Health & Fitness
Now a dentist, Luke Czer credits 'learning how to learn' at Lighthouse Christian Academy
Dr. Luke Czer flouts education fads. Character and curiosity in learning are more important than regurgitating on tests, he says.
Upon graduation from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry this month, Luke Czer heaped praise on his high school, Lighthouse Christian Academy, for giving him the tools to succeed.
“Graduates from LCA have a thirst to learn,” Luke said. “This is in stark contrast to so many students who just learn in order to regurgitate the knowledge on a test so they can move on with school and to the next level.”
Second oldest of seven children, Luke learned a lot of things at Lighthouse that he wouldn’t have gotten a chance to learn elsewhere. He developed his communication skills through LCA’s drama programs, both as a dancer and as an actor.
“The experiences in theater helped immensely with my communication skills and public speaking skills, both of which are hugely important and beneficial in just about any field of work one may enter,” he said.
At Lighthouse, Luke played varsity football, basketball, baseball and track and field. His football coaches were a former NFL player and a former NCAA Div. 1 player.
“At the Lighthouse Christian Academy, the community is truly one of a family with healthy family relationships,” Luke said. “You find that by and large everyone is genuine and transparent at LCA.”
The secret of LCA's success
Learning how to learn is great, as is a well-rounded education, but the secret of Lighthouse is character formation.“A student's personal life and good character strongly influences his or her academic life,” Luke said. “LCA's focus on character leads to a consistent lifestyle in the many different facets of a student's life.”
Luke’s dad, Dr. Lawrence Czer, is a cardiologist and the medical director of the heart transplant program at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, selected Lighthouse over more costly alternatives NOT because he couldn’t afford renowned college prep on the Westside. He chose God first as a key to success.
“We wanted our kids to be honorable more than on the honor roll,” said mom, Kari Czer, in another article. “We wanted our kids to attend a school that honors Christ first and then instructs in essential academics. Good academic achievement follows solid Christ-like character.”
Before enrolling in the Loma Linda School of Dentistry, Luke was an admissions officer for UCLA. “I believe that LCA has all the resources it needs in order to successfully prepare young men and women to advance to the next academic level,” he said.
Dentistry from origami
Luke chose dentistry because a lot of his relatives were in the medical field. Also as a child, he became highly proficient at origami, folding intricate cranes out of 1-centimeter pieces of paper. Such minute dexterity turned out to be useful when working on people’s teeth, he said.As an undergrad at UCLA, Luke majored in economics. “I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.
In May 2014, Luke married classmate Janelle. He will go into practice as a captain in the U.S. Air Force for a determined period of time.
What makes LCA tick is what makes LCA grads thrive.
“I think that having a relationship with God is paramount,” Luke said. “LCA does an excellent job of emphasizing the importance of a relationship with God. There is an emphasis at LCA on knowing God, not just knowing about God. That is a very important distinction to make and I'm glad LCA focuses on knowing God, not just knowing about God!”
