“I am constantly being challenged to think deeper, and look further into a question that arises.”
As a lifelong practicing Christian, Eva has always been curious about religious divides and what creates “so much hatred and pain between groups”. After studying this field on her own, she decided to become a Religion major to further explore these questions. In the future, Eva hopes to become a pastor and work to foster community and bring people together through spirituality. Within the Religion Department, Eva has found the faculty to be very supportive and encourage students to question their thinking and expand their knowledge of other cultures and groups of people. She says of the Religion professors, “They each have their own niche interest that they have so much passion for, and that love for their work transmits into their teaching”. Eva has developed a particularly close relationship with Religion Professor Thia Cooper, who is her academic advisor and a very supportive figure for Eva. Eva feels like she can talk and laugh with Professor Cooper in and out of the classroom, saying “She is someone you can be your true self with”. In terms of her future, Eva feels that the Religion Department has helped her prepare for a career in ministry through the questions that are asked in the classroom, as well as opportunities to gain experience outside of the classroom. For example, in her course “Liberation Struggles”, students were asked to engage in liberation work by working with a group to “lift people up in some way”. Outside of the Religion Department, Eva is also involved on campus with the Gustavus Choir and Legacy A’Cappella.