2 minute read
From the President
Grit
Grit. Perseverance. Endurance. Finish.
Pursuing a university degree comes with a host of obstacles; seen and unseen. From a prospective student's earliest campus visit throughout their time at SNU, we discuss the importance of staying focused, being an overcomer, completing the task, and earning that degree. We remind students that degrees are not purchased or gifted, they are granted because of the investment made in meeting the established requirements, investing hours and hours of learning, and securing the skills needed to compete in a graduate's chosen field.
Along the way, there are a host of individuals pouring into and preparing, doing their part to cheer and encourage along the way. Ultimately, though, it is about individual perseverance… early morning labs and late-night library sessions, crafting another paper, and passing that exam. For decades, SNU has surrounded women and men with the best in academics and a purposefully different community designed to help them reach down deep inside and claim the grit that allows them to finish this portion of the race in life.
At SNU, we continue to point our students in the direction of Jesus, reminding them of His promises of help as they seek their degree. The Apostle Paul knew a little something about perseverance, and the process. He writes…
And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:2-5
Do you see the process?
Suffering (not something anyone wants to sign up for), then perseverance (a choice to stick with it). Character gets developed, and hope is the result. Our consistent message: Don't skip the process. It will be worth it. Hope is on the horizon!
Years ago, diplomas were referred to as "sheepskins." Historians suggest that the reference dates to the Middle Ages when traveling scholars carried their "credentials" around with them. Sheepskins could be rolled and unrolled countless times, giving their diplomas more of an enduring quality. While not necessary today, with Registrar offices able to confirm a degree for potential employees, diplomas serve as a powerful reminder of what it means to endure, to persevere, to finish.
Thanks for your continued partnership with SNU in this process to produce more Christlike disciples through higher education. Our world needs more candles in the darkness, and with God's help, we will continue to graduate men and women making a difference as they serve!
Keith Newman
President
