Page 13 - Fall 2017 Magazine

AS An ATHlETE, AdrInA pAlAcIoS ’19 yEArnEd for A cHrIST-cEnTErEd EdUcATIon, noT jUST In A clASSrooM, BUT AlSo on THE SoccEr fIEld. Originally from Ventura, California, Palacios first attended a secular university near her home where she was awarded Ventura County’s second team award in 2013 and first team prize in 2014.
While she was thankful for the sports recognition and opportunities, she was weary of how the gospel was absent in both her academic studies and athletic endeavors.
“Spiritually, I felt alone,” says Palacios. “On my soccer team, there were twenty girls, and only five of them would pray with me before a game. It was difficult because very few of my classmates ever talked about Christ or even wanted to think about the deeper issues of life. I wanted something more than just a superficial college experience.”
After transferring to Providence’s Women’s Soccer team in August 2016, Palacios recognized a stark contrast between her old college and the new learning community in which she found herself.
dEEpEr MEAnIng
“From the moment I came to Providence, everything that I was being taught—whether it was art or philosophy—was intricately centered around Christ and His word. It was as if a new foundation of truth was being built that would change me as a student and as a Christian.”
Over the last two years, Palacios has excelled at Providence and was awarded the 2016 National Christian College Athletics Association (NCCAA) West Region Player of the Year. Additionally, Providence has helped Palacios discover her calling as a teacher. In May 2018, she plans to graduate and begin a career as an elementary school instructor and soccer coach.
“I think it’s important for a child’s development to educate them both scholastically and spiritually,” says Palacios. “I want to train kids to not only be good students and strong soccer players, but also teach them the tools for critical thinking that I learned during my time at Providence.”
As Palacios looks back on the last two years, she is reminded how the Lord has used Providence Christian College to pave the way for her future as an educator and lifelong learner.
“Providence has taught me that you can never know too much,” says Palacios. “I’ve determined that we should never be complacent with what we have learned because there is always the opportunity to explore every aspect of God’s world with deeper meaning and wisdom.”
AdrInA pAlAcIoS ’19 continued on page 14 ventura, California
concentration: education and art
Deeper Learning for Greater Wisdom
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