November 18, 2025 by

 My name is Alyssa, and I’m a senior psychology major with a women’s ministry minor. Before coming to Cedarville, I lived in Knysna, South Africa, with my family!  

This year, I live off campus in a house with a few other girls, but I spent my sophomore and junior years in Maddox Hall, which was a blast. Here’s a little glimpse into my life as a senior psychology major! 

Starting the Day: My Morning Routine 

My morning routine is less exciting than some since I don’t eat breakfast and don’t like coffee! So while my classmates are grabbing Rinnova for their morning dose of caffeine, I’m starting my day with some worship music and a glance through The Daily Buzz student news email to see who will speak in chapel. 

Once I’m up and ready, I work in the psychology department from 8 a.m. until chapel as a student assistant, which means I help wherever I’m needed. 

Attending Chapel at Cedarville: The Heartbeat of Campus Life 

After working for a couple of hours, I head to chapel, which is known as the “heartbeat of campus.” Chapel is one of my favorite parts of every day. There’s nothing more refreshing than worshiping and hearing the Word with a few thousand fellow believers! 

I sit with a huge group of missionary kids and international students (a student org called MuKappa), and I love knowing that I’ll get to see all of my closest friends at least once a day. 

The junior class chaplain spoke on Habakkuk 3, and he spoke about God’s mercy spurring us on in faith and joy.  

Building Community Over Lunch: My Favorite Way To Grow Relationships 

After chapel, I head to lunch with some friends. Even though I live off campus, I put half of my “meal budget” toward flex dollars, which can be spent at any of the dining spots on campus. I do this because meals are such an integral part of building relationships at Cedarville, and I don’t want to miss out on those opportunities! 

I found myself at Panda Express, which is always delicious, although the lines can be super long sometimes! If you strike up a conversation with someone next to you in line, it makes the time pass more quickly, and you might just walk away with a new friend. It’s happened to me before! Trust me, most people won’t think twice about having a chat with a stranger here — it’s part of what makes Cedarville so community-oriented.
 

Inside the Classroom: What Studying at Cedarville Looks Like 

My Tuesdays get busy after lunch, and I spend the next 4½ hours in classes. First up is Psychology and Christianity, which is my favorite psychology class. 

Next is Theology 2 with Dr. Jason Alligood, who always takes time in class ask us how the content draws us toward awe and wonder of God. He consistently reminds us that the goal of theology is not just knowledge — it’s worship!  

Lastly, I head next door to Counseling and Mentoring Women, one of the classes for my women’s ministry minor. I love the practicality of this class as we learn to disciple women well. 

Evenings at Cedarville: Faith, Friends, and Finding Balance 

After classes, I head to dinner with a friend for a weekly catch-up. Then, I may go home and get some homework done, get together with friends for a movie night, or occasionally decorate a cake! 

Before I go to bed, I spend time reading the Word, praying, and journaling. It’s such a joy to process the day’s events with the Lord, prepare my heart for the day to come, and just read His Word and know Him more.  

This sweet time is the fuel for every day, because it helps me to keep my eyes fixed on Christ through work, classes, meals, and everything in between. When all that I do is done for Him, even the most mundane parts of the day are filled with purpose and joy! 

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