A Leader in the Making

At Excel Adventist Academy in Missouri City, Texas, it’s not uncommon to find students who care deeply about their friends and faith. But even among such a group, Austin Bullard stands out.

Now entering the fourth grade, Bullard is known throughout the school as someone who leads with kindness. Whether offering a helping hand or checking in on a classmate, he’s often the first to notice when someone needs encouragement. Though he tends to be quiet at first, he’s quick to engage when it matters—especially if it involves caring for others or standing up for what he believes.

Bullard’s younger sister is in Pre-K, and he watches out for her daily. You’ll see him holding her hand during drop-off or waiting near her classroom with a steady presence. That attentiveness carries over into his classroom, where he doesn’t just complete his own assignments—he reminds others of theirs too, gently pointing them back to the question written on the board: What would Jesus do?

Sometimes, when speaking with classmates who are struggling, Bullard becomes visibly emotional. His eyes might well with tears as he tries to help someone see how much better things could be if they made a different choice. There’s a sincerity in those moments that you can’t teach—and that kind of compassion leaves a mark on those around him.

Recently baptized, Bullard takes his relationship with God seriously. During the school’s Pentecost 2025 “Fishers of Men” ministry, he was one of the students who shared messages during the after-school worship services. These gatherings welcomed not just students and staff, but families and community members as well. Speaking in front of a group can be intimidating for anyone, let alone a child, but Bullard rose to the moment.

He approaches academics with that same focus. Bullard is diligent and self-motivated, making sure his homework is turned in on time and complete. At the school’s science fair, his hard work earned him first place among third graders, and later he placed second overall at the regional Learning Expo. 

When school is out, Bullard stays busy. He plays basketball and soccer, takes karate, swims and runs track. But he’s not all movement—he also enjoys sitting down with a good book, playing the piano or spending time with his siblings. He’s curious about the world and dreams of becoming an astronomer someday. Or maybe president. Why not both?

Bullard’s ambition is easy to admire, but it’s his consistency—the way he lives what he believes each day—that truly sets him apart. He’s the kind of student who quietly makes a classroom better, not just by what he does, but by who he is.

By Collette E. Small, Excel Adventist Academy Teacher