I love the religion major because there are so few of us, which means that we all know each other really well. I’ve had access to not only my two faculty mentors but all of our staff really closely, and everyone has expertise that’s relevant to what I’m researching. I get to have a lot of eyes and hands on my project as well as a ton of support, and that has been incredible for keeping everything going.
Even if someone is not choosing a life of ministry as clergy, having the opportunity to study and learn about the different religions and the theologies behind them also helps us become better equipped to engage in meaningful conversations respectfully with those of various beliefs. It’s also useful knowledge to have for those entering fields that have direct contact with individuals and address their mental, physical, emotional or social needs.
All along the way up until now, I have had outstanding professors, especially at Cal Lutheran, that have influenced me to decide what to do next. These experiences have helped me see that I would love to be a professor myself so that I can pay it forward to the next generation of students.