"Major" Influences by Jennifer

"Major" Influences by Jennifer - July 2014 Scholarship Essay

Over the years I have had several teachers who have influenced me and how I felt about learning. It always seemed that when I would start to feel apathetic about school, there was a teacher who helped me realize just how much I loved learning. However, there is one teacher in particular that has influenced me so much that I decided to major in her subject. Professor Hardeman at Mercer University is an Old Testament Professor and influenced me to pursue a degree in Christianity.

When I first started at Mercer, I was absolutely positive that I was going to major in Theater. I had always loved acting and thought why not major in something I love. As school went on, I started changing my mind. Introduction to Theater was not what I thought it would be and I really started to lose interest in theater as a major. However, that same semester I was taking Old Testament with Professor Hardeman.

When I first started that class, I thought it would be boring because, being a Christian, I had read enough of the Old Testament to know that it was not an interest of mine. I thought the New Testament would be much more interesting, but I wanted to start with the Old Testament because it was the beginning of the Bible. As this class went on, Professor Hardeman taught the Old Testament in such a way that made this section of the Bible interesting and fun. She also gave different points of view that I had never heard because of my conservative background. She made me really think about what I was reading and even research the background of the passage. I fell in love with this type of learning and decided about mid-way through the semester that I was going to major in Christianity.

Professor Hardeman was a beacon of light during my first semester at Mercer. She helped me find a major that I am really passionate about and that will also help me be a better pediatrician and a better person. I will be forever grateful to her for her influence during a time of uncertainty. She has been one of the biggest influences in my life and definitely towards my education.