Concordia students share how they knew what their major should be.
What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a question we’ve all been asked a time or two.
For some people, the answer was apparent early on in their lives. For others, their life’s passion and purpose took a little while to manifest.
Below, a few CUAA students share how they knew what they wanted to do with their lives.
Lilly Alaspa ’25
Major
Hometown
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Talk about a person or group of people who inspired you to choose the major that you did
All of my childhood teachers have inspired me, as they all put so much time and effort into making a difference in the lives of students.
Describe a situation in your childhood that influenced your decision
Growing up I loved going to school and I always loved my teachers. They all impacted my life in different ways and I want to be able to impact the lives of my future students.
Extracurriculars
Golf
Jadan Vizina ’24
Major
Hometown
Fraser, Michigan
Talk about a person or group of people who inspired you to choose the major that you did
My mom is a nurse and when I was little she always told us about her work and how rewarding it was and how much she felt like she made a difference.
Describe a situation in your childhood that influenced your decision
I joined the medical club in high school which wasn’t hard in itself but I got voted president of it because they felt like I embodied what it meant to be a God honoring medical worker and in that I realized that this is what 100% wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Extracurriculars
Football
Maggie Coggin ’23
Major
Hometown
Hamilton, Ohio
Talk about a person or group of people who inspired you to choose the major that you did
I was inspired by my sisters to do what I love. One of my sisters is a teacher and the other is a robotics engineer. They chose their majors because they love them and encouraged me to do the same.
Describe a situation in your childhood that influenced your decision
I was given my first camera that was just mine in fourth grade. I ended up at a photography camp and was published soon after. I spent all my free time using the camera to take pictures of everything I could. I always had a camera by my side! As my sister closest in age played lacrosse, I would take pictures of her and the team and send them off to the team.
Extracurriculars
Photographer and social media coordinator for the women’s hockey team, photographer for athletics department, athletes in action
Charles Wallace ’23
Major
Applied Theology with a minor in Theological Languages
Hometown
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Talk about a person or group of people who inspired you to choose the major that you did
My parents inspired me to pursue ministry in the church. My whole life they have been faithful followers of Christ. Their love for Christ, His Church, and the people around them inspired me to learn more about God and how I can preach His word to the world around us.
Describe a situation in your childhood that influenced your decision
Attending the National Gathering’s in 2016 and 2019, showed me how strong a group of believers can be. We often hear about how the church is shrinking, especially with the people of our generation. These Youth Gatherings showed me that even through the tough trials of the world; His church will always triumph over all.
Extracurriculars
Campus Ministry Resident Assistant, President of Cards4Life club, STEPS Internship
Andrew Backus ’22
Major
Hometown
Holt, Michigan
Talk about a person or group of people who inspired you to choose the major that you did
I guess my inspirations have been my worship directors throughout the years. They more so encouraged and reassured me after I decided to choose this major, rather than directly influencing me.
Describe a situation in your childhood that influenced your decision
I chose my major after participating in a travel team trip to Concordia University Wisconsin. We led both their chapel and student led worship night, and after we finished I was hooked. I have participated in church music since middle school, so it is something that I was comfortable with and enjoyed doing.
Extracurriculars
I am involved in most of the student led worship events on campus, as well as Concordia Choir.
Caleb Comstock ’25
Major
Hometown
Canton, Michigan
Talk about a person or group of people who inspired you to choose the major that you did
My parents certainly encouraged it and I asked my church friends who were also physical therapists for information. They helped me understand the extent of the job.
Describe a situation in your childhood that influenced your decision
Taking biology classes infused a love of studying biology and anatomy. Going to physical therapy for an injury helped me see the kind of environment I would be working in. I want to be able to spread the gospel wherever I go and physical therapy is an easy environment to do so.
Extracurriculars
Soccer, Worship Arts, Athletes in Action, Student Athlete Leadership Team, and Admissions.
Patrick Good Jr. ’24
Major
Hometown
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Talk about a person or group of people who inspired you to choose the major that you did
I made the decision to major in business communication because I thought it would best suit me. I think this major was the most appropriate for me since I know how I want my lifestyle to be in the future. Without the support of my family, especially my mother Alicia, sister Alayna, and father Patrick Sr., I would not have been able to fully discover who I am as a person. As a result, all other majors were ruled out because I was already flourishing in this field and had taken the necessary classes in high school.
Describe a situation in your childhood that influenced your decision
This is absurd because I was just discussing how I didn’t make the most significant choices as a high school sophomore, which was a crucial decision. Nevertheless, I made a business decision to give up the sports I adored—basketball and baseball—in favor of bowling, in which I believed I had a bright future. By far, this is what shaped me into the person I am now since, without this choice, I wouldn’t have developed relationships with my friends, employers, and professors. I would not have developed into the determined individual I am today if it wasn’t for this decision. When things became tough, I always tend to remember the quote I used in my high school graduation speech: “With every challenge comes adversity, and with all challenges comes perseverance.” Given that, I have always believed that there would be light at the end of the tunnel, no matter what decision you pick in the end.
Extracurriculars
I am the Student Government Association Treasurer at Concordia. I am a Student Ambassador in the Career Engagement Studio. I am a Social Media Coordinator for Officially Human. I am a part of the Concordia Men’s Bowling Team.
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