Serving An Ever-Changing World
By Sarah Rohde '07
During my time at Concordia, I have participated in Campus Ministry, Student Government Association, The Concordia Choir, Hall Council and Relay for Life.
Last year, I co-founded a campus chapter of Bread for the World, a national organization dedicated to seeking justice and ending world hunger. Thanks to these activities, I have gained a greater understanding of the blessings, responsibilities and challenges that accompany leadership, such as combining ideas, voicing my opinion and settling conflict. Many of these activities have also furthered my love of working with people and strengthened my passion for service.
In fact, Concordia's emphasis on service was one of the characteristics that drew me here. I found a direct correlation between Concordia's focus on service learning and my own values. I believe that a liberal arts education presents a breadth of knowledge and instills in students an appreciation for learning, which aids us in serving an ever-changing world.
But service learning was only one of many reasons I chose to attend Concordia.
I was drawn to the fantastic music department, strong sense of community, Lutheran tradition, reputable academic programs and incredible study abroad programs. My exploration seminar to Greece, led by associate religion professor Dr. Roy Hammerling, taught me the enjoyment and the importance of a global education. We had been studying early Christianity and Greek Orthodoxy for several months in our Religion 100 class and when we arrived in Athens the classroom literally came to life! Immersed in Grecian culture, staring in awe at the ancient, powerful pillars of the Parthenon and witnessing the mystery of Orthodox worship, my peers and I were able to not only learn about but actually experience another way of life. It was breathtaking!
Through all of this, I know that my Concordia education has helped me to explore my vocation and discover my passions, preparing me to influence the affairs of the world.
