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I studied Human Physiology and Preventive Medicine here at Taylor. I transferred to Taylor my sophomore year of college, and it was here that I truly experienced Jesus for the first time. As a pre-medical student with ADHD, it has not always been easy for me, and I came into Taylor having lost all hope in myself. On my visit to Taylor, I remember meeting with Dr. Hayes and telling him that I did not know what I would major in here because I wasn't smart enough to go on to graduate school. He went on to ask me about my grades in high school and the grades from my previous college. He looked me in the eyes and said, "You are smart enough, and I can help you get there." These are words I had never been told before. I had been told that my ADHD would make it nearly impossible to go on to graduate school and that my distracted mind in class was disrespectful, but I had never been told by a professor that I was smart enough or capable enough until I came to Taylor. That is the difference in Taylor University. We don't just slap a cross or Bible verse on our logo and say that's enough. Here at Taylor, Jesus is portrayed through moments like this: through professors checking up on you and believing in you and through a community that wants to help you grow. After graduation, I will be working as a CNA in the ER at Putnam County Hospital while studying to take the MCAT to apply for medical school beginning fall 2023. For my gap year, I will be teaching English in Spain through the months of October until May. I can definitely say that these plans were nothing that I had expected when I transferred three years ago, but it is through the community at Taylor that I was able to realize to trust God with whatever He has planned for me.
When I think of my most valuable experiences at Taylor, there are so many that come to mind. As I talked about earlier, Taylor University is where I truly experienced Jesus for the first time. In the fifth grade, I was diagnosed with a nerve disorder that left me in a wheelchair and unable to walk for many months. God healed me from this disorder, but I dealt with a lot of anger for many years about why He allowed it to happen to me in the first place. I remember exactly where I was when Jesus showed up to me. I was standing on Mount Olympus in Greece during the Footsteps of Paul January term trip with Taylor. On this mountain, I felt Jesus telling me that He had been there all along. He had carried me through, and now here I was hiking up an entire mountain after being unable to walk at one point in my life. I praised Jesus on this mountain, and felt Him in a way I had never felt before. As the years went on, Jesus kept showing up in little moments. I had put walls up about Jesus for so long and seen Him as someone who made me follow a long list of rules before I could ever approach Him. Taylor helped me break down these walls. They showed me that Christianity is about relationship and not following a long list of rules. They showed me that Jesus has been waiting patiently for me, and I am so very loved by Him. This spring, I heard about a trip to the Dominican Republic led by Jeff Wallace. Jeff has been another portrayal of Jesus Christ to me, so I was so excited to apply. It was in the Dominican Republic that I was able to experience Jesus in an even richer way. I was able to work in a medical clinic and enjoyed every moment of it, but kept receiving the same words from God, though, as I was standing in that clinic. Those words were, "Not yet." I surrendered my plans to Him, and it was here that I felt Him guiding me to a "detour" of my plans for medical school to use my knowledge of both the Spanish and English language and go teach in Spain. My time at Taylor has been sprinkled with experiences such as these. I have so many more that come to mind, but these are the times that Jesus has shown up to me in such dramatic ways. I thank Taylor for this growth I've had in my relationship with Him, and when I think of times that Jesus showed up to me most, I will always think of Taylor University.
The professors at Taylor are truly different than typical professors I have seen before. I remember a specific professor, Dr. Staritz. I had a concussion my junior year and had to complete my classes in the month of June. Dr. Staritz would spend time out of his day to do Zoom calls with me to make sure I understood the material and consistently checked up on me to make sure I was doing okay and understood the material. Interactions with professors such as these gave me space to grow in a timeline that was appropriate for me. Professors here have shown me patience and the love of Christ in ways I did not know was possible from professors in such difficult classes. They have pushed me to excel while also being gentle and patient with me. I can honestly say the best part of Taylor is the people and staff here, and I am so very grateful for professors such as these that have portrayed Jesus in such a real way.
I think that Taylor prepares us to see the world in a way that holds true to our values while also respecting others opinions. I have learned that it is through love that others come to Christ, and that is our biggest calling in whatever field we go into.
I think the encouragement that I would give someone in my major is to hold tight to the fact that Jesus sees you and wants a relationship with you. He knows you far better than yourself, so trust that wherever He leads you is exactly where you are supposed to go. You are capable, and you are so loved! As you continue to learn more information, never forget that relationships and connection with others is just as important as the information you can provide them with. Wherever you may go, never forget to show Christ's love to others in whatever field you are in.
