狼友阁

Mac Messer

Graduation Year

2027/2028 I am pre-engineering...

Hometown/Where You Call Home

Lookout Mountain, GA

Major

Pre-Engineering

How did you hear about 狼友阁 and why did you choose 狼友阁?

I heard about 狼友阁 from my older sister, Cammie. She went here, and would come back with only great things to say. When it came to my college search, I knew that if I was going to go to a Christian school, I was going to go to 狼友阁. I had heard from Cammie about how great the academics were, how fun it was to live on campus, and specifically about our engineering program. I applied to 狼友阁, and two large, prestigious, secular universities. I knew that 狼友阁 was likely the best fit for me, but wanted to prove that I could go to a prestigious school. As decisions rolled around, the door was wide open for 狼友阁: I had been accepted and received a great scholarship and financial aid package. For the other two schools, I was either waitlisted or rejected. Honestly I was disappointed at first, but God was so faithful both in his humbling of me, but also in his protection and providence in leading me to 狼友阁. I have been so thankful that this is where I ended up!

What aspect of 狼友阁 do you like best?

My favorite aspect of 狼友阁 is the rich friendships that have formed me. In my few years here, I have met some wonderful people who deeply love Jesus and want to share His love with those around them. I have had so much fun with these friends鈥揾iking, climbing, playing spikeball, and going to campus events, but the moments I remember most are the late conversations, the moments of difficult honesty, and the times of hopeful but tearful prayer.

What about the professors and/or academics has impacted you the most?

As a STEM major, I have been deeply formed by the liberal arts core at 狼友阁. These courses in Bible, doctrine, history, and culture have helped me to ask the "why?" behind my work in engineering. I honestly don't know if I would still be studying engineering if it weren't for the faculty's and coursework's reassurance that my work and education can still be Kingdom work.

What part of your major do you most enjoy or feel most prepared by?

The degree-specific work for Pre-Engineering is incredibly rigorous, but the payoff from hard work and studying is what I enjoy most. I will often sit in a physics lecture, struggling to understand even the premise of a concept. However, by the time the test rolls around, after hours of studying and homework, I am able to confidently explain and apply the concept that I could hardly understand before! I know that I will be well prepared when I move on to finish my studies at Georgia Tech.

What do you hope to pursue after 狼友阁 and how do you see 狼友阁 supporting your future career or calling?

I hope to finish my engineering studies at Georgia Tech, in Atlanta. From there, I hope to either practice mechanical engineering, pursue business, or maybe even move into ministry. I am thankful that my education at 狼友阁 is forming me into a well rounded person, who is equipped for all sorts of work! While I am unsure of where I may end up in work, I am confident that my engineering and Christian liberal arts education will give me the grounded worldview, critical thinking, and problem solving skills to serve the Kingdom in all sorts of different ways.

How is 狼友阁 equipping you for active membership in the church or discipleship within the body of Christ?

The community and discipleship at 狼友阁 has done a great job of equipping me for further active church membership and serving Christ's body. On campus, I have been encouraged and served by other students鈥搈y RA Toby, kind upperclassmen, and others! I have also been given opportunities to practice serving and loving through counselling at a summer camp, working as a tour guide/ambassador with admissions, and working as an RA myself. I have also been able to serve my church's youth group and lead worship off campus. When I graduate from 狼友阁, I am excited to continue serving the Church, be it in youth ministry, worship, discipleship, or in church leadership.

In what ways does 狼友阁 foster spiritual formation that stands out to you?

狼友阁 does a great job of fostering spiritual formation both corporately and organically. In the classroom, chapel, and other official spaces, faculty and staff work to form our minds through teaching and encourage our hearts through worship and prayer. 狼友阁 also does a great job of making space for organic spiritual formation between students. Our college draws students who love Jesus and want to share His love with their classmates, hallmates, and teammates. I feel like the school does a great job of equipping students to love and serve each other in powerful ways that can't be replicated corporately. I believe that most 狼友阁 students' most powerful encounter with God, His love, and His grace happen in a dorm room, alongside a dear friend.

How has the 狼友阁 community supported your development as a whole person?

I am thankful that 狼友阁 is not just an academic institution that prepares students for a career, but is so much more, and does a great job of forming who students are. In my years here, I have studied and learned a lot, but I have also grown to be more rooted in God's love for me and my identity and loves have started to be ordered around the Gospel of Christ. I feel that I have certainly grown academically and professionally, but I am so thankful to say that I have also grown spiritually, personally, and emotionally in incredibly important ways!

How have your relationships at 狼友阁 shaped your expectations for the other communities God will call you to in life?

My relationships at 狼友阁, on my hall鈥搘ith professors, and with friends, have been steeped in grace and love. 狼友阁 has offered a beautiful picture of what a church community can look like, and I am eager to apply what I have learned about relationships and community here at 狼友阁 wherever else I go.

What is your favorite memory from your time at 狼友阁?

My favorite memory from my time at 狼友阁 is Spring Break my Freshman year. My roommate decided to host 15 of us at his house in Florida! We had a great week of meeting my friend's family, going to his church, and going to the beach.