Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
Undergrad Degree: Bible
Graduate Degree: Bible
States: DE, KY, NJ, PA, WV
What type of high school did you graduate from?
Homeschool
Why did you choose BJU?
I chose to come to BJU because I was impressed by the strong spiritual testimony of the faculty and students and knew that I would undergo excellent training to do what the Lord wanted me to do with my life. I knew the liberal arts emphasis would make me a well-rounded person, equipping me to interact with all kinds of people for the cause of Christ.
How have you grown over your years at BJU?
BJU helped me learn how to organize my time efficiently and begin taking on adult responsibilities. The pressures of class assignments caused me to set my own goals and find increasingly better ways to get things done. BJU also gave me opportunities to serve through my society, ministries, and campus jobs, helping me to focus my attention on the needs of others.
What was your favorite class in college? Why?
I really enjoyed Christian Masterworks as part of the Bible major program. I appreciated my teacher’s enthusiasm for great works of Christian literature by John Bunyan, A.W. Tozer, and one of my favorite authors, C.S. Lewis.
What was a misconception you had about BJU that was proved wrong when you became a student here?
I thought that the teachers and administrators would be more aloof because of all their responsibilities, but I found instead that they were very friendly and warm-hearted. They really wanted to help and befriend students to make them effective servants for the Lord.
What sort of campus ministries were you involved in?
I ministered in my residence hall as a group leader. I was involved in extension ministries, reaching out to the community through nursing homes, Bible clubs, prisons, military bases, and street witnessing, among other things. These ministries really helped me put my classroom learning into practice. I went with some guys from my society to Fort Jackson to help with a service to about 200 soldiers. We shared in testimony and song and then witnessed a baptism service afterward, held in a baptism tank on wheels which was especially equipped for the military.
What is your favorite meal out of all the food establishments on campus?
I really like the Snack Shop bacon cheeseburger and fries, along with some bosco sticks, which are bread sticks filled with mozzarella cheese served with marinara sauce!
What is your favorite spot to hang out on campus?
I really liked hanging out with friends and family around the athletic fields, playing or watching soccer games, and getting cheese nachos from the concession stand.
Any advice for incoming students?
Make your devotional walk the highest priority. College life is very busy and potentially stressful, but you will find that you work most efficiently and enjoy college more if you have first sought the kingdom of God. Be friendly and meet new people. Because you will be meeting new people your whole life, start now getting out of your comfort zone and interacting with others. Plan ahead when you get your course assignments. A little planning at the beginning of the semester will help you enjoy each day as it comes up instead of panicking last minute when something is due in class.
If you could visit 1 place, where would it be?
I would love to go to Israel and walk on the ground where Jesus and his disciples walked. Getting a feel for the geography of the place would forever change my perception of certain Bible passages.
What’s your favorite verse or Scripture passage?
Proverbs 16:3 has been my life verse for several years: “Commit your works unto the Lord and your plans will be established.” To me, this verse answers the important question of how I can know I am following the Lord’s will. My responsibility is to commit my heart and actions to the Lord first, and then make goals and plans in line with this commitment. The closer I am walking with the Lord, the more closely my plans for life will fulfill His will.