Emily James
Graduation Year
2026
Hometown/Where You Call Home
Chattanooga, TN
Major
Elementary Education
How did you hear about Covenant and why did you choose Covenant?
I chose Covenant because I have nine younger siblings, and I wanted to stay close to home! I also knew I wanted to attend a Christian school, because at such a formative time in my life I wanted to ensure that I was surrounded by people that would help me grow closer to God.
What aspect of Covenant do you like best?
I love the faculty at Covenant. The professors are kind and seriously care about their students. I genuinely enjoy my classes and the work I do outside of class because my professors make it enjoyable! On top of that, the administration is great at being available to talk to students and help with various issues. They are incredibly understanding and compassionate.
What about the professors and/or academics has impacted you the most?
I think that the expectations that professors set for their students has seriously impacted me. They do not expect you to get a good grade and move on. They expect you to wrestle with the material, see the creation-fall-redemption arc play out in what you're learning about, and ultimately grow closer to Christ after learning more about His creation. Whether you're taking a statistics class, a history class, or an English class, this has been what I've seen from each professor at Covenant. It has been so impactful to me, as well as many other students I know.
What part of your major do you most enjoy or feel most prepared by?
I LOVE my major. The education department is incredible, which makes sense because they are teachers teaching us to teach!! They do a great job of giving us a lot of different ways to learn about various concepts and put them into practice. I remember so much from these classes because I am encouraged to take notes, teach the concept myself, make posters about the concept, and use manipulatives to experiment with the concept. It is so much fun to be in classes that use elementary school strategies!
What do you hope to pursue after Covenant and how do you see Covenant supporting your future career or calling?
I definitely hope to pursue teaching, and my dream job is speech therapy. I see Covenant supporting my future by giving me a permanent community of believers. I hope to stay in contact with so many of the friends I have made here, and even bumping into alumni years later! I think the community here is not only supportive on the mountain, but off the mountain as well. It's a community that never lets you leave!
How is Covenant equipping you for active membership in the church or discipleship within the body of Christ?
Covenant is definitely equipping me by encouraging me to be involved in a local church! It is also incredibly helpful to live on a hall full of people who go to a variety of churches. It was very helpful for me to ask my friends where they go to church and spend a few weeks-months church hopping until I found one that I wanted to start attending. Since then I have gotten involved in Bible study at the church, and frequently attend their Sunday lunches. I find that being an active member of a church is a wonderful way that I can take my faith further by being a part of the body of Christ. Being a part of the body on campus is a huge motivator to be part of the body off campus as well.
In what ways does Covenant foster spiritual formation that stands out to you?
One specific way that Covenant fosters spiritual formation among students is through the DA, Discipleship Assistant, position on resident halls. Each hall has a DA that is in charge of leading a weekly Bible study, assisting in Prayer and Praise (which occurs in halls on Sundays), and overall being a Christ-like friend to residents on the hall. This is a great way to bring Bible studies and worship, which can sometimes feel so formal, to daily college life. I find this to be incredibly helpful as it is hard to find time to go to an off-campus Bible study, and it is comforting to be in small groups of prayer and worship with those living so close to you.
How has the Covenant community supported your development as a whole person?
The Covenant community has supported my development as a whole person by having phenomenal professors, leading spirit-led chapels, providing free counseling services at PriestHill, training wonderful RAs, and creating a useful calling and career center. With these many resources, and more, I feel that each of my needs as an image bearer are met. Covenant truly goes above and beyond by first recognizing that each person is made in the image of God, and therefore has unique and important needs. That is why they have so many resources available to students. This allows me, and my peers, to have a successful academic career that not only leads us to get good jobs in the workforce, with a holistic perspective on what it looks like to be a reflection of the image of Christ.
How have your relationships at Covenant shaped your expectations for the other communities God will call you to in life?
After Covenant, I have very high expectations for the communities God calls me to. I pray that God gives me a church family that reminds me of my community here at Covenant. I hope to find people that welcome me into their lives, and want to share their story with me so that we can grow closer to Christ each day. I also expect that in my career I will meet people that maybe do not believe in Christ, but I know I will find common grace insights in their lives regardless.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Covenant?
That is a very difficult question. I think many of my favorite memories simply involve laughing at something entirely random with my friends. But I also have fond memories of crying during worship in chapel, or having a meaningful conversation with a professor where I truly felt valued by them. There are too many memories to choose from, and I still have a year left of school!