I've lived in eight different states (TX, MD, PA, OK, KS, SC, IN, & NJ) during my lifetime. With this brings several different climates, cultures, and histories. My immediate family currently lives in west-central PA, so I frequently am asked what brought me to the midwest, to the cornfields of Indiana.

Weeeeelllllll..... I am not going to go into that whole story, but I will share ten reasons that I love my school.

1. The campus is beautiful, no matter the season.

(I took all of those pictures.)

2. The academics are top-notch.

Grace is one of the few schools (secular or Christian) that has a counseling Bachelor's degree. You don't have to wait until you get to your Master's to start working on techniques and learning theories and practical job skills like progress notes and treatment plans.

3. The faculty and professors want to know you as an individual.

I cannot tell you how many of my professors, employers, resident life staff, and advisors have made it clear that their office door is open to me. And they have proved this time and time again. Sometimes I initiate the conversation, other times they ask if I would want to sit down sometime so that they can get to know me better. I recently had a friend tell me that the average size of a class at her school was around 250 people. She didn't believe that her professors would be able to pick her out of a lineup.

Sometimes, we even do crafts together.

4. If you thought I was kidding, look at this picture.

Crabtree (the dean of students) has invested into my life and gotten to know me during the past few years that I have been at Grace. Because of this, he lets his children smush my head trusts me enough to babysit his children.

Many other wonderful men and women have invested into me as well and are still part of by life once I finish taking their class, or am no longer their employee.

5. You will have the best bosses of your life.

I have worked in several different positions at Grace throughout the two and a half years of school. I have not had a boss that I disliked. Each has cared about me, been flexible and gracious when life brought unexpected ups and downs and modeled the love of Christ.

They've also been pretty entertaining as well.

6. Grace College is also a graduate school.

Why leave when you can get an M Div. or Masters in counseling at the same level of excellence?

7. Grace College's alumni network is extensive.

Somehow it is comforting that I often find people who attended Grace College, no matter where in the country or world I am.

My pastor in PA is a graduate and former employee of Grace College, as well as a few other people at our church.

There Grace grads who are business men and women, pastors, counselors, missionaries, and so many other professions all over the world. It's like knowing that you have a family no matter where you are.

8. Seriously, the academics and discipline.

All of the major businesses in the area know how well Grace grads are prepared and readily accept Grace students for internships, and those frequently turn into jobs.

If you are not ready to hold your own in a career when you graduate, it is no fault of Grace.

9. Growing closer to Jesus and learning so much more about who he is.

I have been pushed and stretched in my faith to know what I believe. Not my parents, not my friends, but me.

This is a journey that has involved peers, small groups, mentors, classes, and campus-wide chapel. I am so grateful to attend a college that not only tolerates my faith but wants me to grow in it as well.

10. And, of course, lifelong friendships.

The elf team.

Cheekbone & personality twins.

Roommates (apparently we don't take nice pictures??)

You're great, Grace College. Thanks for a fantastic undergrad experience.