"I was drawn to Trevecca because the Trevecca students whom I knew seemed to have found a sense of purpose and family at Trevecca. I knew that I wanted the same kind of experience.
"I wanted to major in art and to build a career in that field, and even though Trevecca did not offer an art program, I was able to take my art classes at neighboring universities and the remainder of my coursework at Trevecca. I majored in communication and minored in art. Little did I know how much the communication department would prepare me for my career and that my relationships at Trevecca would begin molding me into the person God had created me to be.
"At Trevecca I found that sense of family that I sought, and I knew that I had made the right choice. What is awesome about Trevecca is the student/professor relationship. My professors believed in me and saw potential in me when I didn’t and challenged me when I needed challenging the most. Their guidance and leadership convinced me that they saw me the way God did and that I could not successfully reach my goals without Him and not to give up on my dreams. I still have a strong friendship with one of those professors, and through that contact my husband and I learned about Trevecca’s doctoral program in education. In 2008 my husband, Bobby, graduated from that program and is now executive director of middle schools for the Metro Nashville Public School System. Once again Trevecca has been a blessing to our family through my husband’s experience.
"My experiences at Trevecca prepared me for my career in the telecommunications industry where I worked in a management position; however, my passion for my art still burned inside me. That Trevecca professor who believed in me and encouraged me told me, “You are never too old, and it’s never too late.” With that encouragement I pursued opportunities in art and am now currently living that dream of glorifying God through my artwork.
Gretchen is a specialist in photorealistic compositions and is also a full-time mother to Daniel (5). She and her husband are expecting a second child in early 2009; they live in Nashville, Tennessee.
Empowering Students to Make the Leap
Trevecca is committed to empowering students to make the leap. Those leaps are as unique as the persons who make them, but all leaps involve growth or change in the life of a student. Some of those leap stories are presented here, and more stories will be added.
Do you have a "leap" story? If you do, Trevecca wants to have your story. Please send your story to myleap@trevecca.edu.
