Nathan Edwards ’17

Exercise Science

Biography

My story, after graduating from Taylor in 2017, screams of God’s faithfulness and consistency. My wife, Libby Edwards (Hansen ’17), and I moved to Muncie, IN, where I pursued a master's degree in biomechanics at Ball State University and Libby worked at Eli Lilly and Company. While in Muncie, we attended Urban Light Community Church. As one of the most notable events during our time as a part of the Urban Light family, we were a host family for a 9-year-old girl through the Safe Families program. This kiddo lived with us for 4 months while her mom was securing housing and a job. Our experience as a host family opened our eyes up to a different walk of life, and it forced us to depend on God’s mercy, grace, and steadfastness more than either Libby or I had needed in our past. God’s timing is perfect (always!), and our role as a host family ended one week before our time was consumed with the end of my program at Ball State and our search for a new home. God again provided, as we prepared for a move to Columbus, OH where I would begin in a PhD program at The Ohio State University. Without knowing the Columbus area at all, God directed us to a magnificent church and a great neighborhood. After leaving Taylor, we had a strong desire and need for a community who strove to follow God’s call and to pursue a life of flourishing in His presence. We found this community at Scarlet City Church. Since joining the church, we have served in many capacities and have seen God’s work in our own lives and in those in our communities. Most recently (and best of all), our lives drastically changed in April 2022 as we welcomed a new beautiful addition to our family—Josephine Anne. Josephine means “God will add”, and He has continued to add to our dependence on Him, to our friendships, and to the strength of our community. Through her birth, God’s story of faithfulness in our lives continues, and we’re excited to see where He will lead.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

While at Taylor, I had numerous experiences that impacted my journey then and continue to influence how I live now. Each of the experiences that I will briefly mention have a similar theme of requiring me to become uncomfortable or to work towards something difficult. I was a member of the golf team while at Taylor, and through countless hours practicing and competing, I learned to appreciate the process of slowly improving at a skill. Persistence at the edge of my ability was essential to my development as a golfer, and this same virtue was reinforced through my participation in summer research at Taylor. By staying on campus for one summer and improving my understanding and practice of the research process, I was pushed to improve the quality of my work. At the same time, I gained hands-on experience with research which has grown into a deep love of the research process. Also through the Exercise Science program, I spent a semester in Ecuador where I was pushed to learn a new language and culture. This trip grew my appreciation of the diversity of God’s kingdom and the reflection of God’s beauty in other cultures. Finally, the community I was surrounded with while at Taylor has shaped my life forever. There are no specific events that stand out, but rather the consistency of being in community, of sorting out conflict, of supporting each other through triumphs and failures, and of seeing God’s nature and desire for His people that spoke to my heart then and continues to speak now.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

The Exercise Science program at Taylor prepared me extraordinarily well for pursuing graduate school. This preparation transcends the material in each class and is rooted in the desire for students to do good work because it is honoring to God. In an academic sense, Taylor prepared me to think about human movement and health holistically. Elective and core courses in biology, psychology, strength and conditioning, rehabilitation science, physiology, biblical literature, and philosophy all helped me develop (and continue to develop) a larger understanding of the factors which affect movement and health. Additionally, within Exercise Science, I was given many opportunities to lead projects or programs. For example, I led the Fit Into Health program for 2 years, and this added responsibility increased my leadership, communication, organization, and personal training skills. I continue to experience the benefits of helping lead this program today!

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

In my experience with human movement science, the courses I took outside of Exercise Science strengthened my understanding of the complexity of human health and have better prepared me to positively impact those that I work with and the research that I do. Taylor provides a predictable and stable foundation to grow and develop on, but after you graduate from Taylor, life events will happen for which you cannot be prepared. The breadth of information and perspectives gained through Taylor’s liberal arts education supplies you with tools to think about and consider different perspectives for local, global, and personal events. Most importantly, with so many discordant voices screaming in the world, Taylor’s education can help you see God’s work in small and large ways. Ultimately, faith in the good work of Christ is the key to having peace amongst hardship; Taylor gives a safe foundation for growing that faith, but it cannot grow your faith for you, that is an earnest decision that you must make.

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

When I was considering pursuing more education, I received advice from past graduates and faculty members within and outside of Taylor regarding career opportunities for different potential directions. I had been fostering a passion for biomechanics and movement science, and these connections helped me understand this passion more. I would strongly recommend talking to past graduates who are now in similar fields and talking to professors for advice relating to what you are interested in pursuing. I also greatly benefited from volunteering for and participating in research at Taylor. I recommend asking about opportunities to develop more skills and to gain exposure to different types of work. These volunteer opportunities will often help you understand your interests better. Finally, think about your “why” and consider if it aligns with truths given in the Bible. Work and faith should not be segmented into different boxes of life but need to align (see Ecclesiastes). I have always found the most enjoyment and success in my work when I have been the most fervent in my faith.