Four years fly by quickly, and just as students start feeling like they’ve figured college out, they are marching to “Pomp and Circumstance” and preparing for life’s next challenges. As Union Adventist University interviews graduating seniors each year, they are always asked what advice they have for new students. Here are the responses from five of Union’s newest alumni.
Quinn Gillespie
Having given many campus tours and greeted many lost new students while working in Union’s Ortner Center, Quinn Gillespie has a lot of advice to give incoming freshmen.
“By the time you finish college, you’ll be a completely different person,” Gillespie said. “Someone told me that before I went into college, and I thought, there’s no way, but I am. Just trust the process and know that God is working in all things. He’s going to shape you into who you need to be.”
Another recommendation is to ask a favorite professor to be a spiritual mentor. “By the time I started HeartScan with Dr. Byers, I had finished taking classes from her,” Gillespie said. “Instead of never getting to see her, we would meet and color together while we talked about life and God.”
Next school year, Gillespie will be on the other side of the desk as she teaches third and fourth grades in Manassas, Virginia, and like her mentors in Union’s Education Program, she has no plans to give up coloring or talking about God.
Carter Alger
When reflecting on his time here at Union, Carter Alger thinks about the community he’s found. “I originally came to Union for the IRR program but I found so much more. I found community,” he said. “At Union, you can strike up a conversation with anyone. Events like Project Impact have brought me lots of friends, and I’ve really appreciated the spiritual life here at Union.”
Alger’s advice for incoming freshmen is: “Don’t be afraid to make connections. Those connections will help you in classes, friendships and jobs. Over my time here, I feel like I know 40 to 50 percent of the campus. I have also made great relationships with my professors. I feel like I can have conversations with them at any time.”
Jailly Gadea-Sanchez
“I remember coming to Union for tournaments and music festivals during high school and seeing how powerful the worship here was,” Jailly Gadea-Sanchez said. “I saw how intentional Union was with their worship programs, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
That vision of herself helping lead in praise and worship came true during her time at Union. “I have enjoyed being able to lead others to Christ through music, which is something I always dreamt of as a kid,” she said. “I’ve really appreciated how Union changed my view of Jesus for the better. That is something I will be eternally grateful for!”
Gadea-Sanchez advises her students and new freshmen to lean on God. “For three years, I was trying to go through school on my own,” she said “It wasn’t until junior year that I got burnt out and realized something had to change. I realized how important it is to pray for strength and to bring your worries and burdens to God; He can make your load light. Take some time in your day to be still and to reflect, relax and pray whether that means waking up a little earlier in the morning, taking some time in the middle of your day, or even at night.”
“I promise you, even on the busiest day, when you pray and bring your worries to God, you will end the day having done everything you needed to and with little to no anxiety and stress,” Gadea-Sanchez continued. “God is there waiting to help; all we need to do is open the door just a little bit for Him to come in.”
Ahchen Edwards
Ahchen Edwards transferred to Union from Antillean Adventist University to study music, and he has been blessing the campus with his voice and instrumental artistry ever since. During the Christmas Concert last December, he even directed the orchestra in the debut of a song he composed, “An Afternoon Adventure.”
His advice to new students, whether freshmen or transfers, is to get involved. “There’s so many different groups and communities within this grander community of the university. You can just say, ‘Hi, I want to join in,’ or ‘I want to start doing something new,’ and that’s all it takes. You’re a part of it now.”
Ella Foster
Ella Foster’s Union experience took her to the other side of the world when she volunteered to serve with Adventist Frontier Missions in Palawan, Philippines.
“My student missionary experience changed my life and how I see the world,” Foster said. “It was amazing and hard. During my time there, my eyes were opened to see how God works in my life and the lives of others around me. Now, I see Him in all aspects of my life.”
A biomedical science major, Foster plans to continue her education next year in Union’s new Master of Public Health Program. Foster’s advice for those who are just beginning their college journey is to try everything.
“It’s OK to change your major, emphasis, whatever,” she said. “Try new things and get involved to learn more about what you like to do. It’s OK if you don’t have it all figured out when you start.”
Compiled by Rebekah Fingerson, an English education major from Wisconsin, and Scott Cushman, director of public relations at Union Adventist University
