Seminarian for a semester

For me, junior year of college was to be a year of the "big adventure." As soon as I walked in the door of Transylvania University I knew that I would be going to the motherland — Ireland — during the first semester of my third year. That was my plan at least, but somehow God knew better. Through a series of unfortunate circumstances I came to the conclusion that Ireland was not going to be happen and I would have to remain at Transy. Apparently that was not God's plan either. Through another series of not-so-unfortunate circumstances I find myself at Lexington Theological Seminary for what the Lilly Project calls "semester at seminary."

This program is for undergraduate students who think that ministry might be their call, and feel comfortable enough to go explore that call in a seminary atmosphere. While I am only ten minutes down the road from my college, I have been discouraged from actively participating in campus life at Transy. I have an apartment on LTS's campus, I am taking a full load of credits, and I have become active in the community life at LTS.

Most people think that I am crazy to subject myself to graduate level courses and the graduate lifestyle when I'm only an undergrad, but I have really enjoyed the experience so far. Yes, the classes are difficult and I have read more in the last month than I have... ever… but it has been nice to broaden my horizons and hear different voices in religious studies. Transy's religion department, in my opinion, is one of the best out there, but in my three years, there has been only one permanent professor, and so he was the only voice in my formal theological education. This semester I have five different professors who come from all walks of life, and each brings his or her own view to the table.

One of the challenges for me has been the age difference between me and some of my classmates. LTS is a very diverse environment in all senses, and especially in the age range of the students. There are a number of second-career students and also some that come right out of college. I am the youngest in my family by ten years, so I feel very comfortable interacting with people older than me, but it's difficult to feel completely part of the community when I am so much younger than many of my classmates. As each week goes by, it gets easier and easier and I am starting to feel like just another student.

The best part of this experience has been so far has been learning to take the time for intense study, and devoting all of my time to what I am most passionate about. In just a month I have learned so much about myself, and I have grown immensely in my faith. There has never been a time where I have questioned my call to ministry, but at this moment I have never been surer of my path in life. I have become more comfortable with expressing my faith because it is so easy to do in this loving community. I am learning to listen to God and follow the path that God has set up for me. It has been easy for me to get wrapped up in my studies this last month because there is so much to be done, but I am also learning that building relationship is sometimes more important. I have learned just as much from my fellow students as I have from my books, and I can not wait to continue learning with them through the rest of the semester. While this may have not been the adventure I had planned, it is shaping up to be better than I ever could have imagined.