Rachel '25

"Whatever I choose to do here really wouldn't be possible at all without donors"

Berea College is guided by the Eight Great Commitments , and first-year student Rachel '25 felt a strong connection to the College's seventh commitment before arriving on campus. This commitment states that the College commits itself to maintain a residential campus and to encourage all community members a way of life characterized by mindful and sustainable living, health and wellness, zest for learning, high personal standards, and a concern for the welfare of others.

Sustainable living, lifelong learning and health and wellness are of great importance to Rachel and these concepts influenced her desire to attend Berea College and have driven her formal studies.

Originally from the Philadelphia area, Rachel moved to Lexington, Kentucky, five years ago. At that time she learned of a small city nearby named Berea, which her family visited on several occasions. Her first official Berea College visit was with a group of prospective students for a campus tour and information session. Later, Rachel and her mother chose to visit campus on their own to further explore, and it was during this visit that she decided that Berea College was the place for her. She appreciates the size, the emphasis on sustainability, and that Berea is a healthy tree campus. "That really did it for me," said Rachel. " This is something that has been important to me for a while. I found a college that put a lot of work into that, and I was impressed by the Deep Green Residence Hall."

Rachel enjoys being immersed in a learning environment and, upon arrival earlier this year, quickly observed that there's an eagerness among her peers and professors always to grow and explore more. "I'm happy to be surrounded by people who want to learn," said Rachel. She appreciates the conversational manner of instruction she experiences with her professors and engagement of her peers. She believes in the importance of lifelong learning and said, "I don't think anybody really stops learning."

Majoring in Child and Family Studies, Rachel has aspirations to teach kids how to cook. She welcomes the opportunity to support her academic studies with a study abroad program, and she knows this is a valuable opportunity she can experience as a Berea College student. She has a particular interest in a study abroad opportunity at The American Farm School at Perrotis College in Thessaloniki, Greece. The programs there focus on agriculture, food science and international business. She believes the resources of this program correlate well with her major and emphasis on childhood nutrition. In addition to study abroad, she would like to pursue an internship, perhaps related to her music minor.

"I know whatever I choose to do here really wouldn't be possible at all without donors," said Rachel. "Even though I haven't met many of them, I wouldn't be able to do what I love to do without them. There's so much they do and contribute that makes so much possible at the College," said Rachel. "I walk into a Margaret A. Cargill Natural Sciences and Health Building classroom and it, too, has a donor's name on it. It's cool when you see their names on banners or over at the alumni field or on the Legacy Wall. Donors are an integral part of the College-they're what keeps this college running, and I couldn't do what I do without them."

In addition to her studies, Rachel works in the Office of Planned Philanthropy. "In my work, I feel like I'm contributing to a greater mission because even if I'm going through spreadsheets or organizing files, I know that I'm helping the efficiency of the office, which helps get things done quicker, which helps us engage with donors." She also shared that the labor program teaches students soft skills. "We learn how to communicate, and we can develop soft skills through the years, which helps us specialize in areas of interest."

Rachel recently had the opportunity to meet with a donor and engage in conversation. She enjoyed visiting with the donor and learning how committed the donor is to the values Berea has. "I saw first-hand, this is a person who is supporting the College and really helping me."

To all donors, Rachel said, "If I never meet you, just know that I express my deepest gratitude, because without you I wouldn't be able to learn.