Emma Martin
Graduation Year
2026
Hometown/Where You Call Home
Columbia, SC
Major
Spanish and Psychology
How did you hear about Covenant and why did you choose Covenant?
Although I could have chosen to attend a college that was closer to my family, my heart was set on Covenant from the first time I visited because it felt like home. I knew that I would be happy spending the next few years in such a beautiful place with its loving and genuine community.
What aspect of Covenant do you like best?
One of my favorite things about Covenant is the holistic experience it provides. Not only are students encouraged to focus on academics and work hard in the classroom, we are also surrounded by professors and staff who want to see us glorifying God and enjoying our free time. That's what makes Covenant special: there are core classes and chapels designed to help structure your day around biblical reflection, and there are events in the evenings that you can attend to make friends and have fun.
What about the professors and/or academics has impacted you the most?
I've been strongly influenced by my professors' focus on exploring different worldviews and cultures. My favorite class was Cross-Cultural Psychology, which along with other history and foreign language classes has broadened my view of the world and given me a basis for understanding and celebrating a diversity of perspectives.
What part of your major do you most enjoy or feel most prepared by?
I enjoy the opportunities for research in the psychology major, which have helped me feel prepared for graduate school and have improved my ability to write well. My favorite part of the Spanish major is going off campus for service projects and learning to interact with people from other cultures, which is a skill I will most likely put to use throughout my life.
What do you hope to pursue after Covenant and how do you see Covenant supporting your future career or calling?
I hope to pursue a graduate degree in psychology or neuroscience and go into research. Although I'm not certain that is what I will end up doing, I know that whatever career I enter I will be strongly equipped to pursue Christ with the experience I have in Christ-centered learning at Covenant.
How is Covenant equipping you for active membership in the church or discipleship within the body of Christ?
There are so many opportunities to serve others while at Covenant. For instance, the chapel department offers times to read Scripture and pray with other female students. It's not always easy to show up and start praying with and serving people I don't know well, but Covenant has taught me that it is possible and even beautiful.
In what ways does Covenant foster spiritual formation that stands out to you?
I really value the way the chapel team works hard to incorporate different styles of worship and brings in different speakers so we hear a variety of ideas every week.
How has the Covenant community supported your development as a whole person?
Academic pursuits at Covenant are only one piece of the intricate puzzle that has been my time at college. My discussions in class and at church have fed into my personal walk with the Lord. My psychology classes and relationships with friends have encouraged me to prioritize my emotional and mental health. My personal experiences have helped me become a better writer and a more empathetic person, which in turn has been valuable in my work-study job. Not everything fits together all the time, but Covenant has given me the pieces to become a godly person with a meaningful purpose in life.
How have your relationships at Covenant shaped your expectations for the other communities God will call you to in life?
I have high expectations now for what a Christlike community can look like. With so many friends around me trying to walk with God and make the best use of the time, it's hard to not be influenced for the better. I know I can't look for the same experience everywhere I go after college, but I hope to become an active member of an upstanding church once I leave Covenant. Wherever I end up, I hope to bring the light and love that Covenant faculty and students have shown me.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Covenant?
My favorite thing has been having all my roommates and friends over on weekends in my dorm room, drinking tea and joking around (and only sometimes debating theology).