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Why did you choose Belmont?
Initially, I came to Belmont, because I was going to do music, and I was a classical voice minor with a communications studies major. That’s the original reason I came here. I wanted to do music mixed with media studies. But as I continued to move through school, I met up with Dr. Vaughn, who’s the chair of the communications department, and she got me interested in the new major: organizational and corporate communications, which I joined. Gradually, I got interested in New Testament scholarship and biblical studies, so I switched my minor to that.
What activities are you involved in on campus?
Up until this last year, I was in the Belmont Chorale, which was an excellent experience in which I got to go to China last summer with them, which was a lot of fun. I’m also the vice president of Lambda Pi Eta, which is our communication honor society. My afternoons are always taken up with track practice, in which I’m a shot putter and a hammer thrower. Maybe you could find me playing guitar on campus or writing music, because that’s still part of my life, even though I’m not pursuing it.
What’s been most beneficial to you as a student at Belmont?
The thing that I’ve liked the most is the camaraderie that I’ve built with my friends here. Not only do I have a great education – my diploma is going to be wonderful – I’ve learned so much. I’ve been pushed and expanded in so many different ways. The relationships that I’ve built at Belmont are really going to stick with me for the rest of my life.
What has the relationship been like between you and your professors?
My teachers are really more like friends, they’re really more like mentors. They help me, and they guide me instead of just spouting information at me. And that’s something you can’t get at a big school, but it’s something you can have at Belmont because of the small classes and the intimate nature of the teacher and student relationships.
How has attending Belmont helped you?
It has helped me expand both my capabilities as a person and as a thinker; as a scholar; as an athlete. I’ve been able to go to China. A lot of other people can’t say that. I was able to sing in the imperial garden in Beijing, China. What an amazing accomplishment to be able to look back at and see that. It’s helped me to become just a more well-rounded person, one who cares more deeply about social issues.
What are your plans after graduation?
I think I want to go get a master’s degree either in divinity and do theological studies and biblical studies at a higher institution, or I want to do something with organizational leadership and perhaps even meld the two into some kind of pastoral-church-ministry-type of thing where I can help the leaders of churches be more adept at handling conflict and leading their respective congregations. But really, who knows? I just know that I’m prepared for whatever I do because of Belmont.
