Student Profile: Samara Barbee '22

 

Class Year
2022

Where do you call home?
Charlotte, NC

Major
Spanish

Minor
Biology

Why did you choose Covenant?
I chose Covenant because of the people. I first saw Covenant’s campus when I came to a summer camp as a middle schooler, but it wasn’t until I visited as a junior in high school that I realized that what made the campus so alive is the students’ deep connections with one another. Also, I wanted to go to a school that would challenge me academically and spiritually, and Covenant has done just that.

What aspect of Covenant do you like the best?
I love the uniqueness of hall life. Each hall has a different personality that is created by the students who live there. An indescribable closeness is formed from late-night homework sessions or random Walmart runs with your hallmates. Prayer and praise on Sunday evenings is also a beautiful time of fellowship and worship where we get to walk alongside one another through the good and the bad, challenging and encouraging one another.

Which professor(s) has most impacted your thinking, and how?
Dr. Morris has impacted my thinking the most because he has helped me realize the beauty and intricacy of God’s design in creation. When explaining difficult topics in biology, he always takes a moment to discuss how a Christian should think and respond to the topic we are studying. One distinct moment that impacted me was when I was struggling to balance school, sports, work-study, and a leg injury. I met with Dr. Morris, and he reminded me that we'll always have many “little c” callings to fulfill, and we cannot devote 100% of ourselves to all of these commitments, so we have to trust and rely on the Lord. Throughout life, we will always have more than one commitment to balance, but trusting the Lord provides true balance.

What do you most enjoy about your major?
I enjoy the diversity of students in my classes. There are students from all class years and different levels of exposure to Spanish. Some students are fluent in Spanish because they are from Spanish-speaking countries or have native speakers in their families. Other students are taking the classes out of interest, and still others for their major or minor. This mixture of students brings so many different perspectives to class discussion.

What do you hope to pursue after graduation?
After graduation, I hope to go to nursing school and become a certified medical translator. I would also love to be a military nurse and get involved in medical missions.

How is Covenant preparing you for success in your calling?
I am being prepared by learning science and language from a Christian perspective. In my classes, I am learning about and beginning to understand my role as a Christian in response to cultural challenges and fields of study that tend to be dominated by secularists.

How is Covenant equipping you for active membership in the church?
One thing that I have always loved about Covenant is that we do not have Sunday services in the chapel out of a desire for the student body to go to church and get involved in the broader community. This has encouraged me personally to find a church and get involved. Secondly, the professors attend local churches and many are actively involved as elders, deacons, or teachers. Witnessing their involvement is an encouragement.

In what ways does Covenant foster spiritual growth?
Spiritual growth is fostered through chapel gatherings three times a week, panels put on by the chapel department and student development office, weekly hall prayer and praise, and discipleship with the faculty and staff. I personally love going to chapel because it is a reminder to stop and rest in the Lord in the midst of the busyness of school. Prayer and praise is an opportunity to be vulnerable and supported by your peers. I also have enjoyed getting to know a few of the professors and faculty members by getting meals together and talking about our experiences.

How does residence life add to/support your academic, professional, and/or spiritual development?
Residence life supports my academic development because some of my hallmates take the same classes as me, and we often study together, holding each other accountable to assignments. As a freshman, it was encouraging to walk into class on the first day of school and know some of my classmates because they were also my hallmates. Residence life allows lowerclassmen to meet and befriend upperclassmen and hear about their life and college experiences. This greatly impacted my development as a student and as a person. Residence life also helps my spiritual growth because my roommates, hallmates, and RA pour God’s truth into my life when I am going through a rough time.

How have your relationships at Covenant shaped your expectations for the other communities God will call you to in life?
My relationships at Covenant are deep and genuine because we all seek to be rooted first in Christ and second to each other. We support one another in our accomplishments and walk alongside each other in our failures. We are honest in our mistakes and offer forgiveness. As I move forward, I do not expect other communities, especially secular ones, to be as close as the community of Covenant. However, I do hope that my actions and words reflect the rich community I have experienced, drawing others in to experience the beauty of a Christian community.

What’s your favorite way to spend free time on and/or off campus?
In my free time, I love going on hikes on and off the mountain. I love meeting new people, talking about life, and sharing funny stories. I love going to the gym and playing pick-up basketball or volleyball. I also love ordering pizza and watching movies with friends.