Where Formation Happens: A Senior's Reflection

Student formation at Covenant College is often talked about in terms of the head, heart, and hands, meaning it is a full experience, not limited to a singular aspect of life. Looking back on my time at Covenant as a senior, what I consider to be important moments of growth and formation are an eclectic collection of moments from classes, mentors, peers, chapels, meals, and even times of solitude. But what remains a constant background and environment for this formation is Covenant’s campus, the spaces that have facilitated these moments. 

Learning Across Campus 

Academics are a key part of formation at Covenant, and I look back on classrooms such as those in Sanderson, where I was challenged and encouraged to pursue my love for literature. I still remember where I sat by the window when Dr. Hess led a discussion on Till We Have Faces, discussions that have changed the way I approach my own faith. Even outside of the classes, countless conversations in the lobbies between lectures and sitting in professors' offices have shaped the person that I am today. 

With academic buildings, the chapel, the Great Hall, the library, and other spaces, the campus is full of rich opportunities to learn and grow in a variety of ways. 

Surrounded by God’s Creation

You can’t talk about Covenant’s campus spaces without mentioning its beautiful location: the lawns, overlooks, and trails serve as constant reminders of the beauty of God’s creation, feeding the vibrancy of Covenant’s community. As a freshman who initially felt out of place, I remember an upper classman inviting me on a walk on the trails behind campus. I felt at peace walking through the woods, comforted by God providing not only a wise older friend, but a reminder of His presence in the beauty surrounding us. It's impossible to miss the joy these open spaces bring students; you only have to witness the fun of an unexpected snow day, the captivated viewers of a brilliant sunset, or the energy of a sunny Friday afternoon filled with volleyball, pickleball, picnics, and hammocking. 

Life on a Residential Campus 

My dorm building, Maclellan/Rymer, has been central to my formation at Covenant.  I have spent four years living in the dorms, and they have been an invaluable and precious experience. It hasn’t always been easy but through it, the Lord has been shaping me to love Him and love others better day by day. 

Dorm buildings like mine foster tight-knit communities where I’ve formed some of my closest friendships. They host hall events, bible studies, and movie nights, providing space for students to build friendships and a community that honors God. To me, these halls have been home. From my first day as a freshman, my hall has a big part of my Covenant experience.  One of my first nights, my RA hosted a get-to-know-you event for the hall. It was a little intimidating, but it led to friendships I will cherish long after I graduate. It also taught me the value of hospitality in a new way. Living alongside all grade levels is a unique aspect of Covenant that has broadened my fellowship and discipleship.

During my junior year, my RA and I worked to make the commons a warm and cozy space, because we knew that the space mattered. The common rooms hold the rhythms of daily student life, providing a place of community at the end of each day.  Now, walking through the campus as a senior, from the gym and fields, where I sweat with my teammates during Track and Field practice, past my dorm building, the library, chapel, Carter, and finally to Probasco, where I was first introduced to campus, I am reminded of God’s faithfulness through the countless people and experiences He has used to bring me closer to Him.