in the hallways, playing in the Jazz Band, or sprinting down the soccer field, Petty’s compassionate attitude draws people towards the interesting and Christ-driven senior that Petty is.

Petty has been attending BCS since his sophomore year, where he immediately dove into spreading Jesus’ love by reaching out to others and quickly making friends. From the get-go, Petty has made it clear that his faith is the leading force in his life, and is confident in his identity in Jesus.

“I have a purpose to live for,” Petty said. “My everyday life consists of routine things, and having faith means I can do all of those things for God, even if I’m doing dishes, laundry or just studying for school.

“My faith brings joy to my relationships with people around me as I try to reflect God's love for others.”

One of Petty’s close friends, senior Ian Wiggins, has seen that joy first-hand.

“Pasha has impacted Brentwood by being bold in his faith, and not being afraid to share with people the things he’s struggling with or things he’s dealing with,” Wiggins said.

Ask anyone that’s had a conversation with Petty: they can testify how his faith seeps into the way he talks, and the way that he connects with others.

Words people have used to describe Petty are humble, kind, and obedient to Christ.

“I would say Pasha’s humble, but he also has confidence in what he believes faith-wise, and how he lives his life,” senior Luke Weed said.

“I see Jesus working through Pasha by the way he loves and deeply cares for people,” junior AJ Kent added. “One example I can remember is when Pasha reached out to me and asked what I needed prayer for.

“That was such a simple and kind act that impacted me a lot, and I admire Pasha’s diligence in pursuing the Lord.”

Petty, who attends Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ, is an active member of his youth group, and contributes to his peers by giving lessons and having in-depth conversations with them.

“All the little lessons he gives at church are always so beneficial to me,” said junior Tucker Smith. “Pasha’s always the first one to volunteer to have a lesson or to lead something, and he’s always really funny when he does it.”

Petty grew up in Russia, working with his family as missionaries, and his goal is to continue this mission in his future.

Not only has Petty become a vital part of the senior class, but he has also thrived in his transition from Russia to the States. Now, Petty is bilingual, a sought-after skill for colleges and job recruiters, and he is able to connect with others who have gone through similar experiences in their faith journey.

Since before he knew his ABC’s, Petty has been actively involved in music. His favorite genre of music is Classical, he plays the piano on average an hour per day, and he strives to pursue music in the future. Petty even graduated from a 7 year music school in St. Petersburg. It’s evident that Petty’s love for music will go far.

“I want to major in piano performance and double major in Bible and Missions at Harding [University], " Petty said. “My plans are to spread God's word around the world and hopefully go back to Russia as a missionary.”

Beyond his musical and spiritual influence, Petty is important on the soccer team. His dedication and teamwork makes him a valuable member of the program. Even during practice, he approaches tough days with a smile, and pushes his teammates to keep working hard.

“Pasha is an excellent player on and off the field,” senior Kale Anderson said. “He’s always bringing work ethic when we need him.”

Academically, Petty has blazed through some extremely challenging classes at BCS, including AP Biology, AP English Language, AP Computer Science, AP Physics, AP Literature, and AP Government. Teachers have described Petty as dependable, respectful, and willing to help his peers, even when he has his own work to do.

Despite being a relatively new addition, Petty is a key component of this year’s senior class, and Brentwood as a whole. His commitment to his values and his faith always comes over the pressures that the world puts on him. Wherever life takes Petty, his mission to bring others to Christ and lead others with his kind heart is more than just lip service.

“The way he keeps pursuing Jesus even when he’s not having the best day is really admirable to look at,” Kent said.

“Pasha’s a great musician, he’s a kind guy, he’s very spiritually in touch, he knows what he’s doing, he’s confident, and he’s not willing to change just to please someone,” senior Dylan Sloan said.