Nathaniel Henriques graduated from Covenant College in 2018 with a degree in computer science. After graduating, Nathaniel began working on cybersecurity as a technical analyst for Chik-fil-A corporate by day, as well as studying for a master's degree in theology by night. Now working his dream job, Nathaniel reflects on the impact his time at Covenant had on him. 

Living Authentically in Community  

Nathaniel’s time at Covenant was especially formative in shaping his approach to calling, work, and life. To him, it was most important that Covenant teach him how to live life authentically and holistically. It was not just his academic growth at Covenant that readied him for his career, but the community he found alongside his academics in both professors and students. “I gained technical knowledge and practical wisdom from professors, lived in community with wonderful men and women, and learned that the way you work and the way you live should not be separated. My attitude towards both the significance of my work and relationships led me directly to the Chik-fil-A Support Center.” The people and community he met along the way were a large part of his journey toward his early career. "I don't think I would have my dream job so young if not for the countless people who impacted me at Covenant."

Learning Cognitively and Technically

Academically, Nathaniel felt prepared to enter his career in several ways. One of which was through the technical knowledge and skills sets his specialized courses at Covenant gave him in order to enter a fast-paced corporate world. “Those classes challenged and sharpened my mind and honed my ability to solve complex problems,” he said. However, he also emphasizes that it was not just the technical skills at Covenant that have been valuable to him in his career, but also the cognitive skills. He thinks back to some of the other classes he took at Covenant and their value to him. “My biblical studies and theology classes sharpened my ability to think critically about issues, both conversationally and in writing, a valuable skill in the corporate setting;” he continues, “I found this field both spiritually edifying and intellectually fascinating that while I was at Covenant I took so many classes in that program I almost double-majored.” Now, alongside his corporate job, Nathaniel is pursuing this passion of biblical study at Reformed Theological Seminary on a part-time basis. 

Serving Corporately and Serving the Church

After six years of part-time study, Nathanial is set to graduate with a master of arts in theological studies. Nathaniel also met his wife, Blake, when he started his seminary education at Reformed Theological Seminary in 2018 and got married at Blake’s alma mater, Berry College. They now live in the city of Smyrna, GA. After graduating with his masters, he plans to take a sabbatical year from studying to continue working at Chik-fil-A Corporate and spend time at home with his wife. Alongside his growth through seminary, he has also experienced growth in his job, shifting roles from platform engineer to business analyst on the technology support team. After his year off he plans to serve his local church as he is able with the skills he has learned in seminary while continuing his corporate work. 

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