I didn’t expect it, though I was warned by my warm-hearted colleague. I remained naïve until it happened for the first time, and every year after that, it got worse.

Most people love graduation day; I mostly feel loss, a sinking feeling in my stomach as I realize I will rarely see my seniors again. I’m happy for them, and many of them stay in touch as they move on to jobs and/or graduate schools. But the occasional email or text is a far cry from the day-to-day conversations I so enjoy with my Professional Writing students.

Over four years, we not only become better writers, we pray for each other, laugh together, and encourage each other in our faith. I learn about their families, their dreams, and the ministries in which they invest their time. We become a little family who cares for each other holistically as brothers and sisters in Christ should.

Then, they leave as a thief in the night, moving toward a new life of adventures. I rarely get to tell graduates how much I appreciate them, and I struggle to do so in conversation anyway. But here, I get to write them briefly and reflect on their virtues, something I’ve always done in the past and never published publically.

For the December 2017 graduates, here’s what I’ll always remember.

Cody Clark

Cody is brilliant, and I don’t say that lightly. He questions everything, but I learned quickly that his critique was not the product of a contrarian. Cody just refused to accept mere competence or adequacy as the standard. He pushed back against the status quo because he always felt we could improve our writing products.

He once opposed an entire class that thought a website had effective content. “The ideas are good, but they could write and structure it much better,” he claimed. And as he explained his conclusions, we could see his point.

I pray all of my students have the confidence and will to stand against the majority if they find it wanting.

Cody, thank you. I learned so much from you.

Jordan Sekerak

Some students have a way of molding the atmosphere to fit their personality, and every time I had Jordan in a course, our class sessions reflected her: relaxed, joyous, and fun.

“It’s pronounced Seck-er-ACK,” Jordan told me, only this was the third pronunciation of her last name she’d provided. I’m still not 100% sure how to say it, but that’s just the way she intended. She laughs hysterically at my confusion.

Jordan once missed a week of my classes because she decided to go to Florida. She knew she could miss my class twice without hurting her grade (the class met on Tuesday and Thursday), and she took full advantage by enjoying those skips on the beach. I don’t know anyone else who would do that.

While she was always a joy to have in class, I’m more impressed with the way Jordan improved her writing, editing, and design skills since becoming a Professional Writing major.

Jordan, you are truly a professional who will succeed in whatever you decide to do. I’m so proud of you.

Alyssa Speicher

Alyssa has an extremely enviable quality: she makes everything she touches better.

I asked Alyssa to help me manage the Professional Writing Facebook page because she is smart, reliable, and creative. Before I knew it, I had an email with content ideas and an editorial calendar. She was so good at running our social media that I never once worried about her plans or execution of the work.

I’ve never trusted a student more.

But making things better went beyond her capacity to write, edit, or design. Alyssa bestowed joy upon her peers and instructors. Her delight was contagious, and no one seemed to escape it nor did they want to.

Alyssa, you are a delight, and your future employers will be blessed by you immensely.

Tobi Prahtel

Tobi would often asked me questions during or after class about assignments, internship opportunities, or class content. When I would respond, I never knew whether I had said something profound and helpful or utterly confusing. Tobi gave me the same look either way.

But Tobi’s Cedarville story is one of bravery and determination. A German national, he stepped foot in the United States for the first time when he came to the cornfields of Cedarville, Ohio.  I’ve never resided outside the confines of the Midwest.

He took a semester off school to do a six-month internship in Germany with a major company. The culture shock of going back and forth must have jolted him some, but he never complained.

Tobi helped many of us understand the way our culture differed from others. Those insights are invaluable as we seek to spread the gospel globally.

Tobi, you added so much to the program. I praise God that he led you to small-town Ohio.

A Final Thank You

College is typically a time of incredible growth. Students become vastly different people between their convocation and commencement. I like to think that Cedarville faculty play a positive role in this transformation.

We don’t often recognize the reverse: that students also edify their instructors. These four students have taught me much about writing, life, and ministry. I can’t thank them enough.

Cody, Jordan, Alyssa, and Tobi, we will miss you. May God bless you as the new journey begins. Through the up and downs, remember that “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion as the day of Christ Jesus.” Amen.

About the author

Dr. Carrington

Dr. Nick Carrington has been teaching in the Professional Writing and Information Design program since 2012. He has worked as an editor for the Early Pregnancy Loss Association, written for various publications, and is currently doing editorial work for Innovo Publishing and the Christian Publishing Portal. His research interests include writing in creative forms, content strategy for the web, user experience, and editing.