Rachel Toone: All right, thanks for joining us up here.
Josie: Of course.
Rachel Toone: All right, so Josie, as you all know, we always start with the important stuff. What is your favorite breakfast cereal?
Josie: I knew you were going to ask me this.
Rachel Toone: So you have been emotionally preparing for that question! Forget about the rest of them; that’s the hard one.
Josie: Yes , I would say Cap’n Crunch.
Rachel Toone: Well, Sophia was on your team with that. There was some muted enthusiasm otherwise, but so be it. So, Josie, as of next Saturday, Lord willing if the creek doesn’t rise , what will you be graduating with, and what comes next in this next season of your life?
Josie: I will be graduating with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Human Services with a concentration in Human Services, a minor in Bible and Theology, and a minor in Honors.
Rachel Toone: Attagirl, come on! That was good. And when we kick you out of the dorm, where are you going? What’s going to happen next?
Josie: Well, first I’m going on a road trip to Maine with my friends, so that’s going to be fun. Then, this summer I’m going home, but in the fall I’m coming back up here to work in the Registrar’s Office and get my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. So, that’s exciting. And then I’m getting married in September!
Rachel Toone: Awesome! So good. All right, Josie, tell us a little bit about where you’re from and how you got to Montreat.
Josie: I’m from Statesville, North Carolina, about an hour and a half from here. Like most of us, I had never heard of Montreat. Then Coach Luke, the track and field and cross country coach at the time, reached out. I came up here and toured, and I really loved it. I especially loved that Montreat doesn’t just say it’s a Christian school, but actually integrates the faith into everything that we do here, which is really awesome. The Lord just opened up the doors to bring me here. He made it really clear, even though I had no idea where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. I’m glad that He brought me here.
Rachel Toone: Love it. And in your time here, what is something that God has taught you?
Josie: He’s taught me a lot. I would say the most important thing I’ve learned is the importance of Christian community—which a lot of people say when they leave here, but it’s so true. That was something I had really been praying for before coming to college, and the Lord has definitely answered that prayer. He’s surrounded me with such amazing friends. My small group has probably been my favorite thing—just getting to read God’s Word and study it with other girls, praying together, and learning from Jess Dasher and all her wisdom. It’s been pretty great.
Rachel Toone: Just because I’m biased and I know your story a little bit, for those who don’t know who Jess Dasher is, would you take a second to tell them how awesome she is and the context of that?
Josie: She lives in Montreat and she’s been hosting our small group pretty much the whole time I’ve been here. She has three kids and she’s just really awesome. She’s gone through a lot this year, but she’s been willing to host us the whole time, which has been super amazing. She is so open and honest with us and shares her heart. This year her daughter, who is 13, has joined us for so many Bible studies. It’s been really cool to have a wide variety of ages that we don’t really get when we’re here on campus with only 18-to-22-year-olds.
Rachel Toone: So cool. Part of what was awesome for you in small group is not only getting to be in Scripture with your peers, but having the mentorship of Jess and her daughter. All right, Josie, what is the word of wisdom you have for the students coming back in the fall?
Josie: I would say to get involved with as much as you can, and then take a step back and get “uninvolved” in the things that are too much, because you can’t do everything.
Rachel Toone:Use discerning wisdom in both getting connected and knowing when to take a step back. I love it. One more follow-up: for those who want to get connected and plugged in, but find it a little overwhelming, what is your advice for how to really find meaningful community?
Josie: I would say just get one person to go with you so you don’t have to go alone. Even if that person isn’t your best friend in the world, that’s okay—go with them. That’s where I met a lot of my friends, just by going to things and getting involved even when I wasn’t comfortable or didn’t really want to.
Rachel Toone: I love it. So good. Ladies and gentlemen, would you thank Josie for sharing with us this morning?