The Master’s University was always the intent. There was no plan B. It was the only school I applied to, and to be honest, I hadn’t thought of anything beyond attending here. I had anticipated attending TMU since I was 12 after hearing it was an overnight camp-like-experience for four years. This, I was told, is the place you meet the friends you’ll have for life, see the Bible in colour (thanks IBEX), and possibly find a spouse (still working on that, fingers crossed with a couple days to go). Moving internationally seemed to have thwarted these plans. At the age of 14 I moved from Alabama, the south, to Australia, the real south. Surprisingly, all this moving around didn’t shake the desire. In actuality my plans were only cemented as I began to see the need for a strong biblical education in my life. Australia had a deficit of strong biblical teaching in a liberal arts context and I saw this university as an oasis from my desert.

After four years I can confidently say TMU has shaped me in unique and unparalleled ways in comparison to any other time in my life. I have learned how to think with a sanctified mind. Being a Christian student presents a unique advantage: we are able to see the world as God sees it. The faculty and staff not only understood this but taught and discipled in such a way that students can break out into the world knowing how to discern all that they come into contact with. Classes like Prof Hill’s Marketing Strategies have shown me how to see business and consumers in a way that lines up with a right view of man and see how businesses ought to conduct themselves in light of that. Prof Chou’s Essentials of Christian Thought made sense of the history of philosophy, how we got here, and where we are going. Prof. Horner’s literature classes have shown me the value of filtering humanity’s literature with a sanctified mind. This is nothing compared to the impact of what my major, Biblical Counseling, has taught me. For this I would need much more space; in summary I have been taught the skill and art of “bearing one another’s burdens” as Paul commands in Galatians 6.

But I would be remiss to say the education received here was the only way my life was shaped. TMU’s influence on me has been holistic. I haven’t just seen change in my academic intellect. I have also grown to see and appreciate the importance of the body of Christ and involvement therein. I have seen how to deal with mistakes and reconcile with offended friends. I have learned how to network and be active in making things happen. It may be an exaggeration, but it feels as though each class, professor, staff, and student have, in some way or another, contributed to who I am today.

Looking back, I couldn’t be more grateful for my time here. It wasn’t all easy and blissful, but that’s never really been the point. God has blessed me with a life changing education and framework, given me close friends, and used this university to help implement me into His local body of believers. I don’t know all that the future holds, but I’m excited by the opportunity to be ambitious for the glory of God!