It was February 2007, and time for Eastport Bible Church’s annual Breakaway retreat. This was when my journey began with Grace Christian University. I was thirteen years old and it was my first time at Breakaway, and I clearly remember sitting on the left side of the room a few rows back from the front. A video promoting Grace was shown, and it was my first time hearing about Grace. As I heard student testimonies and information about the college, I felt I’d be going there one day.  However, as a 7th grader, I did not think much about it, college seemed so far away.

Over eight years have passed since I first heard about Grace Christian University, and I can now say I am proud to be an alumni of Grace.  I’m humbled and so thankful for the ways in which God has used Grace to impact my life and walk with Him in so many different ways. During the four years I spent at Grace God used classes, professors, staff, friends, and peers to challenge and encourage me in my daily walk with Him.  While at Grace I made friends and built relationships that are centered on Christ and I know will last the rest of my life.  I have great memories from my time at Grace.  From ministering to the homeless in Dublin, Ireland, to beating the men at the famous game of “Pull Apart” this past fall (2015), to my first theology and Bible classes, and late night deep talks with friends, I am amazed at how fast four years can go by. It will be very strange to not return to Grace Christian University in the fall. As I enter into this new journey, I’m excited to see what God has in store. I have already seen God working in so many ways and have been given the opportunity to continue to apply many of the things I learned at Grace in different situations since graduation. God has given me the opportunity to begin an online masters program though the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and I will be pursuing a Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis.  I hope to work with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders. My hope is that through this I can show the love and compassion of the Lord! Though my time as a student at Grace is complete, Grace Christian University will forever hold a special place in my heart.