It’s common to see high school students choosing colleges to attend after graduation, especially seniors. There’s always an extensive amount of time put toward touring campuses, reading through admission letters, and attending college fairs to pick the right place to call home for the next four years. But, what if the college picked the student? For Martin Methodist College alumni Julia Williams, that was the case.
During the summer of her senior year at Hickman County High School, Julia worked at Cedar Crest Camp as a junior counselor. Many of her fellow counselors were Martin Methodist students, and it did not take long until she and the other workers formed a personal bond—one that lead to an evening discussion about future plans. All of the counselors shared what they wished to do, but when it became Julia’s turn to describe her dreams, her nerves toward the future surfaced.
Julia had always dreamed of earning the privilege to receive a higher education, but in high school, she had been led to believe she was not college material. However, when she explained her situation that night at camp, she was encouraged by her fellow counselors to give Martin Methodist a shot.
While hesitant, Julia followed the advice she was given that night and reached out to Martin Methodist, and from there, she was welcomed with open arms into a close-knit community where she was given the opportunity to prove herself. Staff member Robby Shelton worked one-on-one with her throughout the application process and personally guided her through financial aid requirements until she was settled to attend. With everything set in motion, she entered what she saw, and still sees, as a blessed, diverse, and accepting community lead by faculty and staff who genuinely care about their students and provide them with the tools and guidance needed to succeed.
At the start of her junior year, Julia wanted to give back to the school that helped turn her life around, so she decided to run for junior class president to be a voice for her class. She won and found the Student Government Association (SGA) to be a team of fellow classmates who strived to build one another up while serving Martin Methodist and the students. Julia lived through an active college experience—one that she was never projected to have.
“I believe that Martin Methodist called me here,” said Julia. “When no one else believed in me, the kind staff and faculty at Martin Methodist did, and that speaks volumes. This college has a calling to provide opportunities to students who just need someone to have a little faith in them, and because of Martin Methodist, I’m now able to live out my dream of a higher education.”
Julia graduated in the Spring of 2020. She plans to continue her studies in youth ministry for two years before going on to work toward her Master of Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary, where she plans to start her candidacy for deaconess.