Alumni Stories: Bryson Lund ’20

When Bryson graduated from PCA in 2020, he knew his next chapter would take him far from home. From moving across the country for college to beginning his career with John Deere and building a life with his wife, Lily, Bryson has embraced each new season with the lessons and relationships that shaped him at PCA.

In this alumni interview, Bryson reflects on his journey from a fourth grader who was initially unsure about leaving his hometown school to a young adult who now sees just how much his PCA experience prepared him for life beyond the classroom. He shares about the teachers and mentors who invested in him, the importance of building community, and the faith that continues to guide him as he steps into what comes next.

Bryson, tell us a little about where life has taken you since graduating from PCA in 2020.

After graduating from PCA in 2020, I moved to North Dakota to pursue an Industrial Engineering and Management degree at North Dakota State University. I had a couple of internships throughout college, and then in May 2024, I moved to Iowa and began working for John Deere. What I originally thought might be a two-year opportunity has turned into something much bigger after I met my wife, Lily.

You came to PCA in fourth grade. What do you remember about that transition and your early years at the school?

My parents were looking for more of an academic challenge for us and ultimately decided to send all three of us boys to PCA. My oldest brother, Devin, started as a freshman, my other brother, Haakon, started in seventh grade, and I started in fourth grade. My mom was also connected to PCA as a long-term substitute then eventually 3rd grade teacher. 

At first, I did not want to go. We lived in Amesbury, Massachusetts, so PCA was about a 40-minute commute each way. I missed my hometown friends and, honestly, for a long time I thought I wanted to go back.

But from the beginning, PCA welcomed our family. We immediately began getting connected through athletics, clubs, and the PCA community.

Because of the commute and sports, PCA became a huge part of our lives. We would leave the house around 6:30 or 6:45 every morning, and once high school sports began, sometimes we wouldn’t get home until around 8:00 at night. We pretty much spent our entire days at PCA!

But from the beginning, PCA welcomed our family. We immediately began getting connected through athletics, clubs, and the PCA community.

Who were some of the teachers and mentors who made the greatest impact on you?

There were so many. Mrs. Buchanan was one of the first teachers who really challenged me—not just academically, but spiritually and as a young man. She pushed me while also loving and caring for me. 

Then there was Mama Brown [Mrs. Ruth Brown], who was awesome. She took us to Costa Rica with Gene Watson, and that trip was something I’ll never forget. It opened my eyes to different communities and cultures and showed me how wide-reaching the love of the Gospel and the Christian community really are.

Gene Watson was also a tremendous influence on me. He was a great mentor and an example of what a good, godly man should look like. Gene was always serving the PCA community as well as helping with baseball, from junior high all the way through high school.

In eighth grade, I had Mr. Connell who was an incredible man. I think anyone who had him can still see the legacy and impact he left on his students. I’ll never forget taking his elective Bible study on the book of Revelation. He took us on such a deep dive into Scripture and demonstrated why faith matters—not just at school, but in your everyday life.

In High School Mr. Beal and Mr. Foley are the two main names that come back to me. Mr. Beal was a teacher that always wanted the best for his students and challenged us to succeed in every step of life. Mr. Foley was a great leader and mentor. We sat down often and talked about how to be a godly man, how to be a leader, and of course the Red Sox. 

Lastly, spent a lot of time with Mr. Summers on the basketball court and can’t thank him enough for all the time he invested into me between practices, games, and summer league.  He challenged me from the very beginning, and have been able to take a lot of skills and life lessons he taught from the field to the court and transfer them into everyday life. 

What did PCA prepare you for when you left home for North Dakota State?

The biggest thing was commitment. PCA has academic rigor, and there are hard classes. In the moment, you may think, “Why are they being so hard on me?” Or “why is this something I have to learn?” But later you realize that those teachers were preparing you for your next step. That’s probably one of the greatest things PCA gave me: the life skills necessary to prepare for whatever comes next. Sometimes you don’t even know what that next step will be, but your teachers know the kinds of skills you’ll need in life and prepare you.

Moving from the East Coast to North Dakota also taught me an incredible amount about life. I didn’t even know what a combine was—and now I work on them every day! Moving away forced me to build my own community, make a name for myself, meet people with different backgrounds and perspectives, and become more independent. When you stay close to home, it can be easy to continue relying heavily on your parents and friends. Moving away meant I had to embrace and build a community of my own. I think learning how to do that is incredibly important for a young adult.

That’s probably one of the greatest things PCA gave me: the life skills necessary to prepare for whatever comes next.

What does this next season of life look like for you and Lily?

I’m getting ready to go back to school for my MBA while continuing to work full time and Lily will continue to work full time as an administrative assistant.  Lily and I would also love to raise a family one day—hopefully sooner rather than later!

More than anything, though, we are committed to the Lord. He has been so gracious and faithful to us. 

If you could give one piece of advice to today’s PCA Upper School students, what would it be?

You don’t always know what your next step is going to be and taking that next step can be scary. But you have to recognize that every step you’ve taken up to this point has built you in some way.To step confidently into your next season, you have to be willing to pick up your other foot, move it forward, and carry with you the legacy and lessons of the people and experiences that shaped your past.

There are going to be unknowns—the economy, your job, your career, and where you’re going to live. You won’t have all of those answers. But you can know that the Lord is faithful and that He will be there every step of the way. Even if you stray away for a season like I did or don’t see the Lord in the same way you once did, He is still faithful to call you back home. So step into the next season of your life with confidence, knowing that the Lord has your back. Keep Him as your number-one priority. When you do that, your life begins to take the shape of what God wants you to do, rather than simply what you want to do.